Elon 15, No. 5 Clemson 10
CLEMSON, S.C. -- The Elon Phoenix snapped a five-game losing skid with a 15-10 victory over the fifth-ranked Clemson Tigers from Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Tuesday night. It was the 20th win over a top-25 program for Elon since the start of the 1999 campaign. The loss was the first at Kingsmore Stadium for the Tigers who had won all 15 previous home games this year. Elon has now won four games over Clemson when the Tigers were ranked.
Elon took an early three-run lead on the Tigers in the first inning after sending eight men to the plate. Niko Fraser got things started with a one-out single before a Mike Melillo single put runners on the corners. After Melillo stole second, Neal Pritchard plated Fraser with a ground out. Following a walk to Matt Hinson which put runners on the corners again, Seth Canipe hit a soft liner to right-center for a single to drive home Melillo. Alex Swim followed by sending an 0-2 pitch bouncing back up the middle, scoring Hinson from second. The three runs were the first scored in Elon's opening at bat since game one of a doubleheader sweep of Princeton on March 6.
After striking out Brad Miller to start the bottom of the first, Dylan Clark gave up an infield single to Mike Freeman and then walked Jeff Schaus as Clemson mounted a threat. Clark then retired Kyle Parker on a fly ball to right for the second out before fanning Wilson Boyd to end the inning and keep the Phoenix in front 3-0.
Will Lamb led off the Clemson second with a single through the right side, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch before scoring the first Tiger run on a two-out wild pitch.
Elon moved its advantage back to three runs in the third inning when Swim ripped a two-out double into the gap in left-center which scored Hinson from first.
With two down in the bottom of the third, Parker singled ahead of a walk to Boyd. Lamb then doubled to left-center to score both runners, but was caught too far off of second for the third out.
The Clemson fourth started with a double to left-center from John Nester on a ball that was lost in a tough sky by the Phoenix outfielders. Chris Epps followed with a single to left to put runners on the corners before reliever J.D. Reichenbach balked in Nester to tie the game at four. After Epps swiped third with one out, Miller walked. Ken Ferrer came on to fan Freeman before Schaus singled home both runners to put the Tigers on top 6-4.
Clemson increased its lead to 7-4 when Boyd led off the fifth with his third home run of the season. Lamb followed with a walk before Nester put down a bunt single to put two Tiger runners on base. Jason Stolz grounded a ball to short for what should have been an inning-ending double play, but the throw to first was off the mark allowing Stolz to end up on second and scoring Lamb.
The Phoenix clawed its way back in the sixth, sending nine batters to the plate and scoring five times. Swim led off with his third hit of the game, a single. He then rode home on Ryan Adams' pinch-hit homer to right-center. The shot was his sixth of the year. Pinch-hitter Matt Kirchner followed with a single to left before Harry Austin walked to put two on base. Fraser put down a bunt back to the pitcher who turned to throw to third, but dropped the ball allowing Elon to load the bases. Melillo made the Tigers pay for the miscue, lining a ball to the gap in right-center to drive home both Kirchner and Austin to even the score at eight. The Phoenix then moved back on top by a run on a Hinson ground out that plated Fraser.
Austin was hit by a pitch to begin the eighth and went to second on Fraser's sacrifice bunt before scoring on Melillo's single to right-center. On the throw to the plate to try and get Austin, Melillo took second. After a pitching change, Pritchard lined a soft single to left-center, putting Phoenix runners on the corners with one out. With two down, Pritchard went to second on a wild pitch before Canipe hit a slow roller to short. The throw to first was off the mark and both Melillo and Pritchard scored as the Phoenix built a 12-8 lead.
With two down in the top of the ninth, Fraser singled through the right side to drive home Adams from second. Fraser, who had gone to second on the throw home, then raced in on the fifth Clemson error of the game to make it 14-8. Melillo crossed the dish to make it 15-8 on a Pritchard double to right-center.
Parker homered to left-center to lead off the bottom of the ninth to make it 15-9. Lamb made it 15-10 when he went deep over the left field wall with one out, but Adams came on to retire the final two hitters to end the game.
Ferrer (2-1) picked up the victory after allowing two runs (one earned) on three its in 1.2 innings out of the bullpen. Clark, who was making his first career start, went three innings and gave up three runs on four hits. Greg Amorosso added a scoreless 1.2 frames to help the Phoenix cause.
Scott Firth (0-1) took the loss in relief of Kevin Brady. Firth surrendered five runs (three earned) in just one inning. Brady allowed four runs on seven hits in his four frames.
Four Elon players recorded three-hit nights ? Fraser, Melillo, Pritchard and Swim. Melillo drove in a team-best three runs and scored three times. Pritchard, Swim and Adams all had two RBI.
Lamb's 3-for-4, three-run, three-RBI performance led Clemson.
The two sides will face off again on Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. from Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
No. 14 South Carolina 8, Georgia Southern 5 (13 inn.)
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern pushed nationally-ranked South Carolina into extra-innings before dropping an 8-5 decision on Tuesday (March 23) at J.I. Clements Stadium. Brady Thomas had a three-run double with one out in the top of the 13th to snap a 5-5 tie and give the Gamecocks their 11th consecutive victory.
Trailing 5-4, the Eagles (11-11) scored an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth to pull even with South Carolina (17-4), a squad ranked No. 14 in the latest Collegiate Baseball poll.
With the score still tied, Georgia Southern had runners on first and second with nobody out in the 12th, but Gamecock reliever John Taylor escaped the jam to set the stage for Thomas’ game-winning hit.
A crowd of 2,022 watched the four hour and 45 minute game, which featured four ties. Both teams went to their bullpens early and often, using a total of 15 pitchers. The Eagles collected 10 hits and drew eight walks from nine South Carolina pitchers. They left 14 men on base.
Meanwhile, the Gamecocks collected 14 hits and drew 12 walks from six Georgia Southern pitchers. They stranded 15 baserunners.
South Carolina took the early lead on an RBI single by Jackie Bradley Jr. in the top of the third. The Eagles tied the game in the bottom of the inning off A.J. Wirnsberger’s (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) seventh home run of the season.
The Gamecocks went up 2-1 on Bobby Haney’s RBI groundout in the top of the fourth, but Georgia Southern tied it up again when Victor Roache (Ypsilanti, Mich.) scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the inning.
Thomas had a solo homer and Haney followed with an RBI single as South Carolina scored twice in the top of the sixth for a 4-2 advantage. The Eagles answered in their half of the inning, this time with an RBI groundout by Kevin Bowles (Statesboro, Ga.) and an RBI double by Wirnsberger to knot the score 4-4.
After Haney scored on a wild pitch in the top of the eighth to put the Gamecocks up by a run, Georgia Southern rallied in the bottom of the ninth. Wirnsberger was hit by a pitch and replaced by Al Williams (Detroit, Mich), who advanced to second on Steve Cochrane’s (Mooresville, N.C.) sacrifice bunt and then scored when South Carolina’s third baseman committed a throwing error on Eric Phillips’ (Carrollton, Ga.) grounder.
Phillips wound up on second base with one out, but Gamecock reliever Parker Bangs got a strikeout and a groundball to the second baseman to prevent further damage and force extra innings.
In the bottom of the 12th, Phillips led off with a single and Bryce Dial (Columbus, Ga.) was hit by a pitch, but Taylor entered the game and used two strikeouts and a groundball to the third baseman to get out of the inning.
South Carolina’s Scott Wingo led off the top of the 13th with a walk and Bradley followed with a single. Nick Ebert’s sacrifice bunt moved the runners over to second and third before Christian Walker drew a walk that loaded the bases. Thomas followed with his decisive three-run double.
Taylor (1-1) set Georgia Southern down in order in the bottom of the 13th for the win. He pitched two perfect innings with two strikeouts.
Colin Snow (0-1) was charged with the loss. The Eagles’ fifth pitcher of the game, he allowed three runs (all earned) on three hits in 4.2 innings with two strikeouts and four walks.
Phillips was 3-for-6 and Wirnsberger was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Bradley was 3-for-5, Thomas was 3-for-7 with four RBIs, and Haney was 3-for-6 with two RBIs and two runs.
Georgia Southern will remain at home and resume its Southern Conference schedule this weekend against UNC Greensboro. The three-game series will begin with a single contest on Friday (March 26) at 7 p.m.
No. 10 Coastal Carolina 7, The Citadel 1
Charleston, S.C. - No. 10 Coastal Carolina scored four runs in the second inning and never looked back as the Chanticleers pitched past the Bulldogs, 7-1, on Tuesday evening at Riley Park.
Coastal Carolina (18-3) starter Anthony Meo (4-0) remained undefeated as he cruised through the Bulldog lineup in his 5.0 innings pitched. The sophomore, who didn't pitch on his normal Sunday start against Charleston Southern due to a rainout, did not allow a base runner until the fourth inning when he walked Matt Simonelli (Orlando, Fla.) on a full count. The Citadel's first hit finally came in the fifth when Kyle Jordan (Goose Creek, S.C.) singled up the middle. Meo departed after 5.0 innings, allowing one hit, one walk, no runs and striking out seven.
The Chanticleers managed to get four on the board in the top of the second off Bulldog starter TJ Clarkson (Coral Springs, Fla.). A pair of base hits by Tommy La Stella and Adam Rice put runners on with nobody out. A sacrifice attempt by Daniel Bowman allowed him to reach base when David Greene (Columbia, S.C.) bobbled the ball to load the bases. A wild pitch then scored La Stella and Chance Gilmore followed with a three-run homer to put Coastal Carolina ahead, 4-0.
A homer by Bowman in the fourth and by Scott Woodward in the fifth increased the Chants lead to 6-0. A walk and an error by Clarkson (1-1) then put two more runners on and Gilmore doubled to right to score another and end the evening for Clarkson. The sophomore went 4.2 innings, allowing six hits, a career-high seven runs, five earned runs, with three walks and four strikeouts in the loss.
Chris Boyce (Simpsonville, S.C.) got the last out of the fifth and was followed by two innings of scoreless relief each by Jeffrey Spillane (Houston, Texas) and Jeremy Long (Clover, S.C.) to close out the game.
The Citadel (14-6) finally managed to get on the board in the seventh when Greene drew a walk, followed by a Jordan single and a Justin Mackert (Cleveland, Ohio) walk off Coastal Carolina reliever Matt Rein with nobody out. Pinch hitter Kirk Sims (Columbia, S.C.) came to the plate and grounded into a double play to score Greene. Jordan had two of the three hits for the Bulldogs, going 2-for-4 on the day. Simonelli drew two walks, while Nick Orvin (Moncks Corner, S.C.), Greene and Mackert each earned a base on balls as well.
"Meo was very good tonight, one of their weekend guys, really controlled the game once they got the four run lead early," said head coach Fred Jordan. "We were behind in the count early in the game and they took advantage of that and defensively we let their speed influence us on a few plays and we have got to do a better job on that."
The Citadel returns to action in the five-game homestand on Wednesday at 6 p.m. as they face Winthrop.
No. 29 Auburn 10, Samford 3
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford baseball team pounded 12 hits, but could only manage three runs in a 10-3 loss to Auburn Tuesday evening at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
"If we could have gotten a hit with a guy on third base this might have been a little better," Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. "We had chances early to tie the game or take the lead, but we failed to do it. When you look at the scoreboard, we have 12 hits and only three runs to show for it. We were able to get some hits, we just couldn't get them at the right time."
Samford falls to 11-9 on the season with the loss. Auburn improves to 15-5 with the win. The game was played in front of 1,945 fans, the second-largest crowd in Joe Lee Griffin Field history.
Samford was led at the plate by David Schulze, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Michael Johnson was 2-for-4 with two doubles. Bo Smith and Trey Hayes also had two hits apiece for the Bulldogs.
Josh Martin started the game on the mound for Samford, pitching 5.1 innings and giving up seven runs on 11 hits to take the loss. Michael Gunter, Charles Terry, Tyler Vanderheiden and Clint Jones also saw time on the mound for Samford.
For Auburn at the plate, Justin Fradejas went 3-for-5 with a triple and an RBI. Brian Fletcher went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Creede Simpson, Tony Caldwell and Dan Gamache had two hits each for the Tigers.
Dexter Price pitched 5.1 innings, giving up two runs on eight hits to get the win. Bradley Hendrix tossed the final 3.2 innings, giving up one run on four hits to earn the save.
Auburn struck first with two runs in the top of the first inning. Fletcher homered to left-center field with Hunter Morris on base for a 2-0 Auburn lead.
Samford came back with a run in the bottom of the first to cut the lead to 2-1. Schulze singled through the right side of the infield to drive in Mason Meredeth for Samford's first run of the game.
Auburn added a run in the third inning and another in the fourth to push its lead to 4-1. In the third inning, Fletcher singled to left field to drive in Simpson for Auburn's third run of the game. In the fourth inning, Ryan Jenkins singled up the middle to drive in Fradejas for a three-run Auburn lead.
Samford plated a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut the Auburn lead to 4-2. Tripp Swann scored from third base when Brad Moss grounded out to shortstop to give Samford its second run of the game.
Auburn scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to make the score 7-2. Justin Bryant drove in two runs, while Fradejas drove in one for a five-run Tiger lead.
The Tigers added a run in the eighth inning and two more in the ninth to push their lead to 10-2. Simpson scored on a wild pitch for the run in the eighth inning. In the ninth inning, Bryant reached base on a fielder's choice, driving up Gamache, and Fradejas then scored on a Samford error for Auburn's final two runs of the game.
Samford added one final run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Stephen Ballard hit a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in pinch-runner Alvin Hines II to make the final score 10-3.
After the game, Samford held its third-annual Diamond Dig, sponsored by Steed's Jeweler's. Each woman in attendance was given a spoon to dig for a diamond buried somewhere in the infield. Samford student Emily Amari was the winner of this year's Diamond Dig.
Samford will return to action on Wednesday evening when the Bulldogs play at Jacksonville State at 6:30 p.m.
Duke 6, Davidson 2
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- The Duke Blue Devils defeated the Davidson Wildcats, 6-2, in a non-conference game Tuesday night at Wilson Field.
Center fielder Will Piwnica-Worms paced Duke (13-7), batting 3-for-4 with three straight doubles and three RBI, and short stop Jake Lemmerman went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI.
Davidson (13-8) managed just four hits, led by sophomore center fielder Drew Gadaire (2-for-4), but trailed just 3-1 after seven innings. The Blue Devils added a run in the top of the eighth, and Davidson managed just one run in the bottom half despite getting the bases loaded with one out.
The Blue Devils added two more runs in the top of the ninth on Lemmerman's two-run home run for the final 6-2 margin.
Sophomore left-hander Chris Lamb (1-4) took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out four in four innings.
Duke's Chase Bebout (2-0) picked up the win, allowing just one run on two hits while walking three and striking out four in five innings.
The Blue Devils got a pair of runs across in the opening frame on two hits and an error. Right fielder Joe Pedevillano drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second as catcher Ryan McCurdy followed with an infield single to second. Lamb got two straight strikeouts from Lemmerman and designated hitter Jeremy Gould before McCurdy and Pedevillano pulled off the double steal. Each scored as Piwnica-Worms doubled down the right field line. Junior right fielder Sam Payne bobbled the ball to allow Piwnica-Worms to advance to third, and first baseman Dennis O'Grady was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corner, but left fielder Brian Litwin lined out to James Cerbie at second to strand a pair.
After sophomore Seth Freeman threw out second baseman Marcus Stroman stealing third for the second out of the second, Lamb got a ground out from Pedevillano to end the inning. Davidson got the bases-loaded with just one out in the bottom half, but Pedevillano caught sophomore left fielder Jake Berman's offering and threw out Weiss (walk) at the plate for a double play to end the inning.
The Blue Devils added another run on two hits in the third as Piwinica-Worms doubled in Gould, who reached on a one-out fielder's choice to freshman third baseman Andrew Barna.
Davidson got on the scoreboard in the third, when Payne hit a one-out triple down the right field line and scored on a sacrifice fly from Cerbie. Juniors Matt Sliwiak and Mike Frongello held the Blue Devils to just two hits over the next three shutout innings, stranding three runners to give Davidson a chance. The Wildcats, though, managed just one hit over the span, a single to right field from junior first baseman Danny Weiss in the sixth.
Duke added a run in the eighth as Piwinca-Worms reached on a fielding error by Weiss, who couldn't handle the relay from a charging Cerbie, to start the inning, but Freeman gunned down his second runner of the night. O'Grady drew a walk, before pinch hitter Mike Carroll tripled to the center field wall to stretch Duke's lead to 4-1. Junior right-hander Andy Bass came out of the pen and got a one-pitch double play as he caught third baseman Eric Brady's pop-up on a failed sacrifice bunt and threw out Carroll on his way back to third to get out of the inning.
The Wildcats had a chance in the bottom of the eighth as Payne took a leadoff walk, and Gadaire got a one-out single as the ball got caught in the glove of short stop Lemmerman. Weiss was hit by a pitch to juice the bases, but Barna and freshman short stop Michael Zeblo struck out to end the inning.
Lemmerman's two-out home run in the top of the ninth, also scoring Pedevillano (walk), pushed Duke's lead to 6-2, and Davidson didn't manage a hit in the bottom of the ninth, stranding Freeman, who reached on a two-out error by Brady.
Returning to Southern Conference play and coming off back-to-back league series victories over Wofford and Furman, Davidson will host Elon (11-9, 2-4 SoCon) this weekend at Wilson Field. Elon snapped a five-game losing streak, including a series sweep by The Citadel this weekend, with a 15-10 win over No. 5 Clemson Tuesday night at the Tiger's Doug Kinsmore Stadium.
The two teams will open the series with a 7 p.m. start Friday night, followed by a 2 p.m. game Saturday and a 1 p.m. game Sunday.
Presbyterian 5, Furman 4
CLINTON, S.C. ? Ryan Morris scored on a bases loaded two-out wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Presbyterian a 5-4 win over Furman in baseball action Tuesday afternoon at the PC Baseball Complex.
Morris, who led off the frame with a triple to center field that Furman’s Rob Fondu gloved but dropped as he backed into the fence, could not advance after Jesse Harmon was retired on a sharp ground out. After an intentional walk, Nate Horton popped out in foul territory for the second out, and Tony Micklon was hit by an Emil Brignola pitch to load the bases. Paladin reliever Stephen Gary was then summoned, but his 1-1 pitch bounced in front on the plate and away from catcher Dylan Cole, allowing Morris to race home for the game winner.
The loss drops Furman to 7-13 on the year while Presbyterian improves to 6-13.
Furman overcame an early 1-0 deficit to take a 4-1 lead following a two-run home run by Will Miller in the fourth and two-run blast by Will Owens in the fifth .
PC scored twice in the sixth to make it 4-3 on a solo home run by Horton and Aaron Preston’s two-out RBI single.
Furman failed to capitalize on pinch-hitter Matt Bona’s leadoff double in the seventh. Rob Fondu’s sacrifice bunt attempt went back to pitcher Jordan Pace, whose throw easily beat Bona to third for the tag.
The Blue Hose tied it in the eighth after Horton led off with a single and and scored on a Kenny Bryant single.
Led by Preston’s 3-for-4, 2-RBI performance, PC out-hit Furman 10-6. The Paladins managed only two hits over the final 4 2/3 innings.
PC’s decisive ninth inning made a winner of Andrew Foushee (1-1).
The loss was charged to Kevin Gottlieb (1-2), who yielded Morris’ leadoff triple in the ninth.
Furman plays at Georgia on Wednesday in a 5:00 p.m. game that will be broadcast by the Furman Sports Network over flagship station WOLT-FM 103.3. The Voice of the Paladins, Chuck Hussion, will call the play by play alongside color analyst Clint Hill
Tuesday Baseball Game Canceled
BOONE, N.C. ? Tuesday’s baseball game between Appalachian State University and Ohio has been canceled due to inclement weather in the High Country. The game will not be made up.
Appalachian (14-3-1, 2-3-1 SoCon) returns to action this weekend with a three-game Southern Conference series at first-place The Citadel (14-5, 6-0 SoCon). Game times are set for 6 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at Riley Park in Charleston, S.C.
Western Carolina’s Nonconference Baseball Game at UNC Asheville has been Postponed
A make-up date has yet to be determined for the second seasonal meeting of the season
Cullowhee, N.C. ? Heavy rains that moved through the region over the weekend coupled with the spring snow storm on Monday have prompted officials at UNC Asheville to postpone today’s scheduled baseball game which was slated to take place on-campus at Greenwood Field between Western Carolina and the Bulldogs.
The two teams will make-up the game on Monday, April 5 in Asheville at a site and time yet to be determined.
Tuesday’s game, originally scheduled for McCormick Field in Asheville, was moved on-campus prior to the start of the season. However, because of a wet, unsafe playing surface, the game will not be played on Tuesday. Every effort will be made to reschedule the second-half of the home-and-home set between the two mountain rivals.
The Catamounts won the first meeting in the series this year with UNCA, 10-3, back on March 16 in Cullowhee.
Western Carolina (13-6-1, 1-4-1 SoCon) opens a stretch where 10 of its next 11 games will be played inside the friendly confines of Childress Field / Hennon Stadium beginning with a three-game conference series against the College of Charleston this Friday.
The first 50 WCU students through the gates on Friday will receive a voucher redeemable for a free B & Al’s hotdog. This weekend is also Heroes’ Weekend with all area police, fire and emergency medical, as well as military personnel and veterans receiving free admission. Sunday will cap the weekend with Kids’ Day with kids invited down after the game to run the bases.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 pm this Friday, with Saturday’s game at 3:00 pm and Sunday’s start at 2:00 pm. Each game can be followed with live GameTracker, presented by Carolina West Sports Medicine and the WestCare Health System online at CatamountSports.com.