Georgia Southern 8, Appalachian State 3
Georgia Southern 5, Appalachian State 2
STATESBORO, GA - Georgia Southern opened its Southern Conference schedule by sweeping a doubleheader from previously undefeated Appalachian State on Saturday (March 13) at J.I. Clements Stadium.
In the opener, Jake Brown (Forest Hill, Md.) pitched six innings and Roman Grimaldi (Duluth, Ga.) hit a solo home run as the Eagles captured an 8-3 win.
In the nightcap, Matt Murray (Spring City, Pa.) pitched 7.2 innings and Steve Cochrane (Mooresville, N.C.) hit a three-run homer as Georgia Southern claimed a 5-2 victory.
The Eagles increased their winning streak to three games and improved to 8-7 overall and 2-0 in league play, while the Mountaineers, who began the day as one of only four undefeated Division I teams in the nation, dropped to 10-2 overall, 0-2 in SoCon action.
Led by Brown and Murray, Georgia Southern’s pitching staff shut down a potent Appalachian State lineup that had been averaging 8.7 runs per game. With their bullpen working 4.1 scoreless innings, the Eagles limited the Mountaineers to four earned runs on 16 hits with 20 strikeouts and three walks.
“Jake [Brown] did a nice job setting the tone for us in the first game,” said head coach Rodney Hennon. “We got down early and I really liked the way he responded after he gave up a few runs. We got him a lead, and he did an outstanding job pitching with that lead. After sitting around for (a 43-minute rain delay), we didn’t feel like we should put him back out there.
“Matt Murray followed suit in Game 2. After those first two innings we didn’t do a lot offensively, but he got settled in and really stepped up big for us.”
Meanwhile, Cochrane was 3-for-8 with five RBI on the day as Georgia Southern collected a total of 15 hits during the twinbill.
Brown (2-2) gave up three runs (all earned) on six hits with seven strikeouts and no walks. It was the second consecutive strong outing for the senior lefthander, who tossed a complete-game four-hitter in a 9-1 win over Marshall on March 5. Dexter Bobo (Cumming, Ga.) worked the last two innings of the first game for his third save of the season.
Murray (2-0) allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits tying a career-high 11 strikeouts and one walk. Andy Moye (Alpharetta, Ga.) pitched the final 1.1 innings of the second game for his first save of the year.
The three-game series was scheduled to begin on Friday (March 12), but inclement weather led to a postponement and the teams played a doubleheader on Saturday.
GAME ONE
Ryan Stetson lifted a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth to put the Mountaineers up 1-0 as Jerod Faggart and Jeremy Dowdy had back-to-back RBI doubles in the fifth as the visitors increased their lead to 3-0.
Appalachian State starter Matt Andress (3-1) had little trouble in the first four innings, surrendering just two hits and retiring 10 consecutive batters, but the Eagles rallied in the bottom of the fifth. They sent 10 men to the plate and scored five runs on three hits, three walks and a hit batter as the rain started to come.
After Kevin Bowles (Statesboro, Ga.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, Kyle Blackburn (Marietta, Ga.) and Cochrane delivered two-run singles as Georgia Southern went ahead 5-3.
Reports of lightning in the area led to a 43-minute delay during the middle of the sixth inning. Colin Snow (Alpharetta, Ga.) relieved Brown to start the seventh and pitched one inning before yielding to Bobo.
Eric Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.) had an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh to give the Eagles a 6-3 advantage. The hosts added two more runs in the eighth on Grimaldi’s second homer of the season and a Bowles sacrifice fly.
Cochrane was 2-for-4 with two RBI, Phillips was 2-for-4, and Blackburn was 2-for-5 with two RBI.
Andress was charged with the loss.
GAME TWO
An error with two out in the top of the first set up an RBI double by David Towarnicky that gave Appalachian State a quick 1-0 lead to open game two.
But Georgia Southern went ahead to stay in the bottom of the inning. Bowles and A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) singled before Cochrane hit his first home run of the season to put the Eagles on top 3-1.
Arthur Owens (Fayetteville, Ga.) added an RBI double in the second as Georgia Southern’s lead grew to 4-1, but Mountaineer starter Tyler Jackson (1-1) settled down and retired the next 13 batters he faced.
Appalachian State got a run-scoring single from Hector Crespo in the sixth to cut the Eagles’ cushion to 4-2. After relieving Murray with a man on first and two out in the top of the eighth, Moye got the final out of the inning on a sliding catch by Owens in right field.
Georgia Southern added an insurance run on Wirnsberger’s RBI double in the eighth - Wirnsberger was 2-for-4 in the game.
Jackson absorbed the loss. The first of two Mountaineer pitchers, he allowed four runs (all earned) on five hits with nine strikeouts and no walks.
The series will conclude on Sunday (March 14) at 1:30 p.m.
Davidson 13, Wofford 5
Wofford 15, Davidson 8
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- The Davidson Wildcats and the Wofford Terriers split decisions in the teams' Southern Conference opener Saturday, with Davidson taking the first game, 13-5, and dropping the night cap, 15-8.
Davidson (10-5, 1-1 SoCon) and Wofford (6-7, 1-1 SoCon) will play the rubber match tomorrow at 1 p.m.
Senior Thomas Middour (1-1) earned his first win of the season in the opening game of the day, scattering nine hits for four runs (three earned) and striking out seven in seven innings of work. Sophomore Brian Russell allowed just a run on three hits over the final two frames in relief.
The Wildcats opened up a 6-1 lead through the first four innings and put the game away with a six-spot in the fifth inning. Davidson finished with 13 hits, led by junior first baseman Danny Weiss (3-for-5, 2 HR, 4 RBI) and freshman third baseman Andrew Barna (3-for-5). Junior left fielder Sam Payne also had a multi-hit game, batting 2-for-5 with three RBI and freshman short stop Michael Zeblo drove in four with a grand slam as part of the six-run fifth.
Wofford's John Cornely (1-2) was tagged with the loss after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits and striking out eight in four innings in the start.
Weiss started the scoring in the first game, leading off the second with a solo home run to right center, and Payne made it 3-0 with a one-out round-tripper in the third. Senior catcher Tommy Piacenza was hit to start the inning and also scored on the play. Gadaire doubled into the gap in left center with two outs and, after taking third on a wild pitch, scored on Weiss' infield single into the hole at second. Barna followed with an infield single to the third base side of the mound and took third as Cornely's errant throw to first sailed into the Wildcat bullpen, allowing Weiss to score the Wildcats' fifth run.
Mac Doyle (3-for-4, 3 RBI) put the Terriers on the board with a solo home run in the top of the fourth, but Zeblo drew a two-out walk in the bottom, and Davidson got it back as Payne singled into center field for the 6-1 lead.
The Wildcats added six runs in the fifth on a four hits, including home runs by Weiss and Zeblo. Gadaire walked to lead off the inning before Weiss cleared the bases with his second home run of the game. Tom Dolinak came out of the Wofford bullpen and loaded the bases with Barna (infield single), junior designated hitter Will General (hit by pitch) and Piacenza (walk) before giving up a two-out grand slam to Zeblo.
Wofford and Davidson traded runs in the sixth, as Doyle hit an RBI-ground out to score Alex Lee (single), and Piacenza plated Barna (single) in the bottom half of the frame. Wofford added its final three runs in the eighth inning on three hits, including an RBI-double by Doyle.
Wofford used 15 hits combined with six Wildcat errors and nine walks for the 15-8 win in the nightcap. The Terriers jumped out to a 6-0 lead through four innings, but Davidson added four runs over the next three innings to cut the lead to 6-4. Wofford, though, scored five runs in the seventh and four in the eighth, and Davidson struck out three times in the bottom of the ninth to put the game away.
Sophomore Chris Lamb (1-2) was tagged with the loss, allowing four runs on four hits in just two innings in the start. Wofford's J.D. Osborne (1-1) earned his first win of the season, allowing three runs on two hits in five innings.
Gadaire batted 3-for-5 with an RBI to lead the Wildcats at the plate, and junior designated hitter Matt Ray (2-for-3, RBI) was the only other Wildcat with more than one hit. Barna drove in a game-high three runs on his second home run of the season in the seventh.
Wofford opened up a 4-0 lead in the second inning as Doyle led off with a home run to right center and David Roney hit a one-out, three-run home run to nearly the same spot three batters later. The Terriers added a run in the third on a pair of Wildcat errors as Landon Bennett walked, moved to second on a throwing error by sophomore Ian Horkley and third on an error by Zeblo, and scored on a passed ball.
Junior Mike Frongello got the final out of the fourth and held the Terriers scoreless through the fifth and sixth innings as the Wildcats added four runs to climb back into the game. Davidson got two runs in the fourth on an RBI-single by Ray and a bases-loaded hit by pitch for Piacenza, and added another in the fifth as Gadaire doubled in Payne, who turned a leadoff walk into Davidson's third run. Ray doubled into the gap in right to start the sixth inning and scored on a sacrifice fly by Piacenza after being sacrificed to third by freshman right fielder Coleman Barron to cut Wofford's lead to 6-4, but that's as close as Davidson would get.
The Terriers added five runs on five hits in the seventh, and though Davidson would score four in the bottom, put the game away with four runs in the eighth on a pair of hits and one final Wildcat error.
The two teams will play the final game of the series tomorrow at 1 p.m.
The Citadel 7, Western Carolina 5
Charleston, S.C. - Nick Orvin extended his hitting streak to 10 games and Bryan Altman hit his 21st career homer in a 7-5 over Western Carolina on Saturday afternoon at Riley Park.
Western Carolina (10-4, 0-2) was able to get on the board first courtesy of a homer by catcher Ollie Goulder, his fourth of the year, when he connected on a pitch from Bulldog starter Matt Talley (Sumter, S.C.) in the top of the second. The Citadel (10-3, 2-0) would respond in the bottom of the inning as Altman (Summerville, S.C.) would come around to score after being hit by a pitch, advancing to second on a passed ball, moving to third on sac bunt from Kyle Jordan (Goose Creek, S.C.) and scoring on a fielder's choice RBI by Legare Jones (Columbia, S.C.).
In the third inning, the Bulldog were able to put up a four spot as William Ladd (Winnsboro, S.C.) led the inning off with a single and proceeded to steal second. Orvin (Moncks Corner, S.C.) then doubled to left to score Ladd. Brad Felder (Orangeburg, S.C.) bunted Orvin to third and Matt Simonelli (Orlando, Fla.) followed with an RBI double of his own to bring in Orvin. That ended the afternoon for Catamount starter Kyle Stewart (1-1), who took the loss and pitched just 2.1 innings, giving up three hits, four runs, a walk and striking out two. The pitching change did not help WCU however as Altman homered on the first pitch from Matt Benedict to score Simonelli and put the Bulldogs ahead, 5-1.
The Catamounts would not go away and responded quickly in the top of the fourth when Trevor Collias singled in Austin Shultz who reached via an error by Jones at second base. Another single by Cameron Dullnig scored Matt Johns and cut the lead in half. The two runners advanced on a wild pitch by Talley and a single by Dylan de Graaf scored Colias. Talley would get a strikeout and a groundout to prevent further damage.
In the bottom half of the fourth, the Bulldogs posted two more runs on a homer by Orvin that scored Justin Mackert (Cleveland, Ohio) and put The Citadel ahead, 7-4. Back-to-back singles in the top of the fifth ended the afternoon for Talley (2-1) who went 5.0 innings, allowing nine hits, five runs, four earned runs, three walks and struck out five in the win. Matt Reifsnider (Ormand Beach, Fla.) entered the game in relief for The Citadel and induced a ground out and a fly out by that scored Collias. On the same play, Dullnig tagged on second and attempted to move to third, but an appeal at second ruled that he left early and was called out to end the threat.
The final three frames were scoreless for both squads as Reifsnider went 2.0 innings, giving up just one hit on 22 pitches. In the eighth, set-up man Raymond Copenhaver (Apoka, Fla.) had an easy one, two, three inning while striking out two Catamounts. Closer Drew Mahaffey (Summerville, S.C.) pitched the ninth inning for the second consecutive day and recorded his fifth save.
"It was a nice victory for our guys today as we got some timely hits and didn't pitch great, but well enough to win," commented Bulldog Head Coach Fred Jordan. "Defensively, we made some pressure plays when the game was on the line in the middle innings. We feel very fortunate with the experience we have at the backend of our bullpen to close out the game. It was a grind it out win for the Bulldogs today."
Orvin went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and a walk along with 3 RBI and two runs scored to lead The Citadel. Goulder went 2-for-5 with a run scored, a homer and an RBI to lead the Catamounts.
The Citadel returns to action tomorrow in the series finale against Western Carolina in the opening weekend of Southern Conference play at Riley Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
College of Charleston 14, Samford 4
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. ? A six-run third inning gave College of Charleston an 8-3 lead and propelled the Cougars to a 14-4 victory over Samford in Southern Conference baseball action at Patriots Point Saturday afternoon. CofC improves to 12-4 overall and 1-1 in SoCon action, while Samford falls to 8-6, 1-1.
Samford plated an early run with a sacrifice fly by Bo Smith in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. The Cougars responded two runs in the second to take a 2-1 lead as senior 1B Justin Brewer (Greer, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist College) roped a two-run single down the left field line. The Bulldogs regained the lead with a pair of runs in the third, scoring on a throwing error by sophomore 3B Matt Leeds (Boca Raton, Fla./American Heritage) and on a bunt single to third by Smith.
The Cougars exploded for six runs in the third to pull ahead by an 8-3 margin. Junior C Kolby Epley (Yadkinville, N.C./Forbush) hit a RBI single through the right side to score Leeds and junior SS Baker Knox (San Mateo, Fla./Daytona Beach CC) brought home two more runs with a RBI double to left center. Senior RF Greg Blake (Westerly, R.I./Lake City CC) lined a triple down the right-field line to tally two more for the Cougars.
Smith notched another run for the Bulldogs with a solo home run to right in the top of the fifth, but Charleston answered with a run of their own on a RBI double to right center by Brewer to hold a 9-4 lead after five innings.
CofC plated two more runs in the sixth on bases-loaded walks by junior Jose Rodriguez (Hialeah, Fla./Broward College) and sophomore OF Thomas Brittle (Cross, S.C./Berkeley). The Cougars secured the win with three more in the eighth, scoring on a RBI triple by Rodriguez and a two-run home run to right center by Brittle.
Brewer led the Cougars at the plate on a 2-for-3 outing with four RBI. Rodriguez and Knox each added two hits and two RBI, while Smith led Samford with two hits and three RBI.
Freshman RHP Christian Powell (Greenwood, S.C./Greenwood) picked up his third win of the season, tossing 5.2 innings and allowing four runs on six hits with four strikeouts. Samford’s Kyle Putkonen took the loss for the Bulldogs, giving up nine runs on nine hits in 4.1 innings.
Charleston and Samford meet tomorrow for game two of the series. First pitch on Saturday is set for 1 p.m. The radio broadcast of Sunday’s game on WTMZ 910 AM has been cancelled.
Elon 5, Furman 3
Elon 9, Furman 6
GREENVILLE, S.C. ? Matt Hinson and Niko Fraser belted late inning home runs to help Elon sweep Furman in Southern Conference baseball doubleheader action Saturday afternoon at Latham Stadium. The Phoenix captured the first game, 5-3, and finished with the twinbill sweep with a 9-6 decision in game two.
With the victories Elon improves to 9-4 overall and 2-0 in SoCon play. Furman falls to 5-9 overall and 0-2 in league play.
In the first game Hinson’s two-run home run in the seventh inning off Paladin starter Ian Parry (1-1) broke a 1-1 tie and helped the Phoenix build a 5-1 lead and hold off a ninth inning Furman rally.
In the second game Fraser’s three-run, eighth-inning clout off Paladin reliever Nate Smith gave Elon a 9-3 lead, and the Phoenix put down another Furman ninth inning uprising to secure the sweep.
The opener featured two strong starting pitching performances by Elon’s Jimmy Reyes (2-2) and Furman’s Parry, whose solid, efficient work led to a game the required only two hours and four minutes to complete.
The Paladins grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first on Will Miller’s two-out RBI single to left field that scored Will Muzika.
It remained 1-0 until the fifth when Ryan Adams led off the inning with a solo home run to left center field that tied the game.
In the decisive seventh Parry retired the first two batters he faced before yielding a double to Seth Canipe. Hinson followed a with two-run blast to left center to give the Phoenix a 3-1 lead.
Elon added a pair of runs in the ninth against Paladin reliever Daniel Stallsmith, with an RBI double by Canipe and pinch-hit RBI grounder by Grant McCoury.
Rob Fondu led off the Furman ninth with a solo home run, chasing Reyes, and the Paladins added another run to make it a 5-3 game before Phoenix reliever Thomas Girdwood induced a pair of groundouts to end the contest and earn his first save of the year.
In picking up the win, Reyes allowed eight hits and a pair of runs over eight innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out four.
Parry was the tough luck loser, working a career best eight frames and yielding five hits and three runs. He also didn’t walk a batter and fanned eight.
Alex Swim, Adams, and Canipe each collected a pair of hits to lead Elon. Furman, meanwhile, got two hits each from Fondu, Muzika, and Aaron Thompkins.
As it did in game one, Furman struck first in game two on Aaron Thompkins’ two-out, RBI single that gave the Paladins a 1-0 lead.
Elon answered in the third, taking advantage of a hit batsman, a balk, and two hits to score two runs on Neal Pritchard’s two-run single off Paladin starting pitcher Brian Dudzinski (0-3).
Ahead 3-2 after four innings, the Phoenix stretched their advantage to 5-2 with a two-run fifth that included an Adams RBI single and Canipe sacrifice fly.
It remained 5-2 until the seventh when Paladin freshman Paul Nitto cracked a solo home run to left field.
The Phoenix, however, quickly responded with a four-run eighth off Paladin reliever Nate Smith. The big blow came on Fraser’s three-run round tripper to left field that stretched Elon’s margin to 9-3.
In the Furman ninth, Fondu belted his second home run of the day, a one-out three-run job to left field of Phoenix reliever John Brebbia. Elon then called on Kyle Webb to secure the win, which he did by striking out Muzika for the second out and Miller for the final out with one one aboard.
The win in game two went to Phoenix starter Jared Kernodle (2-0), who worked 6 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and three runs. He struck out four and did not issued a pass.
Adams, Canipe, and Justin Hilt had two hits apiece to lead Elon’s 12-hit attack. Aaaron Thompkins led Furman with a 3-for-4 performance, with Wade and Miller notching a pair of hits in the contest.
Sunday’s series finale is a 1:00 p.m. start.
UNC Greensboro 3, Princeton 2
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? Chris Barker delivered a two-out solo home run over the right field wall in the bottom of the eighth and UNC Greensboro got seven solid innings from starter Blake Hassebrock as the Spartans defeated Princeton, 3-2, on Saturday afternoon at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Reliever Greg Smith came in to pitch the final two innings for the Spartans (8-4) to pick up his third win of the season. Hassebrock delivered seven strong innings for UNCG after allowing just one run on three hits and striking out five. Tiger reliever Ryan Makis was credited with the loss after allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits in two innings of work.
Barker led UNCG at the plate on Saturday after going 2-4 along with his solo homer. Drew Gehringer also went 1-3 for the Spartans with the only other RBI.
Josh Mishu had an RBI and a run scored for the Tigers (0-5) after going 2-4 on the afternoon. Leadoff hitter Matt Bowman also went 2-4 for the visitors.
After the Tigers knotted the game at two in the top of the eighth, Makis retired the first two Spartan batters in the bottom half of the inning. Barker stepped up to the plate next and took a 3-2 pitch over the wall in right field for his first career home run as a Spartan.
The game began as a pitcher’s duel as Hassebrock and Princeton starter Dan Barnes went toe-to-toe for the first few innings. Unfortunately for Barnes and the Tigers, Barnes was hit in the foot on a line drive by Barker in the bottom of the third and was forced to leave the game in the fourth inning due to the injury. That hit was the first of the day for the Spartans.
On the other end, Hassebrock was equally up to the task as he carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning for the Spartans. In the top of the fifth, Mishu hit a two-out solo home run to right center to break up Hassebrock’s no-hitter and give Princeton a 1-0 lead.
The Spartans immediately responded in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at one apiece. With one out, Kris Richards hit a single up the middle and advanced to second on a groundout. Gehringer followed with another single up the middle to score Richards from second and make it a 1-1 game.
The score stayed that way until the bottom of the eighth when the Spartans received a little good fortune from the Tigers. After Makis set down the first two Spartan batters, Corey Overholtzer singled to center field. After stealing second, Overholtzer advanced to third on a wild pitch. As the Tiger catcher threw down to third to try to catch Overholtzer, his throw went into left field, which allowed Overholtzer to score and put the Spartans ahead, 2-1.
After Smith came in relief of Hassebrock in the eighth, leadoff batter Matt Connor reached on a throwing error by UNCG. Smith got the next batter to strikeout, but Connor was able to advance to third on a single by Bowman. Connor came around to score a batter later as Andrew Whitener delivered a sacrifice fly to center field to tie the game at two.
The Spartans and Tigers will meet for game two of the series at 1 p.m. on Sunday at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.