Elon 4, No. 5 Clemson 3 (10 inn.)
CLEMSON, S.C. -- Seth Canipe's two-out single scored Ryan Adams from second base in the top of the 10th inning to break a 3-3 tie and lift the Elon Phoenix to a 4-3 victory over the fifth-ranked Clemson Tigers in baseball action from Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Wednesday night. The win gave the Phoenix a two-game midweek sweep of the Tigers and was the 21st decision over a top-25 program since the start of the 1999 season.
Phoenix pitching was strong, retiring the first hitter in all 10 innings and the first two hitters in eight frames. Clemson batters mustered just six hits on the night.
Clemson (17-4) struck for two runs in its first at bat. With two outs, Jeff Schaus drew a walk on a borderline 3-2 pitch. Schaus stole second and went to third when the throw to second went into center field. Kyle Parker's liner to right drove home Schaus with the first run. Wilson Boyd followed with a single to center to put runners on the corners before a wild pitch moved Boyd to second. After Will Lamb walked to load the bases, the count ran full on John Hinson who would walk to force home Parker. Elon ended the inning there when Bobby Kennedy struck out Phil Pohl.
The Phoenix (12-9) came right back in the top of the second. With two outs, Canipe walked ahead of a Scott Riddle single. After a passed ball advanced both runners, Justin Hilt laced a double to the gap in right-center to tie the game at two as both Canipe and Riddle crossed the plate.
Elon took a 3-2 lead in the third when Mike Melillo, who singled to start the inning, stole second and went to third on a ground out before scoring on Alex Swim's ground ball to first.
In the bottom of the fourth, Pohl drew a one-out walk before heading to third on Chris Epps' double down the right field line. Elon turned the ball over to Mitch Conner who walked Brad Miller on four pitches to load the bases before Mike Freeman lifted a sacrifice fly to left to score Pohl, tying the game at three. The Phoenix kept it at 3-3 when Schaus grounded out to second to end the threat.
The Phoenix loaded the bases in the top of the seventh with walks to Riddle, Melillo and Neal Pritchard, but the Tigers escaped the jam when Swim grounded out.
Matt Hinson singled to begin the eighth and was replaced by pinch-runner Harry Austin. After Austin swiped second, Adams walked to put two on. With Canipe at the plate, Austin tried to take third, but took off early and was caught by the pitcher. The inning ended with a double play as Canipe struck out and Adams was caught stealing second.
With one away in the bottom of the eighth, Hinson reached on an infield single and went to second on a passed ball. After Pohl struck out, Hinson swiped third before Epps walked to put runners on the corners for Miller. Miller's fly out to left ended the frame as the Phoenix and Tigers stayed tied at three heading to the ninth.
Following a scoreless ninth, the first two hitters in the top of the 10th were retired before Adams doubled off the wall in right-center. He then scored on Canipe's single through the left side of the infield to give Elon a 4-3 lead.
Adams came on to retire the Tigers in order in the bottom of the 10th to earn the save, his first of the year.
Thomas Girdwood (2-0) was the winning pitcher. He walked one in his one inning. Kennedy allowed all three Clemson runs in 3.1 innings. He gave up four hits, walked four and struck out four in his first start of the season. Mitch Conner and Jim Stokes combined to hurl 4.2 shutout frames, allowing just two hits and striking out five.
Jonathan Meyer (1-1) gave up Elon's run in the 10th to take the loss. Starter Mike Kent was charged with three runs (two earned) in four innings. Alex Frederick kept the Phoenix scoreless for four frames as well.
Hilt finished 2-for-5 with two RBI while Fraser and Adams each posted two-hit games for the Phoenix.
No Clemson player had more than one hit. Freeman, Parker and Hinson each went 1-for-4 with a RBI.
Elon returns to Southern Conference play with a three-game series at Davidson beginning Friday night at 7 p.m.
Furman 10, Georgia 9
ATHENS, GA. ? Daniel Stallsmith hurled six strong innings in his first collegiate start and Furman raced to a big lead and held off a ninth inning Georgia rally to defeat the Bulldogs, 10-9, Wednesday evening at Foley Field.
The victory was the first by Furman (8-13) over Georgia (8-13) since 1979 and the first by the Paladins in Athens since 1925.
Stallsmith (1-0), a sophomore left-hander from Huntersville, N.C., whose career had included 28 appearances -- all in relief -- prior to the Georgia contest, allowed a run on six hits and struck out five before departing with a 5-1 lead.
Furman scored five runs in the seventh to go up 10-1 and led 10-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth before Georgia, on the strength of three home runs off Paladin closer Nick Karow, rallied for six to make it 10-9. The Bulldogs had the tying run on second base with two outs before Kevin Gottlieb came on in relief of Karow and retired Levi Hyams on a fly ball to center field to a lid on the Bulldog rally.
Will Muzika paced Furman at the plate with a 3-for-4, 4-RBI performance that included a two-run home run, his team leading sixth on the year. He also scored two runs.
J.B. Jenkins also had three hits in and drove in a pair of runs, and Aaron Thompkins went 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Dylan Cole belted his third home run of the season, a prodigious blast to dead center field, in the third inning to give Furman a 1-0 lead. Jake Kline followed with a single, and two batters later Muzika deposited an offering by Georgia starter Blake Deiterich (0-2) over the left field fence for a 3-0 Paladin lead.
Furman added a run in the fifth to make it 4-0 and got an RBI double by Jenkins in the sixth to push its advantage to 5-0.
Zach Cone got Georgia on the board when he led off the Bulldog sixth with a solo blast to left, but Furman answered by batting around in the seventh and plating five runs to stretch the margin to 10-1. The big blow came on a two-out, two-run double into the left center field gap by Thompkins, who then scored on Jenkins’ second double of the contest to complete the big inning for the Paladins.
Georgia made it 10-3 with two runs in the seventh before Stephen Gary ended the uprising by striking out Chase Davidson with the bases loaded.
In the ninth Hyams stroked a Nick Karow pitch into the gap for a lead off double, and Colby May followed with a two-run home run to left.
Cone made it back-to-back blasts with a solo shot to right field to make it 10-6.
Three batters later the Georgia onslaught continued when Robert Glisson delivered a two-run round tripper to pull the Bulldogs to within two.
Cooper Moseley’s dribbler in front of the plate was mishandled by Karow, whose wild throw past first base into the right field corner allowed Moseley to advance to third and score on a Jonathan Taylor single up the middle that made it 10-9.
Taylor was erased at second on a fielder’s choice, and Gottlieb was summoned from the bullpen. After a wild pitch allowed the potential tying run to reach second, Gottlieb retired Hyams on a fly to end the game.
Furman opens a three-game Southern Conference series at Samford on Friday. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.
College of Charleston 28, Charleston Southern 9
N. CHARLESTON, S.C. ? Sophomore 3B Matt Leeds (Boca Raton, Fla./American Heritage) and junior DH Rob Kral (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) both hammered grand slams in a 12-run second inning and freshman PH Dre Watts (Laurens, S.C./Laurens) added a third grand slam in the eighth as College of Charleston cruised to a 28-9 victory over host Charleston Southern University Wednesday afternoon at CSU Ballpark. The 12 runs in the inning set a program record for most runs in the second inning and the three grand slams in a game tied a Cougar baseball mark.
The three grand slams equal a record set by the team in 2008, as Jeremie Tice, Gabe Marchant and current junior CF Cole Rakar (Mt. Pleasant, S.C./Wando) all hit grand slams in a 31-3 win over Davidson on March 21. The second-inning output was one off the all-time record of 13, set in the fifth inning of a 27-9 win over Furman on March 29, 2009.
The Cougars (18-5) led off the game with two runs in the first inning, scoring on a RBI single through the left side by Kral and on a RBI double down the left-field line by junior LF Jose Rodriguez (Hialeah, Fla./Broward College). Charleston freshman RHP Matt Pegler (Greenville, S.C./Riverside) ran into some early trouble with runners at second and third, but was able to get CSU’s Tyler Thornburg to foul out to first to end the threat.
Charleston exploded for the record-setting 12 runs in the top of the second as the Cougars also set the mark for most plate appearances in an inning with 15. Junior C Robert Pritcher (Charleston, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist College) reached on a fielding error by 2B Bentley Christmas and moved to second on the error. A single through the left side by junior SS Jamie Holler (Rock Hill, S.C./USC Sumter JC) and a walk to junior RF Baker Knox (San Mateo, Fla./Daytona Beach CC) loaded the bases. Rakar roped a two-run single to left and Kral was hit by a 2-1 pitch to set up the first grand slam by Leeds, a deep shot to right field for his seventh home run of the season.
After Charlie McCrady replaced CSU starter Jesse Cadenhead, Rodriguez grounded out to second for the first out of the inning. Junior 2B Jesse Mesa (Miramar, Fla./Central Florida JC) and senior 1B Greg Blake (Westerly, R.I./Lake City CC) followed with back-to-back doubles, and Blake came home on a throwing error by Walt Quattlebaum that put Pritcher on first. Holler singled through the left side and Knox was hit by a pitch to load the bases again. Rakar popped up to second, but Kral stepped in a delivered a booming shot to right center for 14-0 Charleston lead.
Rodriguez led off the third with a solo shot to right center, his seventh of the season to give CofC a 15-0 advantage. Charleston Southern got on the board in the bottom of the third as Matt Still hit a two-run home run to center, cutting into the Cougars’ lead. Charleston added three more runs in the fourth as Rakar homered to left center with Knox aboard and Rodriguez lined a RBI single to right for an 18-2 lead.
The Buccaneers plated four runs in the fifth, scoring on a RBI single up the middle by Still and adding two more on a RBI single to right center by Quattlebaum. Patrick Dolan’s sacrifice fly to right scored the Bucs’ final run of the inning, cutting the CofC lead to 18-6. Charleston scored a single run in the seventh, before exploding once again in the eighth inning, tallying nine runs for a 28-8 lead.
With two outs and the bases loaded, senior 2B Joey Bergman (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny) hit a RBI single to left and senior 1B Justin Brewer (Greer, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist College) scored two runs on a single to center and a fielding error. An RBI single to center by junior C Kolby Epley (Yadkinville, N.C./Forbush) continued the onslaught as the Bucs brought in Matt Walker in relief. A single by Holler and a walk by Knox loaded the bases again and Watts delivered the game’s third grand slam to right center capping an offensive showing by the Cougars. The nine runs in the eighth inning was also a new program mark for Charleston.
The Bucs scored three runs in the ninth, as Brandon McKinney’s three-run homer to left field made the final score 28-9.
Pegler improved to 2-0 on the season, tossing five innings and allowing six runs on eight hits with three strikeouts. Kral, Rodriguez and Holler each had three hits for the Cougars, while Kral led the team with five RBI.
The Cougars return to action this weekend as they travel to face Southern Conference foe Western Carolina. Friday’s first pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.
The Citadel 7, Winthrop 3
Charleston, S.C. - Raymond Copenhaver set the school record in all-time appearances as The Citadel scored early to defeat Winthrop, 7-3, in front of 927 at Riley Park on Wednesday evening.
The Citadel (15-6) got on the board in the first when Nick Orvin (Moncks Corner, S.C.) led off with a walk. A double by Brad Felder (Orangeburg, S.C.) then moved Orvin to third and a sacrifice attempt by Matt Simonelli (Orlando, Fla.) allowed him to reach when second baseman Tyler Cook couldn't make the play and brought Orvin in from third to score. A sac fly by Bryan Altman (Summerville, S.C.) then scored Felder from third to move the Bulldogs in front, 2-0. In the second, the Bulldogs would get another run when Justin Mackert (Cleveland, Ohio) led the inning off with another walk and scored two batters later when Orvin singled up the middle.
Bulldog starter Austin Pritcher (Charleston, S.C.) earned his first collegiate victory as he went 6.0 innings, giving up five hits, two runs, four walks and striking out three on 100 pitches. Pritcher (1-1) made one mistake in the top of the third to left fielder Eddie Rohan, who took the freshman's pitch out of the park to left, scoring Cook to cut the lead to 3-2. The Bulldogs responded in the bottom of the frame when Simonelli led off the bottom of the frame with his first triple of the season and would come around to score on Altman's RBI groundout. That knocked Eagles starter Dom Patterozzi (0-2) out of the game after going just 2.1 innings, allowing four hits, four runs, two walks and one strikeout.
Matt Reifsnider (Ormand Beach, Fla.) came in and pitched a scoreless seventh inning in relief. The Citadel would add insurance runs in the bottom of the frame when William Ladd (Winnsboro, S.C.) singled to third, stole second and the moved to third on a single by Orvin to put runners on the corners with no outs. Winthrop reliever Tyler Fries was then lifted for Eric Ruth who proceeded to hit Felder and load the bases. Simonelli then singled to left on a full count to score Ladd and another sac fly by Altman then scored Orvin. After an intentional walk to David Greene (Columbia, S.C.), Ruth then walked in a run when he sent Mackert to first on four pitches out of the strike zone to put the Bulldogs up, 7-2.
Copenhaver (Apopka, Fla.) then entered the game, making it his 113th career appearance which set a new school record. The previous record of 112 appearances was held by Tom Martin who pitched from 1995-1998. The senior pitched 1.0 innings, allowing one hit, one walk, one unearned run and a strikeout. Drew Mahaffey (Summerville, S.C.) pitched a perfect ninth to seal the win for The Citadel.
"It's a nice accomplishment, but the team accomplishment and the win mean more," said Copenhaver after the game. "I would much like to earn a SoCon Championship more than have any records. I've been blessed to stay healthy and have an opportunity. It's nice to be able to get right back at it each day and gives you the chance to really be almost like an every day player out of the bullpen."
The win snaps the Bulldogs' three-game midweek losing streak and also reverses the trend in the series with Winthrop (12-8) in which the road squad has won the last four contests.
"We were more relaxed tonight and took some good swings to go up early," said Bulldogs Head Coach Fred Jordan. "Last night was a tough night offensively against Meo and Coastal Carolina. Pritcher was very consistent tonight for us, he threw four pitches for strikes. Copenhaver has been very steady over the course of his career here at The Citadel. You know what you're going to get when he comes in to pitch."
The top half of the lineup did the majority of the damage with Orvin going 3-for-4 with two runs scored, a stolen base, a walk and an RBI. Simonelli went 2-for-3 with a triple, a run scored and two RBI. Altman added three RBI on two sac flies and an RBI groundout, while Greene went 2-for-3 with a walk. Rohan went 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBI to lead Winthrop.
The Citadel returns to action in the five-game homestand on when they host SoCon foe Appalachian State for a three-game set at Riley Park beginning Friday at 6 p.m. Live stats and video broadcast along with internet play-by-play coverage will be available.
Wofford 18, Presbyterian 9
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Wofford baseball team used eight runs in the bottom of the third on the way to an 18-9 win over Presbyterian College on Wednesday night at Russell C. King Field. The Terriers added six runs in the seventh inning to pull away in the victory as Wofford scored 18 runs on 18 hits in the contest.
Wofford is 8-11 on the season, while Presbyterian is 6-14 overall. The Terriers were led by Matt Moore with four hits, James Foster with three hits and Alex Lee, David Roney and Josh McKinney with three RBIs each. The Blue Hose were led by Matthew Hill with three hits and Nate Horton with three RBIs.
The Blue Hose opened the game with a run in the first inning as Jesse Harmon reached on an error and scored on a ground out. Wofford answered in the bottom of the second inning when a sacrifice fly by Taylor Rozier scored Mac Doyle for a 1-1 game.
In the bottom of the third, James Foster hit an RBI double and Kyle Behrendt added an RBI double for a 3-1 lead. Mac Doyle hit a home run to left center to score two more runs, which was followed by a three run homer to left center for Josh McKinney to give the Terriers an 8-1 lead. Another RBI double in the inning by Foster made it a 9-1 advantage.
After a scoreless fourth, the Blue Hose scored four runs in the top of the fifth. After a bases loaded walk, Nate Horton hit a single to score two runs, plus another run scored on a throwing error for a 9-5 game. Wofford got three runs back in the bottom of the fifth as an Alex Lee single scored two runs and a single by Kyle Behrendt added another for a 12-5 score.
In the top of the sixth, an RBI triple by Gabe Grammer, RBI single from Ryan Morris and an RBI double by Matthew Hill pulled the Blue Hose to 12-8. An RBI double in the top of the seventh by Kenny Bryant made it a 12-9 game.
However the Terriers added six runs in the bottom of the seventh as Alex Lee hit an RBI double, Konstantine Diamaduros hit a sacrifice fly and Landon Bennett added an RBI single. David Roney hit one over the fence in right field to score three runs for an 18-9 lead. Presbyterian left one on base in the eighth and ninth, but could not add a run in the contest.
For the Terriers, Anthony Rowland (1-0) went four innings with one hit and one run allowed and three strikeouts. Alex Wilson, Pete Noordsy and Ryan Traylor went the next 1.1 innings and allowed six hits and seven runs with one strikeout. Cash Collins went 1.2 innings with two hits and one run allowed with three strikeouts. Brandon Yarusi and Tom Dolinak each went an inning with only one hit allowed.
The Blue Hose used a total of eight pitchers on the night. Starter Chase Goude went the first two innings and allowed one run on three hits with one strikeout. Nick Campo (0-1), Kelly Wright and Matt Nodelman combined in the third to allow eight runs on six hits without a strikeout. Rodney Scruggs went 1.2 innings with three runs, three hits and three strikeouts. Tim Corbin also went 1.2 innings and allowed three runs on three hits with a strikeout. Drew Wingo went two thirds of an inning with three runs allowed on two hits and Jordan Pace closed the game with one hit and two strikeouts in the eighth.
Wofford will hit the road for a six-game road trip that includes a four-game series at New Mexico State beginning on Friday night and concluding with a two-game series at Vanderbilt on March 30 and 31.
No. 19 North Carolina 4, UNC Greensboro 3
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? UNC Greensboro scored three runs in the first inning, but couldn’t hold onto the lead as No. 19 North Carolina rallied for three runs in the top of the eighth to defeat the Spartans, 4-3, in front of 1,333 fans on Wednesday evening at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
UNCG (11-9) got six strong innings out of start Colby Hyatt as he scattered seven hits and allowed just one run in the no decision. Reliever Warren Slack picked up the loss after allowing one unearned run on two hits in two innings of work.
UNC pitcher Michael Morin moved to 3-0 on the year after tossing 1 1/3 innings of relief and allowing just one hit, while striking out three. Greg Holt came in to close out the final 1 1/3 innings to pick up his second save of the year.
The Tar Heels were led by Jesse Wierzbicki who went 2-3 with an RBI and run scored and Dillon Hazlett went 3-4 for the visitors as well. Ed Jayjack, Lloyd Enzor and Zach Leach each knocked in a run for the Spartans as six Spartans recorded a hit.
The Spartans started the game off with a bang as they jumped on UNC starter Garrett Davis for three early runs. Chris Barker led off the game by reaching on an error before advancing to second on a walk to Harry Slade. Corey Overholtzer was able to reach on a bunt down the third base line to load the bases.
Jayjack then hit a ball to deep center field that allowed Barker to easily tag up and score to give UNCG the early 1-0 lead. Enzor then hit a chopper up the middle to reach on a fielder’s choice that let Slade score from third. Ray Quinones then hit a single through the right side that allowed Enzor to move to second. Leach followed with a single of his own that score Enzor and put the Spartans ahead, 3-0.
The score would stay that way until the top of the fifth inning when the Tar Heels finally got on the board. Tommy Coyle drew a two-out walk before Brian Goodwin delivered a triple to the gap in right center that allowed Coyle to come all the way around and make it a 3-1 contest.
The Tar Heels threatened again in the top of the seventh with runners on first and second with two outs, but Barker made a diving catch in left center on a ball hit by Chaz Frank to save a run.
Wierzbicki started the UNC rally in the top of the eighth as he took a 1-1 pitch over the wall just inside the left field foul pole to pull the Tar Heels within 3-2.
Seth Baldwin then drew an eight-pitch walk and Ryan Graepel followed with a single to left field to put runners on the corners. Baldwin then scored on a wild pitch that allowed Graepel to advance to second to tie the game at three.
After a Tar Heel strikeout, Hazlett singled through the left side, which moved Graepel over to third base. Ben Bunting then reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second on a throwing error by the Spartans that allowed Graepel to come in from third and give UNC a 4-3 lead.
UNCG was able to put runners on first and second in the bottom of the eighth, but the Tar Heels induced an inning-ending fly out to right center to end the Spartan threat.
UNCG will have its first weekend road trip of the season as the Spartans travel to Georgia Southern this weekend for a three-game series beginning on Friday night at 7 p.m.
Jacksonville State 12, Samford 4
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - The Samford baseball team dropped a 12-4 decision at in-state rival Jacksonville State Wednesday evening at Rudy Abbott Field.
Samford falls to 11-10 with the loss. Jacksonville State improves to 11-10 with the win.
Samford was led at the plate by Trey Hayes, going 2-for-4. Michael Johnson drove in two runs in a 1-for-4 performance. Mason Meredeth also drove in a run for the Bulldogs. Dayne Cutrell pitched 3.2 innings, giving up four runs, only one earned, on five hits to take the loss.
For Jacksonville State, Sam Eberle went 2-for-5 with a home run and five RBI. Andrew Edge was 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI. Bert Smith and Blake Seguin had two hits each for the Gamecocks. Daniel Watts tossed 4.0 innings, giving up no runs on two hits to earn the win.
Jacksonville State got on the scoreboard first with a run in the bottom of the third inning. Jay Davis scored from third base when Eberle reached base on a fielder's choice for a 1-0 Jacksonville State lead.
The Gamecocks pushed their lead to 7-0 with six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Eberle hit a three-run homer in the inning for JSU. Seguin also drove in a run, while Seguin and Jay Davis both scored on a Samford error.
Samford plated four runs in the top of the fifth inning to cut the JSU lead to 7?-4. With the bases loaded, Johnson hit a bases-clearing double for the first three runs. Meredeth then singled to drive in Johnson for Samford's fourth run of the game.
Jacksonville State added two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to push its lead to 9-4. Edge hit a two-run homer to give the Gamecocks a five-run lead.
Jacksonville State plated three more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to make the final score 12-4. Eberle drove in one run in the inning for the Gamecocks. Smith scored on a wild pitch and Eberle scored on a Samford error for the final run of the game.
Samford will return to action on Friday, March 26, when the Bulldogs open a three-game Southern Conference series with Furman at Joe Lee Griffin Field. The teams will play Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday, again at 1 p.m.