Samford 7, Alabama 5
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Samford baseball team built a five-run lead and held on late for a 7-5 win at Alabama Tuesday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Samford improves to 21-11 with the win, while Alabama drops to 21-12. The win was Samford's second-straight over the Crimson Tide, as the Bulldogs claimed a 14-13, 10-inning win late last season at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
Samford starting pitcher Michael Gunter pitched 2.0 innings, giving up one run on three hits to earn the win. Freshman closer Lex Rutledge tossed the final 2.1 innings, giving up no runs on two hits and striking out five batters to earn his seventh save of the season.
"Lex was dynamite tonight," Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. "For a freshman to come in and pitch that well in that situation speaks volumes for him."
Samford was led at the plate by Mason Meredeth, going 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI. David Schulze was 3-for-5 with an RBI, while Wayne Miller went 3-for-5. Michael Johnson went 2-for-4 with his fourth home run of the season.
For Alabama, Jon Kelton went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Brett Whitaker pitched 3.0 innings, giving up two runs on four hits to take the loss.
Samford jumped on top first with a run in the top of the first inning. Miller reached base on an infield hit to lead off the inning. Miller then moved to second base on an Alabama error and then scored when Stephen Ballard singled to center field for a 1-0 Samford lead.
Alabama came back to tie the score with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Taylor Dugas singled to lead off the inning. Dugas later scored when Clay Jones singled to left field to make the score 1-1.
Samford plated a run in the third inning and another in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead. In the third inning, Meredeth doubled with one out and then scored on a single by Schulze to give Samford the lead. In the fourth inning, Johnson led the inning off with a home run to right field for a two-run Samford lead.
Samford added three runs in the top of the sixth inning to push its lead to 6-1. Meredeth singled to drive in Brad Moss and Miller for the first two runs in the inning. Gary Cramer later singled to drive in Meredeth for a five-run Samford lead.
Alabama came back with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the Samford lead to 6-4. Andrew Miller singled to drive in Jake Smith for Alabama's first run of the inning. Dugas then hit a sacrifice fly to drive in David Kindred to make the score 6-3. Kelton later singled to drive in Brock Bennett to pull Alabama to within two runs.
Alabama plated another run in the bottom of the seventh to cut the Samford lead to 6-5. Dugas walked with the bases loaded to score Ross Wilson for Alabama's fifth run of the game.
Samford added one final run in the top of the eighth inning to make the final score 7-5. Meredeth singled to drive in Miller for the game's final run.
Samford will return to action on Friday, April 16, when the Bulldogs open a three-game Southern Conference series at Georgia Southern. Friday's series-opener is scheduled for a 6 p.m. (CT) start from Statesboro, Ga.
Davidson 4, Duke 2
CARY, N.C. - Sophomore right-hander Brian Russell allowed just one run on four hits in a career-high six innings, freshman shortstop Michael Zeblo drove in three runs, and the Davidson Wildcats turned a season-high four double plays to defeat the Duke Blue Devils, 4-2, in non-conference action Tuesday at the USA Baseball Complex.
Davidson (14-19) started the scoring in the second inning, as senior catcher Tommy Piacenza (1-for-4), Zeblo and sophomore left fielder Seth Freeman (1-for-4, RBI) put together three consecutive hits for a 3-0 lead. Zeblo, who led the Wildcats at the plate by batting 2-for-4 with three RBI, doubled in both junior designated hitter Will General (1-for-2) and Piacenza (1-for-4), and scored himself on the third straight hit, Freeman's base hit to left center.
Duke (19-14) got a run back in the third on back-to-back, two-out hits, as Jake Lemmerman (1-for-3, 2 RBI) doubled in Ryan McCurdy (3-for-4). Otherwise, the Blue Devils had no answer for Russell (W, 3-1), who scattered four hits for just the lone run through six innings in just his second start of the season.
And the Davidson defense did its job, turning a season-high four double plays. After a two-out base hit to Will Currier (1-for-3) in the first, Russell got a ground ball from Jeremy Gould for the third out on a fielder's choice to sophomore second baseman Calvin Sigelbaum. He walked a batter in both the second and fourth, but the Wildcats turned a double play to end each inning. And after retiring three straight in the fourth, he gave up a leadoff single to McCurdy, who was doubled up by junior first baseman Danny Weiss on Lemmerman's liner for Davidson's third double play.
Russell plunked Will Piwnica-Worms to start the seventh inning and bring on junior right-hander Andy Bass, who got the fourth double-play ball from Dennis O'Grady (1-for-4) as Zeblo, Sigelbaum and Weiss turned two, before Zeblo ended the inning by throwing out Brian Litwin at first.
Duke cut Davidson's lead to just a run, 3-2, on Lemmerman's sacrifice fly in the eighth. Marcus Stroman (2-for-4) singled to lead off and took second on a sacrifice bunt before moving around to third on McCurdy's third hit of the game. Junior submariner Mike Frongello took the mound, as Lemmerman flew out to junior right fielder Sam Payne to plate the Blue Devils' second run. Frongello walked Currier to keep the Blue Devil rally alive, but Zeblo touched second for the third out as Gould grounded into a fielder's choice.
The Wildcats added an insurance run in the ninth when Sigelbaum led off with a base hit into left field, was sacrificed successfully by General and moved to third as Piacenza grounded out. Zeblo drove in his third run of the game as he legged out a two-out base hit to shortstop Lemmerman in the hole, diving safely at first as Sigelbaum gave the 'Cats a 4-2 lead.
Frongello (S, 1) gave up a one-out base hit to O'Grady in the bottom of the ninth and a two-out single to Stroman, but earned his first save of the season as Sigelbaum got the final out of the game on a fielder's choice from Brady.
Eric Pfisterer (L, 2-4) took the loss for the Blue Devils, allowing four runs on 10 hits and striking out seven in the complete effort.
The Wildcats, who snapped a 12-game losing streak, split the 2010 series with the Blue Devils, after losing the March 23 game, 2-6, in Davidson.
Davidson will continue its non-conference play when it hosts NC Central for a double-header Saturday at 1 p.m. and returns a game to the Eagles Sunday at 2 p.m.
Elon 5, Liberty 3
LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Ken Ferrer struck out a career-high eight hitters in six innings while Thomas Girdwood established a new Southern Conference record with his 30th career save as the Elon Phoenix picked up a 5-3 baseball victory over the Liberty Flames on Tuesday evening.
Ferrer improved to 6-2 after scattering five hits during his stint. All three Liberty runs were charged to the Phoenix starter, but were unearned. Bobby Kennedy and Kyle Webb kept the Flames scoreless for 1.2 innings before Girdwood came on to close out the contest. Girdwood was perfect during his 1.1 innings on the mound, striking out one.
Following a scoreless first inning, Elon (22-12) threatened in the second as it loaded the bases with no outs. Unfortunately, the Phoenix would not score as a fielder's choice cut down the lead runner at home for the first out before a strikeout and ground out ended the inning.
Liberty (22-10) followed by loading the bases in the bottom of the inning and looked like it would take the lead when Curran Redal lined a ball down the right field line with two outs, but Justin Hilt had other ideas as he robbed Redal of extra bases with a diving catch to keep the Flames off the board.
Matt Hinson gave Elon a 1-0 advantage in the fourth when he belted a one-out homer down the right field line into a howling wind. It was the team-leading ninth home run of the season for Hinson. With two away, Hilt singled and stole second before scoring on Ben Scott's double just inside the bag at third that went into the left field corner.
Matt Williams led off the Liberty fourth with a walk, stole second and went to third on a ground out. Justin Richardson then hit a ground ball back to Ferrer and the big pitcher threw home, but the throw was not handled and Williams scored. On the play, Richardson ended up at second. He then scored the tying run on Jeff Jefferson's single. Elon threw to the plate to try and get Richardson, but the throw was late and Jefferson ended up on second thanks to the throw to the plate. Redal's pop up on the infield should have ended the inning, but the ball fell between four Phoenix fielders for a single which plated Jefferson to give Liberty a 3-2 lead.
Elon loaded the bases with two singles and a walk with one out in the fifth before Hinson's ground out to first allowed Alex Swim to score from third to even the score at 3-3. Scott Riddle then gave the Phoenix a 5-3 edge with a single up the middle that scored both Ryan Adams and Neal Pritchard.
Swim, Pritchard and Scott all had two-hit games while Hinson and Riddle each drove in two runs for the Phoenix.
Redal recorded two of Liberty's seven hits on the night.
Cameron Giannini was charged with the loss, falling to 2-2 on the year. He allowed all five Phoenix runs in 4.1 innings.
Elon, which improved to 12-3 on the road this season, will travel again on Wednesday when the Phoenix visits Wake Forest for a 6 p.m. game.
Georgia Southern 6, Jacksonville 5
STATESBORO, Ga. ? Eric Phillips tied the game with a solo home run in the sixth inning and drilled a walk-off RBI single in the ninth as Georgia Southern took a 6-5 non-conference win over Jacksonville Tuesday night (April 13). Phillips finished the game 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored sending the Eagles past the Dolphins at J.I. Clements Stadium.
Georgia Southern improved to 18-15 with the win, while Jacksonville watched its record dip to 17-17 overall. The Eagles have now taken two straight from the Atlantic Sun program.
Trailing by one entering the bottom of the ninth, the Eagles put the tying run on base with a leadoff walk from Jake Ware (Statesboro, Ga.). A sacrifice bunt from Arthur Owens (Fayetteville, Ga.) put Ware on second before Kevin Bowles (Statesboro, Ga.) hit a slow roller up the middle for a single. But a wild throw from Dolphin shortstop Jamaal Hawkins allowed Ware, who reached third on the infield single, to score, knotting the game at 5-all with one out. Kyle Blackburn (Marietta, Ga.) drew a walk, putting two runners on base before A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) hit into a fielder’s choice, moving the winning run to third base.
With two outs, Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.) walked to the plate and roped what would have been a home run but flew just left of the left field foul pole. But the sophomore responded two pitches later lining a fastball to the left field wall for the game-winning hit as GS took the non-conference game, 6-5.
Owens finished the game 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Bowles went 2-for-5 with a RBI and run scored. Ware, in his first start of the 2010 season, went 1-for-2 with two runs scored.
Chris Beck (Jefferson, Ga.) picked up the win throwing one complete inning, giving up only one hit, while walking none and striking out one. Dolphin closer Glenn Witkowski drew the loss working two-thirds of an inning allowing two hits and one run.
For Jacksonville, Jonathan Murphy went 4-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored.
The Eagles got off to a shaky start as Jacksonville jumped out with a 4-0 lead after two innings. A solo home run to left field led off the contest as Murphy handed the Dolphins a 1-0 lead after only four pitches. Esterlin Perozo tripled in the next at-bat and scored on a sacrifice fly from Hawkins for a 2-0 lead after the top of the first.
A throwing error in the second inning put a potential runner on third for the Dolphins as Chuck Opachich walked to open the inning before Alex Swenson singled through the left side advancing Opachich. Jimmy Howick popped up a bunt to reliever Michael Hester (Evans, Ga.) that was unplayable, but as Blackburn tried to get the potential out at second, an errant throw sailed into left field moving Swenson to third, allowing Opachich to score for a three-run cushion. A single up the middle off the bat of Murphy plated Swenson as JU took a 4-0 lead.
Georgia Southern used the fourth inning to send seven batters to the plate gathering four hits to cut its four-run deficit in half, 4-2. Owens lined a ground-rule double down the right field line and moved to third on a Bowles groundout. Blackburn roped a single up the middle to score the Eagles’ first run of the game before Phillips’ single to left moved Wirnsberger to second after reaching on a fielder’s choice. Victor Roache (Ypsilanti, Mich.) cut the deficit in half using a single up the middle to drive in Wirnsberger as the Eagles started to come alive in the fourth.
A one-run fifth inning put GS within one run, 4-3. With one out, Ware lined a single up the middle to get the inning started. On the next at-bat, Owens hit a double past the glove of the first baseman down the right field line moving Ware to third base. It took a Bowles single to left field to score Ware as the Eagles pushed the game to 4-3.
Blackburn saved a run in the sixth inning with Opachich standing at third base. The senior Dolphin walked with one out and stole two bases, putting him on third, but was stranded when Blackburn made a remarkable play at first holding the runner and getting the out, unassisted. Hester worked his way out of the jam forcing a popup to shortstop to end the inning unscathed.
It took one swing from Phillips to tie the ballgame at 4-apiece in the sixth as the sophomore homered for the second time in as many games to left field with one out.
Hawkins took the run back in the next frame with a solo home run returning the advantage to Jacksonville, 5-4, which snapped four innings of scoreless action for the visiting Dolphins.
Both teams were scoreless in the eighth and Beck held the Dolphins in the ninth despite a runner on third. A groundout opened the inning before Murphy singled to left and stole second. Beck caught Perozo looking for the second out before a passed ball moved Murphy to third base. But Beck got out of the jam forcing a popup to first base in foul territory, setting up the come-from-behind ninth inning for Georgia Southern.
The Eagles continue this four-game homestand welcoming Samford for a three-game series this weekend. Georgia Southern opens the set against the Bulldogs on Friday, April 16 at 7 p.m.
Appalachian State 7, High Point 2
HIGH POINT, N.C. - Ryan Arrowood (Rutherfordton, N.C./Central) worked seven strong innings and Jeremy Dowdy (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield) collected three hits to lead Appalachian State University baseball to a 7-2 win at High Point on Tuesday evening.
With the victory, Appalachian moved to 23-7-1 on the season and 16-0 in non-conference action.
Arrowood (4-2) was the story of the evening, as the right-handed sophomore scattered five hits over seven innings, allowing just two runs while striking out four and walking none. He got stronger as the evening went on, retiring the final eight batters he faced to earn his first victory since March 7 versus Rider.
Making Arrowood's performance even more impressive is the fact that High Point came into the ballgame ranked among the nation's top 15 hitting clubs with a .344 team batting average. The key to his success was his ability to throw strikes, as he issued 12 walks in his previous 13 innings prior to Tuesday's seven-inning, no-walk gem.
Jerod Faggart (Concord, N.C./Northwest Cabarrus) hit his 10th home run of the season in the top of the first inning, a two-run blast to left center that gave ASU a lead it would never relinquish. The Mountaineers scored all seven of their runs in the first five innings to jump out to a 7-2 lead.
With Appalachian maintaining the five-run advantage from the fifth inning on, the only question that remained in the late stages of the ballgame was whether ASU's Ryan Stetson (Charlotte, N.C./Ardrey Kell) would extend his hitting streak to 13 games. The freshman was 0-for-4 when he led off the ninth inning but lined a single into right center field to give him the club's longest hitting streak of the season.
Dowdy led Appalachian's nine-hit attack by going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Wes Hobson (Winston-Salem, N.C./North Forsyth) and Faggart chipped in with two hits and two RBI each.
Southpaw Will Helms (Charlotte, N.C./Providence) took over for Arrowood in the eighth and allowed only one hit over the final two stanzas to close out the Mountaineers' ninth win in their last 10 games but their first road triumph in over a month, dating back to a 16-12 victory at Georgia Southern on March 14.
Appalachian and HPU close their rare mid-week, home-and-home series on Wednesday at ASU's Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
USC Upstate 11, College of Charleston 10
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? USC Upstate jumped to an early 5-1 lead, then rallied to score three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning as Andre Harris singled home the winning run with a two-out, bases-loaded liner to right, shocking College of Charleston 11-10 in non-conference action Tuesday evening at Harley Park. The Cougars fall to 24-11 on the season, while Upstate improves to 10-27.
With a two-run lead and junior closer Heath Hembree (Cowpens, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist College) on the mound, the Spartans mounted a rally to score the victory. Tyler Miller led off with a walk and advanced to second on a groundout by Brody Greer. A wild pitch by Hembree moved Miller to third and Blake Green walked to put runners at the corners. Miller cut the Spartans’ deficit to one, scoring on a second wild pitch by Hembree and a single and a walk loaded the bases. Hembree struck out the next batter, but walked in the tying run on five pitches to Tyler Cook. Charleston went to the bullpen, bringing in junior RHP Josh Salay (Rock Hill, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist College) to face Harris, who took a 1-1 pitch off the wall in right for the winning run.
Upstate moved out to an early 3-0 lead, jumping on Charleston freshman starter Jake Zokan (Columbia, S.C./Spring Valley) for four hits in the opening inning. With one out, Joe Barnes singled and Jimmy Tanner reached on a fielding error by junior 2B Baker Knox (San Mateo, Fla./ Daytona Beach CC), moving Barnes to second. Trey Richardson followed up with a RBI single through the left side, scoring Barnes for a 1-0 advantage. Cook roped a RBI double to left center and Harris put another RBI single through the left side to give the host Spartans a three-run cushion.
The Cougars tallied a single run in the second, as sophomore 3B Matt Leeds (Boca Raton, Fla./American Heritage) led off with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch, before Knox lined a RBI single to center. Upstate picked up two more runs in the bottom of the third, scoring on a RBI single by Harris and a sacrifice fly by Miller.
Charleston knotted the score at 5-5 in the top of the fourth, plating four runs on three hits and an error. Junior C Rob Kral (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) led off the frame with a walk and Leeds followed with a RBI triple to right, cutting the Spartan lead to 5-2. Sophomore LF Jose Rodriguez (Hialeah, Fla./Broward College) blasted a two-run home run to left, his 10th of the season, and Knox would later come home on a throwing error by the Upstate second baseman.
A RBI single up the middle by Richardson briefly gave the Spartans a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the fourth, but the Cougars rallied to tie the game in the sixth. Rodriguez single to center and advanced to second on a fielding error by Harris. Knox singled up the middle to score Rodriguez and tie things up at six runs apiece. Upstate took a two-run lead in the bottom of the frame on a RBI double by Barnes and a second run scored on a muffed throw by senior 1B Greg Blake (Westerly, R.I./Lake City CC).
The Cougars would respond in the seventh with a three-run home run by Leeds to take a 9-8 lead. With Bobby Jackson on the mound for Upstate, junior CF Cole Rakar (Mt. Pleasant, S.C./Wando) led off with a walk and senior SS Joey Bergman (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny) hit into a fielder’s choice with Rakar taken out at second. Kral walked and Leeds crushed a 1-1 pitch to straight away center. Charleston would add another run in the top of the ninth on a RBI single by Leeds, before Upstate’s comeback in the bottom of the frame.
Leeds led the Cougars with a three-hit, five-RBI performance, while Knox chipped in three hits as well. Zokan only lasted one inning, allowing three runs on four hits, while seven Charleston relievers completed the game. It was the second straight start that Zokan lasted less than three innings. Tyler Oliver picked up the win for Upstate, tossing the final two innings, giving up one run on two hits with three strikeouts. Harris had four hits and three RBI to lead the Spartans.
The Cougars return to Southern Conference action this weekend as they host Wofford for a three-game series at Patriots Point. Game time for Friday’s contest is set for 7:00 p.m.
No. 9 Coastal Carolina 7, The Citadel 3
Conway, S.C. - The Citadel lost their third straight game as No. 9 Coastal Carolina scored five runs in the first three innings to jump on the Bulldogs for a 7-3 final at Watson Stadium on Tuesday night.
Coastal Carolina (26-7) used two freshman pitchers that combined to give up three hits while striking out 10. It is the first time this season the Bulldogs have lost three consecutive games.
The Citadel was able to get on the board in the top of the first for the 20th time this season as Nick Orvin (Moncks Corner, S.C.) led off the game with a walk. Brad Felder (Orangeburg, S.C.) then laid down a good bunt to thrid base that Coastal Carolina's Scott Woodward could not get over to first in time, allowing Felder to reach on an infield single. A sac bunt by Matt Simonelli (Orlando, Fla.) then moved both runners over and Bryan Altman (Summerville, S.C.) hit an RBI groundout to score Orvin and put the Bulldogs in front, 1-0.
In the bottom half of the inning, Rico Noel led off with a base hit of Bulldog starter TJ Clarkson (Coral Springs, Fla.) and was then sacrificed over to second before stealing third base. Jose Iglesias drew a walk and Tommy LaStella thing singled in Noel. A base hit by Daniel Bowman would then score Iglesias as the Chanticleers took a 2-1 lead.
Coastal Carolina would get on the board again in the second when Chance Gilmore reached after Josh Pless' (Boiling Springs, S.C.) throw on a grounder brought Justin Mackert (Cleveland, Ohio) off the bag. Gilmore advanced to second on a groundout and to third on a wild pitch by Clarkson. A sac fly by Noel would score Gilmore for the unearned run and a 3-1 lead by the Chants.
A home run by Steve Davis would score Bowman and increase the CCU lead to 5-1 in the third. Clarkson (1-3) would be get three outs via the punch-out in the inning, but that would end the evening for the sophomore starter as he went 3.0 innings, allowing seven hits, five runs, four earned runs, one walk and four strikeouts. Matt Reifsnider (Ormond Beach, Fla.) came out of the bullpen in relief for the Citadel to begin the fourth.
The Bulldogs would get two on the board in the fifth off Chants starter Josh Conway. William Ladd (Winnsboro, S.C.) earned a walk and advanced to third on a double by Orvin with one out. A passed ball by Iglesias then allowed Ladd to score and an RBI groundout by Felder would plate Orvin to cut the lead to 5-3. That would chase Conway, who made his first career start, going 4.2 innings, allowing two hits, three runs, two earned runs, three walks and three strikeouts.
Reifsnider would get into trouble in the sixth as he walked Gilmore to start the frame. After a sacrifice, the senior then hit Noel and Woodward to load the bases. A sac fly to right by Iglesias scored Gilmore to make it 6-3 and Reifsnider then struck out La Stella to end the threat.
The Chants would get their seventh run of the game in the eighth as Noel singled for the third time on the night, stole second and third base and then scored on a throwing error by Altman that sailed into left field. The Citadel was not able to mount anything off CCU reliever Ryan Connolly (3-0) who went 4.1 innings to close out the game and earn this win, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out seven.
Orvin went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and two runs scored for The Citadel. Pless and Felder collected the other two hits for the Bulldogs. Reifsnider went 4.2 innings in relief, allowing four hits, two runs, one earned run, one walk, two hit batters and struck out one. Raymond Copenhaver (Apopka, Fla.) came in to retire the final batter of the eighth inning. Noel led the Chants attack, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored, an RBI, three stolen bases and hit a sac fly. Bowman went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Citadel returns to action on Wednesday when they face No. 5 South Carolina at Riley Park. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. Play-by-play announcer Darren Goldwater will call the game on 1450 AM in Charleston. Live stats and video will be available.