Western Carolina 4, College of Charleston 3
Western Carolina 10, College of Charleston 9 (13 inn.)
Cullowhee, N.C. ? On the strength of singles in their final at bats, Western Carolina swept both ends of Saturday’s Southern Conference twin bill against the College of Charleston to garner the program’s first, three-game series win over the Cougars since 1999.
Trailing by a run entering the final frame, sophomore Ross Heffley sharply singled up the middle with two outs to drive in two runs as the Catamounts opened the day with a 4-3 victory in game one. In the night cap, Charleston’s Matt Leeds homered in the top of the ninth to tie the game at nine to force extra innings. Then, in the home half of the 13th with runners at the corners, senior Tyler Kirkpatrick laced a ground ball down the third base line to drive in Matt Johns for the second walk-off victory of the day.
Johns finished 4-for-8 with three walks, scoring six runs and driving in two to pace the Catamounts offensively in the two games. The Manassas, Va., native also stole four bases in the two wins. Dylan de Graaf hit 3-for-4 in the first game with a pair of stolen bases to lead WCU. Heffley was 1-for-4 in game one with his only tally coming in the ninth, while Kirkpatrick was hitless in the opener before driving in three runs on a 2-for-6 showing in game two.
The bottom four in the WCU order each has multi-hit games for the Catamounts in the night cap.
Relief pitchers earned the victories for the Catamounts in both games. Junior Brandon Johnson (3-0) came on with two outs in the eighth and worked a perfect inning and a third with two strikeouts to remain perfect on the season with his third win. After five and two thirds solid innings of relief work by sophomore Kyle Stewart ? including a career-high 10 strikeouts ? closer Daniel Ottone tossed the final two innings of perfect relief, fanning two to earn his first win of the season.
Matt Benedict tossed five solid innings in the start in game one, scattering seven base hits and three runs while striking out five against two walks. Freshman Mat Batts only allowed two base hits with one strikeout in 2.2 innings of relief before Johnson took over. Vance Chavis also lasted five innings in his start in game two, surrendering five runs on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Andrew Chilcoat faced three batters in a third of an inning before giving way to the tandem of Stewart and Ottone in the extra inning affair.
Western Carolina (15-7-1, 3-5-1 SoCon) took an early lead in game one on Saturday afternoon as Johns singled and then matriculated to third on a failed pickoff attempt at first and then stealing third. He scampered home on a wild pitch to put the Catamounts ahead, 1-0, through three.
However, the Cougars answered with two runs in the top of the fifth capitalizing on consecutive one-out doubles and a RBI single to surge in front, 2-1, and then plated a third run an inning later on an RBI ground out to lead, 3-1.
The Catamounts responded in the home half of the sixth as Radley Haddad singled through the left side to score Cameron Dullnig, who had opened the frame with a walk to trim the deficit to one, 3-2, setting up the ninth inning heroics.
Freshman Tyler White delivered a one-out single up the middle and was lifted at first base by Trevor Collias as a pinch runner. The speedy Collias swiped second before back-to-back walks to Johns and Austin Schultz loaded the bases. With two outs, Heffley smacked a 0-2 pitch up the middle to score Collias and Johns to win the game.
Saturday’s second game opened with the Cougars jumping out to a 3-2 lead through two and a half innings before Western Carolina used a five-run third to surge to the lead.
Catcher Ollie Goulder opened the scoring with a lead-off walk and was plated by an RBI single by Johns up the middle. White then tripled to center field where the Cougars’ Cole Rakar laid out in an attempt to rob the extra base hit from the WCU rookie, but missed and the ball rolled to the fence. Kirkpatrick drove in White and was plated by the next batter as Collias singled. Dullnig capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly to left.
All told, WCU scored five runs on four hits with one CofC error during the frame to lead, 7-3.
The College of Charleston (19-7, 5-4 SoCon) answered, though, with a four-spot of its own in the top of the sixth inning to knot the game at 7. Jose Rodriguez hit an RBI double to left to score catcher Rob Kral, who walked, to chase Catamount starter, Chavis. With runners at the corners, Jamie Holler doubled down the left field line to drive in a second run, with Rakar singling in two to cap scoring and tie game.
Western appeared to have the game nearly handed to them by the Cougar pitching staff in the home half of the eighth. Goulder drew a one-out walk before moving to second on a wild pitch and third on a passed ball. With Johns at the plate, Goulder notched the go-ahead run by racing home on another wild pitch to give the Catamounts an 8-7 lead. Johns added insurance with a solo home run to straight away center field during that same at bat for a 9-7 lead entering the ninth.
Yet, after a lead-off single by preseason SoCon Player of the Year, Joey Bergman, Leeds blasted a home run to right to tie the game at nine and force extra innings.
In the tenth inning, capitalizing on a hit batter and a fielding error, WCU sacrifice bunted runners into scoring position with just one out. An intentional walk to de Graaf loaded the bases, but the Catamounts could not get a run home.
It wasn’t until the home portion of the 13th that either side threatened again. Johns opened the inning with a walk on five pitches before stealing second for his third theft of the game. White singled through the left side to put runners at the corners ahead of Kirkpatrick who drove the first pitch he saw past Cougar third baseman Jesse Mesa for the win.
During extra innings, WCU pitching retired 12 of the 13 batters it faced with a walk, a fielder’s choice and five strikeouts between Stewart and Ottone.
Charleston’s Heath Hembree (4-1) suffered the loss in game one after starter Kevin Decker worked eight solid innings, scattering eight hits with just two runs allowed and seven strikeouts. Hembree worked the final two thirds of an inning allowing the game-tying and game-winning runs off two hits with a pair of walks and two strikeouts. Reliever Josh Salay was saddled with the extra inning defeat in the second game after allowing one run on just two hits with three strikeouts against a walk in two innings of work.
Amidst a stretch where 10 of 11 games will be played inside the friendly confines of Childress Field / Hennon Stadium, Western Carolina continues its home stand on Wednesday, March 21, by hosting the High Point Panthers in nonconference action in Cullowhee. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 pm.
Samford 13, Furman 4
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford baseball team pounded out 15 hits on its way to a 13-4 win over the Furman Paladins in the second game of a three-game Southern Conference series Saturday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
With the win, Samford secures the series win after Friday night's 3-2 win. Samford improves to 13-10 overall and 4-1 in Southern Conference play. Furman drops to 8-15 overall and 2-6 in SoCon games.
Samford was led at the plate by David Schulze, going 3-for-5 with three RBI. Wayne Miller went 3-for-6 with a double and two RBI. Trey Hayes went 3-for-5 with a home run and one RBI, while Mason Meredeth went 3-for-3 with an RBI. Michael Johnson had a home run and three RBI in a 1-for-3 performance at the plate.
Kyle Putkonen (3-1) pitched 6.0 innings, giving up three earned runs on six hits to earn the win. Sean Handlan, Charles Terry, Mark Lewallyn and Michael Gunter also saw action on the mound for Samford.
For Furman, Will Muzika went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Will Miller went 2-for-5 for the Paladins at the plate. Brian Dudzinski (0-4) pitched 2.0 innings, giving up five runs on four hits to take the loss.
Samford scored in the first four innings, plating two runs in the first inning, three runs in the second, five runs in the third and two runs in the fourth to take a 12-4 lead. In the first inning, Johnson hit a two-run home run with Miller on base for a 2-0 Samford lead.
Furman plated its first run in the top of the second inning to cut the Samford lead to 2-1. In the bottom of the second inning, Brad Moss scored Samford's first run of the inning on a Furman error. Meredeth and Austin Allison both scored on a wild pitch to make the score 5-1.
The Paladins added two runs in the top of the third inning to make the score 5-3. In the bottom of the third, Schulze drove in two runs, while Miller, Johnson and Meredeth drove in a run each to give Samford a 10-3 lead.
Furman came back again with a run in the top of the fourth inning to cut the lead to 10-4. For Samford in the bottom of the fourth, Hayes led the inning off with a solo home run. Miller later singled up the middle to drive in Moss for a 12-4 Samford lead.
Samford plated the final run of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Schulze singled up the middle to drive in Johnson to make the final score 13-4.
Samford and Furman will conclude their three-game series with a game Sunday at 1 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
Georgia Southern 8, UNC Greensboro 3
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern’s Matt Murray pitched seven-plus innings and A.J. Wirnsberger hit a two-run homer as the Eagles defeated UNC Greensboro 8-3 in a Southern Conference game on Saturday (March 27) at J.I. Clements Stadium.
Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) was 2-for-3 with three RBI to lead the Eagles, who were clinging to a 4-3 lead before posting four insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Georgia Southern improved to 13-11 overall and 6-2 in the conference with its second consecutive win. The Spartans dropped to 11-11 and 0-5 with their sixth straight loss.
Murray (3-1), a Spring City, Pa., native opened the game with 4.2 perfect innings, retiring the first 14 batters consecutively. Murray finished the game allowing three earned runs on six hits with six strikeouts, no walks and one hit batter. Relievers Dexter Bobo (Cumming, Ga.) and Colin Snow (Alpharetta, Ga.) worked two perfect innings to close out the game for the Eagles.
“I was proud of Matt [Murray]. After kind of a rough outing last week (against Wofford), it was good to see him bounce back and pick himself up today,” said head coach Rodney Hennon. “We got him some runs early which I thought was big. He did a nice job for us, and I thought both of the guys who came out of the bullpen did a nice job as well.”
Meanwhile, Georgia Southern collected eight hits and drew seven walks from four Spartan pitchers, who also hit four batters.
A crowd of 1,529 watched as the Eagles jumped out to a quick lead in the bottom of the first. Kyle Blackburn (Marietta, Ga.) drew a two-out walk and Wirnsberger followed with his team-leading eighth home run of the season, a blast that cleared the fence just to the left of the scoreboard in left-center field.
After Steve Cochrane (Mooresville, N.C.) walked and stole second, Eric Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.) delivered an RBI single to put Georgia Southern up 3-0.
The Eagles added another run and chased Spartan starter Tyler Hollstegge in the bottom of the fourth. Michael Burruss (Marietta, Ga.) led off with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball. The redshirt-freshman then moved to third on Roman Grimaldi’s (Duluth, Ga.) groundout to the first baseman before scoring on an Arthur Owens’ (Fayetteville, Ga.) sacrifice fly to right field.
Murray retired the first 14 batters he faced on six strikeouts, five grounders and three fly balls. With two out in the top of the fifth, Zach Leach lined a 0-1 pitch into the left field for UNCG’s first hit of the day. Drew Gehringer followed with an infield single that put runners on first and second, but Murray got a groundball to the third baseman to end the inning.
Trailing 4-0, the Spartans scored their first two runs in the top of the sixth. Kris Richard led off the inning with his first home run of the season and Joey Frabasile added an RBI groundout to the shortstop.
After Richards led off the top of the eighth with a double, Murray gave way to Bobo. Richards moved to third on a balk before Bobo got the first out of the inning on a comebacker to the mound. Harry Slade followed with an RBI groundball to the second baseman and the next batter flew out to center field to end the inning.
With its lead cut to 4-3, Georgia Southern batted around in the bottom of the eighth. Shawn Payne (Stone Mountain, Ga.) led off with a single, stole second, and advanced to third on Grimaldi’s sacrifice bunt. Owens was hit by a pitch before Kevin Bowles (Statesboro, Ga.) beat out a bunt single that scored Payne.
After Blackburn walked to load the bases, Wirnsberger lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Owens. Phillips followed with a groundball to the shortstop, but his throw to the second baseman for the force out sailed into right field, allowing two unearned runs to score, pushing the score out to 8-3.
Snow pitched the ninth inning and retired the side in order on a strikeout and two groundballs to the third baseman.
Hollstegge (0-2) was charged with the loss. In 3.2 innings, he allowed four runs (all earned) on four hits with two strikeouts, four walks and two hit batters.
With inclement weather expected in the Statesboro area late tomorrow, the teams moved the finale game up to a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday (March 28).
Elon 12, Davidson 4
Elon 4, Davidson 2 (11 inn.)
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- After taking the first game of a double-header, 12-4, the Elon Phoenix used a pair of late-game, two-run home runs to steal the second, 4-2 in 11 innings, completing the SoCon series sweep Saturday at Wilson Field.
Davidson (13-11, 4-5 SoCon) held Elon (15-9, 5-4 SoCon) to just two hits as sophomore right-hander Ryan Overcash and junior submariner Mike Frongello combined for eight shutout innings. The 'Cats carried a 2-0 lead into the top of the ninth, but two-run blasts from first baseman Ryan Adams and short stop Neal Pritchard in the ninth and 11th proved the difference.
Taking over to start the top of the ninth, junior closer Andy Bass (0-2) was tagged with the loss. Bass retired center fielder Niko Fraser on strikes before dealing a one-out walk to catcher Mike Melillo, and Adams homered in the next at-bat to tie the score.
Davidson sent its five, six and seven-hole hitters to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, but couldn't do anything with a two-out walk to freshman short stop Michael Zeblo (1-for-4). Bass gave up a two-out double to third baseman Scott Riddle in the 10th but picked up his third strikeout to limit the damage. The Wildcats, though, would send just three hitters to the plate in the 10th, and Pritchard hit a two-out, two-run home run in the 11th that proved the game-winner.
Junior designated hitter Danny Weiss (1-for-5) gave Davidson some life in the bottom of the 11th, hitting a one-out double past left fielder Matt Hinson off Adams, who moved over from first. After freshman third baseman Andrew Barna grounded out for the second out, pinch hitter Tommy Piacenza was hit by a pitch for a Davidson single-season record 56th time to put the tying run on base, but Zeblo grounded out to end the game.
Adams earned his second save of the season, allowing just the lone hit to Weiss in the final inning, and right-handed reliever Thomas Girdwood moved to 3-0 with 1 1/3 innings of hit-less relief.
Both starters were excellent in the third game of the series. Elon's right-hander Jared Kernodle scattered five hits for two runs (one earned) and struck out a career-high 10 batters through 7 2/3 innings. For Davidson, Overcash went six shutout innings in the no-decision, allowing just two hits and striking out a career-best eight hitters.
The Wildcats got a run in both the first and second innings of the night cap, as sophomore center fielder Drew Gadaire (2-for-4, RBI) doubled in sophomore second baseman James Cerbie (1-for-4) in the opening frame, and Zeblo (single) scored on a sacrifice fly from freshman right fielder Coleman Barron (1-for-3, RBI) in the second.
Elon was in control for the duration of the first game, opening up a 6-1 lead behind a four-spot in the fourth, and added six more over the final three frames en route to the 12-4 win.
Junior right-hander Ian Horkley (2-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs on seven hits and striking out four in 3 1/3 innings in the start. Elon's right-hander Daniel Britt (2-2) earned the win, allowing just two runs on seven hits and striking out five in six innings.
Elon got a run in the first on an RBI-double by Pritchard and jumped out to a 5-0 lead with four runs on three hits, including RBI-doubles by Hinson and right fielder Justin Hilt, in the fourth. Davidson got a run back in the bottom of the inning when junior first baseman Matt Ray doubled in Weiss (double), but Elon added another score in the fifth on an RBI-single by catcher Alex Swim.
Gadaire drove in another run for Davidson, plating Payne (single) on a two-out base hit in the fifth, but the Phoenix took control of the game with four runs in the seventh on two hits and an error, and scored two more in the eighth on two hits and an error to jump out to a 12-2 lead.
The Wildcats added their final scores in the bottom of the ninth as Payne drove in pinch hitter Calvin Sigelbaum (double) and Zeblo (walk), but the deficit proved too great as Cerbie and Gadaire were retired to give Elon the 12-4 win.
Davidson returns to action at UNC Greensboro Tuesday for a 7 p.m. game in the first of three separate, midweek SoCon meetings between the team. After hosting Samford over the weekend, the Wildcats will travel back to Greensboro for the second game, April 7, and conclude the regular-season series with the Spartans, April 28.
The Citadel 2, Appalachian State 1
Charleston, S.C. - Josh Pless' first career hit came at a good time for the Bulldogs, as his flair to left field sent the Bulldogs to a walk-off 2-1 win against Appalachian State in the bottom of the ninth in front of a home season-high crowd of 1,112 fans at Riley Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Citadel (17-6, 8-0) loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth against Mountaineers reliever Chris Patterson as Bryan Altman (Summerville, S.C.) led off the inning with a shot to deep center that was caught on a leaping catch by center fielder Tyler Zupcic that sent him crashing into the wall. David Greene (Colubmia, S.C.) then reached base on a bloop single down the right field line. A base knock by Kyle Jordan (Goose Creek, S.C.) up the middle sent Greene to third and prompted Appalachian State to intentionally walk Justin Mackert (Cleveland, Ohio) to get to the true freshman Pless (Boiling Springs, S.C.) with the bases loaded and one out.
Up 3-1 in the count, Pless smacked the pitch from Patterson to shallow left field allowing Greene to score the winning run from third and gave the Bulldogs an 8-0 record in the Southern Conference. Pless entered the game as a defensive replacement in the eighth and was 0-for-4 on the season entering the game. Chris Boyce (Simpsonville, S.C.) picked up the win in relief and improved to 4-0 this season as he went 2.0 scoreless innings, allowing a hit, a walk and striking out two.
"I was a little bit nervous coming up, but I knew I was ready to swing and was hoping for the best," said Pless. "It's the type of situation that hitter's dream about and you've got to come up and make the best of it. It's important to keep the momentum going that our team is carrying right now."
Appalachian State (14-5-1, 2-5-1) struck first in what turned out to be a pitcher's duel. Designated hitter Jeremy Dowdy doubled in the top of the second off Bulldog starter Matt Talley (Sumter, S.C.). A single two batters later by left fielder Chris Alessandria gave the Mountaineers a 1-0 lead.
The Bulldogs would even the score in the bottom of the third when Mackert walked on four pitches from ASU starter Tyler Jackson to start the frame. Legare Jones (Columbia, S.C.) then followed with a base hit and both runners would then advance a base on a balk by Jackson. Nick Orvin (Moncks Corner, S.C.) singled to left field to score Mackert from third.
Jackson went 6.1 innings for the Mountaineers, allowing five hits, one run, two walks and two strikeouts in a no-decision on 83 pitches. For the second game in a row, no ASU hitter had more than one hit. The Mountaineers did turn three double plays on the afternoon.
Talley went 6.0 innings for The Citadel, allowing four hits, one run, two walks and striking out eight on 110 pitches, also in a no-decision. The eight punch-outs for Talley are the most of his career. Leading the Bulldog offense was Jordan, who went 2-for-4, while Orvin also went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Raymond Copenhaver (Apopka, Fla.) pitched a perfect seventh inning as he relieved Talley.
"Pless battled hard and got himself in a positive count and had a flair drop that was great for this ballclub because they fought all day," said Bulldogs Head Coach Fred Jordan. "Both left-handed starters did a good job controlling the leadoff hitters and made quality pitches with runners in scoring position this afternoon. It is Southern Conference baseball, as tough as it gets, and you have to go out and perform each day to come out with a win."
The Citadel concludes the three-game series with Appalachian State at Riley Park on Sunday at 1 p.m.
New Mexico State 6, Wofford 5
New Mexico State 6, Wofford 4 (7 inn.)
LAS CRUCES, N.M. ? The Wofford baseball team lost both games of a doubleheader at New Mexico State University by a combined three runs at Presley Askew Field on Saturday. In the first nine-inning contest, the Aggies came back and won 6-5 with a run in the bottom of the ninth. The second game was seven-innings and New Mexico State won 6-4 with two runs in the sixth.
Wofford is 8-14 on the season, while New Mexico State is 16-10 overall. For the day, James Foster, Mac Doyle and Kyle Behrendt each had four hits, while Konstantine Diamaduros had three RBIs on two hits.
In the first game, the Terriers got on the board in the top of the second when Taylor Rozier hit a ball down the right line to score Konstantine Diamaduros who had reached on a walk to lead off the inning.
Wofford added two singles from James Foster and Kyle Behrendt in the top of the third, but a double play ended the Terriers’ half of the inning. The Aggies left two runners on base in the bottom of the fourth inning.
In the top of the sixth, Kyle Behrendt reached on an error. With two out, Konstantine Diamaduros hit a ball over the right center fence to score two runs as Wofford took a 3-0 lead. The Aggies got on the board in the bottom of the sixth when Ben Harty hit a two-run homer down the left line for a 3-2 game.
The Terriers had a single from David Roney in the top of the seventh and he moved to second on a wild pitch. A single to deep left by Alex Lee drove in Roney for a 4-2 lead. In the bottom of the seventh, the Aggies had runners on first and second after an error and walk, but stranded both.
New Mexico State loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth. A single to right by Parker Hipp scored one run and Wesley Starkes tied the game at 4-4 when he reached on an error. Leo Aguayo reached on an error which scored a third run in the inning for a 5-4 advantage.
Wofford led off the top of the ninth with a double to left by Taylor Rozier. A single by Landon Bennett that dropped into center moved the pinch runner Josh McKinney to third for two runners on and no outs. David Roney reached on a fielder’s choice that brought home McKinney to tie the game at 5.
Ben Harty opened the bottom of the ninth with a double down the left line. A single by Kyle Decater moved the runner to third and an intentional walk loaded the bases. With one out, Parker Hipp hit a single to left field to score the winning run in the 6-5 contest.
For the Terriers, starter J.D. Osborne went 6.2 innings and allowed five hits with two unearned runs plus four strikeouts. Drew Sheridan threw 1.1 innings and allowed four runs on three hits with one strikeout. Cash Collins (0-1) went the final third of an inning and gave up two hits.
New Mexico State starter Justin Cooper threw seven innings and gave up eight hits and four runs with two strikeouts. Ryan Beck went an inning and allowed two hits. Cory Hill (1-0) threw the ninth and gave up one run on two hits.
In the second game, Wofford got on the board in the top of the first when Kyle Behrendt reached on an error and a double down the left line by Mac Doyle scored Behrendt for a 1-0 lead. The Aggies answered in the bottom of the first with back-to-back doubles and an RBI single by Leo Aguirre for a 2-1 advantage.
New Mexico State added a run in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by Nate Shaver. To open the third for Wofford, James Foster had a single and Kyle Behrendt added a double. A single by Mac Doyle drove in Foster and a sacrifice fly by Taylor Rozier tied the game at 3-3.
The Aggies regained the lead in the bottom of the third when Jared Jordan hit an RBI single to left field. Wofford left one runner on in the fourth and New Mexico State left two on base in the bottom of the fourth. The Terriers opened the fifth with singles from Kyle Behrendt and Mac Doyle, but both runners were stranded.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Aggies had a walk and single to begin the inning. A double play erased one runner, but an infield single by Leo Aguirre added a run. A double to the left center wall by Christopher Auten gave the Aggies a 6-3 lead. Wofford had Kyle Behrendt hit a double in the top of the seventh, and a double by Konstantine Diamaduros drove in Behrendt for a 6-4 score that proved to be the final.
Wofford starter Gus White (2-3) went 2.1 innings and allowed six hits and four runs. Pete Noordsy threw two thirds of an inning and allowed one hit. Ryan Traylor got two outs in the fourth inning, including one strikeout. Cash Collins went 2.1 innings with four hits and two runs allowed with two strikeouts.
For the Aggies, starter Dan Reid (3-1) went six innings and allowed eight hits and three runs along with six strikeouts. Scott Coffman pitched the top of the seventh and allowed one run on two hits to earn the save.
Wofford will complete the four-game series against New Mexico State on Sunday at 3:00 pm ET before concluding the road trip with a two-game series at Vanderbilt on March 30 and 31.