Western Carolina 5, Wofford 4
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - A three-run rally in the fifth and sixth innings helped Western Carolina down Wofford, 5-4, on Friday evening at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. WCU (20-8-1, 4-5-1 SoCon) staved off a late rally by the Terriers (9-20, 3-7 SoCon) to win their fourth consecutive game.
The Catamounts held a 2-1 lead until the Terriers put up a two-spot to take the lead, 3-2, in the top of the fifth. WCU then reeled off three unanswered runs to lead Wofford, 5-3. The Terriers answered with a run in the eighth inning, but stranded a trio of runners in the last two frames. Overall, the Cats edged the Terriers, 10-to-9, in the hit column.
Starter Jason Sullivan (4-1) notched the win after missing last weekend's Friday start. The right-hander fanned six Terriers, giving up three runs in five and third innings pitched. Closer Daniel Ottone faced four Wofford batters to earn his sixth save of the season for WCU.
Nine different Catamounts collected hits in Friday's contest as senior Trevor Collias led the squad with a 2-for-5 evening as the leadoff batter.
Tyler White and Cameron Dullnig both had productive days by driving in two Catamount runners each. In his first at bat, White took a walk with the bases loaded, to tie the game at 1-1.
Collias' roped single down the right field line which allowed Dylan de Graaf to score the go-ahead, 2-1, run in the top of the second. Wofford tallied a pair of runs in the fifth to again take a, 3-2, advantage over WCU.
A two-RBI single to deep right field by Dullnig allowed White and catcher Ollie Goulder to score to give WCU the, 4-3, lead.
White answered with his second RBI in the sixth inning as a single up the middle drove in fellow freshman Cory Cronan.
Reliever Andrew Chilcoat relieved one Wofford batter in his situational relief appearance. Rookie left-hander Mat Batts followed for an inning and a third of work, giving up one Wofford run before Brandon Johnson took over in the eighth.
Johnson, a native of Morehead City, N.C., tossed an inning of scoreless work, setting the table for the closer. Ottone finished the job in four batters faced. In total, the Catamount pitching staff combined for 11 Terrier strikeouts.
Matt Doyle set the pace for Wofford with a 3-for-4 performance with two RBIs and a walk. Terrier starter Tom Dolinak (0-2) took the loss by surrendering four runs, two earned in four and a third innings tossed. The right-hander recorded a career-high seven strikeouts in the decision.
Game two of the weekend series is scheduled for a 3 pm start at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium on Saturday. Live GameTracker coverage of the event will be available online at CatamountSports.com.
Prior to Saturday afternoon's game, author Bethany Bradsher and Lynn LeClair, the widow of former WCU player and coach the late Keith LeClair, will be on hand selling and signing copies of the new book, "Coaching Third: the Keith LeClair Story" which documents the baseball life and battle with ALS - otherwise known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Bradsher and LeClair will be at the City Lights Bookstore in Sylva from 11 am until 1:30 pm, and at the stadium beginning at 2 pm.
Furman 11, #26 College of Charleston 3
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Furman's Ian Parry pitched his best game of the season and his teammates combined to club five home runs en route to an 11-3 win over 26th-ranked College of Charleston in Southern Conference baseball action Friday evening at Latham Stadium.
Parry, a senior right-hander from Naples, Fla., tamed the Cougars' bats over eight strong innings, allowing only three hits and a run while walking two and fanning eight, to help Furman (10-20, 4-9 SoCon) post its fifth consecutive victory over College of Charleston (23-9, 8-5 SoCon) in Greenville.
Parry (2-3) surrendered a solo home run in the second, a single in the third, and a double in the fourth before holding the Cougars hitless over his final four frames and striking out the side in the seventh. His eight innings matched a career high.
He was supported by a potent Paladin offense that pounded out 15 hits, including five home runs. Will Owens, Aaron Thompkins, Will Muzika, Will Miller, and J.B. Jenkins all went deep for the Paladins, who now have 42 home runs on the season. Last year Furman recorded 45 roundtrippers in 55 games.
Batting leadoff, Owens hit the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the first inning over the left field fence on the way to a 3-for-5 performance.
Jenkins belted a one-out solo shot in the second to put Furman ahead 2-1, and three batters later Aaron Thompkins directed a pitch by Cougar starting pitcher Christian Powell (4-2) to right center field and out of the ballpark for a two-run blast that extended the advantage to 4-1.
Leading 5-1 after three, the Paladins blew the game open with a six-run fourth, highlighted by a two-run clout by Muzika, his ninth of the year and part of his 3-for-5, 3-RBI evening, and three-run shot to left field by Miller on the first offering he saw from College of Charleston reliever Robert Jeroszko.
Eight of the Paladins' nine starters scratched in the hit column and all nine scored.
Greg Blake had two of College of Charelston's five hits, including a two-run home run in the ninth off Paladin reliever Kevin Gottlieb.
The two teams play game two of the series Saturday at 5:00 p.m.
Appalachian State 10, Davidson 8
BOONE, N.C. - Jason Wallace hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift Appalachian State University baseball to a 10-8 come-from-behind victory over visiting Davidson on Friday night at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.
Wallace came into the evening hitting just .163 on the season and without a home run since Appalachian's seventh game of the year (March 5 vs. Rider) but drove a 1-2 pitch from Davidson side-armer Mike Frongello deep over the left center field fence to turn an 8-7 deficit into a 10-8 Mountaineer lead.
Ironically, the game-winning blast came only after Wallace twice failed in attempts to lay down a sacrifice bunt. ASU's David Towarnicky led off the eighth with a walk and Ryan Stetson followed with a single to put runners on first and second base.
After Wallace's go-ahead homer, Mountaineer closer Chris Patterson worked a dominant ninth to seal the win and earn his eighth save of the season. Patterson, whose eight saves would have matched a school record before all-America closer Zach Quate shattered the mark with 11 saves a season ago, struck out two and needed just 10 pitches to send Davidson packing in the ninth.
Friday's game appeared to be shaping into a pitchers' duel early on with Davidson clinging to a 1-0 lead after three innings. However, the offenses came to life in the fourth and both clubs scored seven runs over the next three stanzas, leaving the Wildcats with an 8-7 advantage going into the seventh.
ASU reliever Taylor Miller and Frongello kept it at 8-7 until Wallace's three-run shot gave the Mountaineers the lead for good. Miller (4-0) allowed just one run and struck out three over 2.2 innings out of the bullpen to earn the win. Frongello (2-3) suffered the loss after surrendering four runs in three innings of relief.
In addition to Wallace's 2-for-3, three-RBI performance, Stetson went 3-for-4 and scored twice and Wes Hobson hit his seventh homer of the season to pace ASU offensively. Danny Weiss had two hits, two RBI and scored two runs to lead Davidson (13-17, 4-11 SoCon).
With the victory, Appalachian reached the 20-win plateau at 20-7-1, marking the fewest games that ASU has needed to win 20 since it also won 20 of its first 28 contests in 1989. The Mountaineers moved to 5-7-1 in Southern Conference play.
The two teams continue their three-game SoCon series on Saturday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Smith Stadium.
Elon 10, Georgia Southern 3
ELON, N.C. -- A six-run seventh inning turned a tight contest into a comfortable lead for the Elon Phoenix which picked up a 10-3 Southern Conference baseball victory over the Georgia Southern Eagles from Latham Park on Friday night. Elon, which has now scored 10 or more runs in each of its last four SoCon games, improved to 21-10 overall and 9-4 in league play. Georgia Southern dropped to 15-15, 7-6 on the year.
Elon put together the first real scoring threat of the evening in the bottom of the first. With one out, Alex Swim lined a single down the right field line. Mike Melillo followed with a single through the right side before Neal Pritchard was hit for the 13th time on the season to load the bases. Ryan Adams worked a 3-2 count before drawing a walk to force Swim home with the first run of the contest. The Phoenix was unable to grab a bigger lead, however, as Seth Canipe smashed a line drive at Eagle third baseman A.J. Wirnsberger who made the catch and stepped on third to complete the inning-ending double play.
The Phoenix kept the attack going in the second. Matt Hinson singled to lead off the inning and stole second with two outs before Justin Hilt singled off the umpire in the middle of the field to put runners on the corners. Swim followed with a single to center to plate Hinson to make it a 2-0 game.
Georgia Southern got a run back in the fourth when Eric Phillips singled home Wirnsberger from second with two outs. Elon ended the inning on that play when Phillips was gunned down trying to advance to second.
The Phoenix edged back ahead by two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Swim got things started with a one-out single to center and then went to second on a balk. Melillo's single through the right side allowed Swim to race home from second just ahead of the throw in from the Eagle right fielder.
Scott Riddle reached on a fielder's choice in the sixth before stealing second and taking third on a wild pitch. Riddle would rush home with the fourth Phoenix tally of the contest when Harry Austin grounded out to first.
Elon blew the game open in the seventh. The Phoenix loaded the bases before Adams belted a bases-clearing double to the gap in right-center to up the advantage to 7-1. A Hinson single to right made it an 8-1 Elon lead as pinch-runner Matt Kirchner scored from second. Riddle then upped the Phoenix's edge to 10-1 as he belted his first career homer off the batter's eye in center field.
With one away in the top of the eighth, Georgia Southern loaded the bases after Kevin Bowles was hit by a pitch and both Kyle Blackburn and Wirnsberger singled. Phillips then drew a walk to force Bowles in with the second Eagle run of the night. Melillo tried to pick Phillips off of first, but the throw went down the right field line and Blackburn was able to trot home. A walk to Victor Roache reloaded the bases before John Brebbia got Vince Smith to ground into a 4-6-3 double play.
Jimmy Reyes was solid on the mound for Elon as he improved to 4-3 on the year. Reyes allowed just one run on five hits over seven innings. He also struck out six and is now one K away from entering the program's career top-10 chart in that category.
Jake Brown fell to 4-4 after he surrendered four runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings.
Swim posted his first-career four-hit game, going 4-for-5 with three runs scored and one RBI. Adams drove in three runs with a 1-for-3 night. Riddle's homer extended his hitting streak to a personal-best five games.
For the Eagles, Phillips recorded the team's only two RBI with a 1-for-3 game. Wirnsberger scored once while going 2-for-4. Shawn Payne also turned in a 2-for-4 performance.
The two squads will face off in game two of the three-game set at 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon from Latham Park.
Samford 9, UNC Greensboro 5
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford baseball team claimed its eighth-straight Southern Conference win with a 9-5 victory over UNC Greensboro Friday night at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
With the win, Samford improves to 18-11 overall and 9-1 in Southern Conference play. UNC Greensboro drops to 14-16 overall and 2-10 in SoCon play.
Samford was led at the plate by Gary Cramer, going 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBI. Mason Meredith and David Schulze each hit solo home runs in the game. Overall, Schulze was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Wayne Miller, Stephen Ballard and Brad Moss had two hits each for the Bulldogs.
Michael Gunter earned the win on the mound for Samford, pitching an inning in relief, giving up just one hit. Jonathan Stephens started the game, pitching 4.2 innings, giving up four runs, only two earned, on six hits. Andrew Jones pitched 2.1 innings in relief of Gunter, giving up no runs on just two hits. Lex Rutledge closed the game for the Bulldogs, pitching one hitless inning.
For UNC Greensboro at the plate, Kris Richards went 2-for-4 with a home run and one RBI. Harry Slade and Chris Barker each went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Spartans. Warren Slack pitched 3.0 innings, giving up five runs on eight hits to take the loss.
Samford jumped on top first with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Miller singled through the right side of the infield to lead off the inning. After advancing to second base on a passed ball and third base on a wild pitch, Miller scored when Meredeth reached base on a fielder's choice for a 1-0 Samford lead.
UNC Greensboro came back with four runs in the fifth inning to cut the Samford lead to 5-4. Richards homered to left field to start the rally. Ray Quinones hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Slade to make the score 5-2. Ed Jayjack later doubled to right field to drive in Corey Overholtzer and Barker to bring UNCG to within one run.
Samford added a run in the sixth inning to make the score 6-4. Meredeth hit a solo home run to left field, his eighth of the season, for a two-run Samford lead.
The Bulldogs plated three runs in the seventh inning to push their lead to 9-4. Miller tripled to right-center field to drive in Moss and Cramer for the first two runs of the inning. Miller scored the inning's final run on a wild pitch for a five-run Samford lead.
UNC Greensboro added one final run in the top of the ninth inning to make the final score 9-5. Quinones hit a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Slade for the game's final run.
The teams will continue their three-game series with a game Saturday at 1 p.m. CT.
The Citadel 4, Indiana State 3
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Justin Mackert's RBI single to center gave The Citadel a comeback win over Indiana State on a windy Friday afternoon at Riley Park, 4-3, in front of 3,525 fans.
The Citadel (23-9) entered the bottom of the ninth down 3-2. A pair of singles by William Ladd and Nick Orvin to lead off the bottom of the frame chased Indiana State reliever Scott Harlan. New ISU pitcher Tyler Browning then entered and hit Brad Felder with his first pitch to load the bases. A balk on the next pitch by Browning scored Ladd to tie the game. An intentional walk to Matt Simonelli would re-load the bases and Justin Mackert then shot a single over the head of the center fielder to score Orvin and give the Bulldogs the 4-3 walk-off win.
Indiana State (18-9) got on the board early against Bulldog starter Asher Wojciechowski as leadoff man Ryan Strausborger singled on the first pitch of the game, then proceeded to steal second and third base and would come around to score as catcher Grant Richards' errant throw at third sailed into left field to put the Sycamores ahead, 1-0.
The Bulldogs would tie the game in the bottom of the third as Felder hit his team-leading ninth home run over the center field wall.
The two teams would both put up a run in the sixth as ISU right fielder Robby Ort homered to right field on the first pitch from Wojciechowski to make it 2-1. Mackert singled to lead off the bottom of the frame, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and would come around to score on an RBI single to right field by Josh Pless to knot the game at two.
Ort would homer again in the eighth off Wojciechowski, this time just inside the foul pole down the left field line to give Indiana State a 3-2 lead.
Wojciechowski went 8.0 innings, allowing six hits, three runs, no walk and striking out six on 111 pitches. Sycamore starter Jacob Petricka went 6.0 innings, allowing seven hits, two runs, two walks and five strikeouts on 100 pitches.
Raymond Copenhaver earned the win in relief as he danced around a leadoff single to pitch a scoreless ninth inning to improve to 2-1 as he struck out a pair of Sycamore batters. Harlan (1-1) took the loss for Indiana State, going 0.1 innings, allowing two hits and two runs.
Mackert went 3-for-5 to lead the Bulldogs with an RBI and run scored. It was the second game-winning RBI single for Mackert this week as his base knock at Wofford on Sunday gave the Bulldogs an 8-7 win in 10 innings over the Terriers. Felder went 2-for-3 with a homer, a run scored, an RBI and was hit by a pair of pitches. Leading ISU was Ort, who went 3-for-4 with two runs and a pair of RBI. He is the first player to homer twice in a game against The Citadel this season.
The Citadel continues their series with Indiana State on Saturday at 2p.m.