Western Carolina 7, #16 Clemson 5
Clemson, S.C. ? Tyler Kirkpatrick blasted a seventh-inning grand slam home run and the Catamount pitching staff held No. 16 Clemson hitless over the final four innings as Western Carolina rallied to upset the Tigers, 7-5, Wednesday night in mid-week, non-conference action at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
The win was just the fourth all-time for WCU over Clemson on the road, and second for third-year head coach Bobby Moranda since taking over in 2008.
Western Carolina (23-9-1) overcame two separate deficits to score the road victory, remaining unbeaten in mid-week games. The Catamounts fell behind 3-0 in the bottom of the first inning. Then, after knotting the game at three with a solo run in the fourth and two runs a frame later, Clemson reclaimed its lead in the bottom of the fifth to lead 5-3.
In the seventh, consecutive walks to Dylan de Graaf and Cameron Dullnig followed by an infield bunt single by Matt Johns loaded the bases with no outs. On the first pitch of his at bat, Kirkpatrick, who was named Southern Conference Player of the Week on Monday, blasted a breaking ball over the fence in left centerfield for the grand slam homer for the 7-5 advantage.
Kirkpatrick led the Catamounts with a 3-for-5 showing at the plate with four RBI and two runs scored. Classmate Trevor Collias finished 2-for-3 with a double and a run driven in while Matt Johns stretched his hitting streak to 12-straight games with a 2-for-4 night with a pair of singles.
Freshman Mat Batts gave up the three runs to Clemson in the first inning in the start, adding one strikeout before giving way to Jeremy Sluder in the second. The walk-on freshman worked three and two-thirds, silencing the Tigers, holding Clemson to two runs on two hits with three strikeouts.
Adam Curtis tossed a third of an inning in the fifth with Andrew Chilcoat, Brandon Johnson and Daniel Ottone combining to hold Clemson hitless over the final four and a third. Chilcoat (1-0) picked up the win with Ottone tallying his seventh save of the year after working the final two innings of hitless, scoreless relief.
Tiger reliever Mike Kent (1-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing both seventh inning walks and hits, surrendering all four runs in the frame. Starter Dominic Leone worked the first six innings, scattering six hits and three runs to factor in the no decision.
Western Carolina travels to Elon for a three-game Southern Conference series with the Phoenix beginning Friday night at 7:00 pm at Latham Park. Saturday’s game is scheduled for 4:00 pm, with Sunday’s finale at 1:30 pm. Friday and Saturday’s game will be broadcast by the Catamount Sports Network and can be heard online at CatamountSports.com with air time 15 minutes prior to first pitch.
Elon 9, Wake Forest 8
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Elon rallied for three runs in the eighth inning, keyed by a Scott Riddle two-RBI single, and tacked on another in the ninth before holding off a late charge by Wake Forest to claim a 9-8 victory from Wake Forest Baseball Park on Wednesday night.
The victory was the seventh consecutive in the series for Elon which completed the season series sweep of Wake Forest on Wednesday. The Phoenix also improved to 5-0 against ACC competition on the year.
Elon (23-12) grabbed the lead in the second inning when Matt Hinson belted his 10th home run of the season over the wall in right-center. Ryan Adams, who had walked to lead off the inning, also scored on the blast to give the Phoenix a 2-0 advantage.
Ryan Semeniuk got Wake Forest (10-25) on the board in the bottom of the fifth when he led off the inning with his sixth homer of the year, this one to left-center. Steven Brooks followed with a double down the left field line before heading to third on a fly out. Mac Williamson then lined a ball off of Elon's Mitch Conner for a single to put runners on the corners. A walk to Matt Conway from new Phoenix hurler Dylan Clark loaded the bases. The Deacons tied the game on an 0-2 wild pitch as Brooks raced home. A two-out walk to Mike Lubanski reloaded the bases for Wake Forest. John Brebbia got Elon out of the jam when he struck out Mark Rhine to end the at bat.
The Phoenix responded immediately. Alex Swim reached on an error to lead off the inning and then rode home when Mike Melillo drilled his fifth homer of the year over the wall in right to put Elon up 4-2. With one out, Neal Pritchard walked and went to third on a Hinson single. With Hinson on the move, Ben Scott singled through the vacated hole on the right side of the infield to plate Pritchard.
Bentley Heyman doubled to the gap in right-center to lead off the bottom of the sixth before Brooks drew a one-out walk. After a balk advanced the runners, Mike Murray drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases. Brebbia issued his third straight walk, this one to Mac Williamson, to force in Heyman to make it a 5-3 game. A passed ball allowed the fourth Wake Forest run to score before a Conway single drove home Murray to tie the game at five. Shane Kroker's sacrifice fly then scored Williamson to give the Demon Deacons a 6-5 lead.
Elon loaded the bases with one out in the top of the eighth inning thanks to a wild pitch on a third strike, a fielder's choice following a walk and another walk. Pinch-hitter Riddle delivered two runs with a single through the right side to score both Adams and pinch-runner David Wood as the Phoenix moved back in front for good by a 7-6 margin. Seth Canipe followed by drawing a four-pitch walk to load the bases. Harry Austin drove a pitch to left-center for a sacrifice fly that scored pinch-runner Niko Fraser with Elon's eighth run of the game.
Melillo singled and stole second to start the Phoenix ninth. After an Adams single and stolen base put two in scoring position, Pritchard singled through the left side of the infield to plate Melillo with an important insurance run to up Elon's edge to 9-6.
Pinch-hitter Trenton Langston walked to begin the bottom of the ninth before trotting home on the first home run of Rhine's career to make it a 9-8 game. The homer came with one out. Thomas Girdwood then shut the door by retiring Heyman and Semeniuk to end the game.
Jim Stokes (1-0) picked up his first career win after throwing a career-long 2.1 innings in relief. He struck out three and did not allow a run. Girdwood earned his fourth save of the season with his one inning. Starter J.D. Reichenbach allowed one run on four hits in four innings.
Ryan McGrath (1-2) was charged with the loss. McGrath was charged with one run and did not record an out in his relief appearance. Starter Michael Dimock went six innings and allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits.
Melillo, Hinson and Riddle all posted two-RBI outings to lead Elon. Melillo and Hinson both went 2-for-4.
Heyman notched a 3-for-6, one-run night for Wake Forest. Semeniuk and Williamson added two hits apiece.
The Phoenix returns to Latham Park to open a three-game Southern Conference series with Western Carolina at 7 p.m. on Friday night.
Wofford 8, East Tennessee State 7
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Wofford College baseball team defeated East Tennessee State 8-7 on Wednesday evening at Russell C. King Field. The Terriers used three runs, including a solo homer by Kyle Behrendt, in the bottom of the seventh to gain the lead in the victory. Overall, Wofford had 15 hits in the contest but committed four errors.
Wofford is 11-21 on the season and 4-8 in the SoCon, while East Tennessee State is 19-13 overall. The Terriers were led by Michael McDonnell with a pinch hit single that scored two runs and James Foster with three hits. For the Bucs, Paul Hoilman had three doubles and scored four runs to lead the team.
In the bottom of the second, Landon Bennett led-off with a double, which was followed by a double from Neil Robinette to score one run. Wofford added a walk to Josh McKinney and singles by James Foster and Matt Moore. A wild pitch with the bases loaded made it a 2-0 game. Alex Lee reached first safely on a bunt that scored Moore and a fielder’s choice by Mac Doyle made it a 4-0 score.
The Bucs got on the board in the top of the fourth when Paul Hoilman was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a walk and then third on a fielder’s choice. He scored on a wild pitch for a 4-1 game. Wofford answered in the bottom of the fourth when Matt Moore singled, advanced on a balk and then a single by James Foster scored Moore for a 5-1 score.
In the top of the fifth, the Bucs were able to tie the game with four runs on three hits and one Wofford error. A double from Paul Hoilman scored two runs and RBI singles from Bo Reeder and Andrew Green made it a 5-5 contest.
After a scoreless sixth, the Bucs took the lead in the top of the seventh. Paul Hoilman hit his third double of the game and scored on a single by Derek Trent. The lead was short for East Tennessee State, as Kyle Behrendt led-off the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to right center to tie the game at six. Wofford then had singles from David Roney and Josh McKinney and both moved into scoring position after a balk. Michael McDonnell entered the game with two outs and hit a single to left field to score both runners and give the Terriers an 8-6 lead.
Neither team scored in the eighth inning, as the Bucs left two on base in their half of the frame. In the top of the ninth, Paul Hoilman was hit by a pitch and Derek Trent singled. With one out, Kerry Doane reached on an error that scored Hoilman. However a double play ended the inning and Wofford had the 8-7 victory.
For the Terriers, starter Gus White went four innings and allowed only one hit and one runs with two strikeouts. Anthony Rowland allowed three hits with one strikeout, while Pete Noordsy allowed two hits and one run in a third of an inning. Bobby Streisel went 1.1 innings and struck out the side in the sixth. Cash Collins (1-1) picked up the win with 1.2 innings of work with one run allowed on two hits and two strikeouts. Drew Sheridan had his third save of the season with one unearned run scored and one hit allowed in 1.1 innings.
East Tennessee State starter Josh Means went 1.2 innings and allowed seven hits and four runs. Pete Whittingslow threw 2.1 innings with one run on two hits and four strikeouts. Derek Bushey (0-1) worked two innings with three hits and two runs allowed with four strikeouts. Scott McNally went the final two innings with three hits and one run allowed with two strikeouts.
Wofford will begin a three-game series at the College of Charleston on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. The next home game will be Wednesday, April 21 at 7:00p.m. against Gardner-Webb.
Appalachian State 12, High Point 7
BOONE, N.C. - In a game that featured 365 pitches and took three hours and 17 minutes to play, Appalachian State University baseball downed visiting High Point, 12-7, on Wednesday evening at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.
With its 10th win in 11 games, Appalachian (27-7-1) completed a sweep of a mid-week, home-and-home series with High Point (17-18) and moved to 17-0 in non-conference action this season.
The victory was far from a thing of beauty, as seven ASU pitchers issued 11 walks and hit a pair of batters. However, the Mountaineer offense more than picked up the slack, racking up 12 runs on 16 hits, all of which came in the first six innings of the ballgame.
The two teams combined to issue 10 walks and throw a total of 177 pitches in the first three innings alone but ASU benefitted most from the pitching struggles and led 8-4 after three.
The Mountaineers added three more runs in the fourth inning and a single tally in the sixth to stretch the lead to 12-4. The eight-run advantage remained intact until the Panthers scored three times in the ninth to account for the final margin.
Every member of Appalachian's starting lineup recorded at least one hit, led by freshman Tyler Zupcic (Charlotte, N.C./Providence), who came back from a rare night off to go 3-for-3 with an RBI and four runs scored. Zupcic was just a home run shy of the cycle when he came out of the came as a part of mass substitutions for the Mountaineers in the eighth inning.
The first five hitters in ASU's batting order ? Ryan Stetson (Charlotte, N.C./Ardrey Kell), Hector Crespo (Miami, Fla./Florida Christian), Wes Hobson (Winston-Salem, N.C./North Forsyth), Jerod Faggart (Concord, N.C./Northwest Cabarrus) and Jeremy Dowdy (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield) ? added two hits apiece. Stetson's 2-for-4, two-RBI performance extended his hitting streak to 14 games, the longest by a Mountaineer this season.
Sophomore David Port (1-0) ? the second of Appalachian's seven pitchers ? tossed 1.1 scoreless innings and, more importantly, walked none to earn the first win of his career. Port was one of only two ASU hurlers that didn't issue a walk in the victory.
High Point starter Wes Torrez (0-2) allowed two runs on four hits in an inning-plus to suffer the loss. Torrez, the son of former Major League pitcher Mike Torrez, threw only 14 pitches before he was lifted from the ballgame in the second inning.
Only six of HPU's 19 baserunners got on board with a hit and no Panther registered more than one.
Appalachian remains at home, where it has played 10 of its last 11 games, this weekend when it hosts a three-game Southern Conference series versus UNC Greensboro. Game times are set for 6 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at Smith Stadium.
Duke 1, UNC Greensboro 0
CARY, N.C. ? Duke got an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth and two Blue Devil pitchers combined for a three-hit shutout as UNC Greensboro fell to the Blue Devils, 1-0, at the USA Baseball National Training Complex on Wednesday evening. The teams combined for just nine hits in a game that lasted just one hour and 53 minutes.
Jonathan Foreman picked up the win for the Blue Devils (20-14) after pitching the final four innings and allowed just one hit, while striking out six. Duke starter Michael Ness also had a nice day as he pitched five innings and struck out three batters and gave up just three hits.
UNCG reliever Tyler Hollstegge was credited with the loss after allowing one run on just two hits in 2 2/3 innings of work. Three other Spartan pitchers combined to allow only three hits and strike out four batters in 5 1/3 innings.
The Blue Devils were led by Marcus Stroman who went 2-4 and Jake Lemmerman who had an RBI single. Corey Overholtzer, Ed Jayjack, Zach Leach and Kris Richards recorded the lone hits for the Spartans (14-19).
The game started with a very scary moment for the Spartans in the top of the second inning. With Eric Brindle at-bat, a pitch from the Blue Devil pitcher got away from him and hit Brindle in the jaw. After a few moments on the ground, Brindle was able to walk off of the field on his own power, but was replaced in the game by John Cucchiarella due to his injury.
With neither team generating any offense early, UNCG was the first team to threaten as they had a pair of runners on in the top of the fifth. With two outs, Leach singled to left center and Richards followed with an infield single. It was all for naught though as the Blue Devils got UNCG to ground into an inning-ending fielder’s choice.
After the teams were still scoreless and combined for just five hits over the first five innings, the Blue Devils were finally able to breakthrough with a run in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Joe Pedevillano delivered a single into shallow center field just past the reach of Cucchiarella.
He immediately stole second base on the first pitch and then swiped third base on the very next pitch. After a groundout to the pitcher, Jake Lemmerman hit a single to right field to score Pedevillano and give Duke a 1-0 lead.
UNCG wasn’t able to generate anymore offense though as Jayjack’s lone single in the top of the ninth was the only hit the Spartans could muster after the fifth inning.
The Spartans will continue their eight-game road stand this weekend as they head up the mountain to face Appalachian State for a three-game series. The first game between the two teams will be on Friday at 6 p.m.
#5 South Carolina 10, The Citadel 4
Charleston, S.C. - No. 5 South Carolina scored five runs in the top of the fifth to take a lead they would not relinquish as they defeated The Citadel, 10-4, in front of a season-high 4,087 fans at Riley Park on Wednesday night.
The Gamecocks, who were down 2-1 entering the fifth inning, were able to capitalize on Bulldog miscues all evening as they sent The Citadel (23-13) to their fourth consecutive loss and their fifth loss in seven games.
The Bulldogs scored in the first when Matt Simonelli (Orlando, Fla.) roped a homer over the left field wall off South Carolina starter Colby Holmes to put The Citadel in front, 1-0. A homer by Scott Wingo off Bulldog starter Austin Pritcher (Charleston, S.C.) in the top of the third would then knot the game at one.
The Citadel would chase Holmes in the fourth as Bryan Altman (Summerville, S.C.) singled to left and then Kyle Jordan (Goose Creek, S.C.) drew a walk. An RBI double off the right field wall by David Greene (Columbia, S.C.) scored Altman and prompted South Carolina to make a pitching change to John Taylor who escaped out of the jam.
Things would come unraveled for the Bulldogs in the fifth as Evan Marzilli led off with a double. Two batters later, Wingo reached on an error by first baseman Justin Mackert (Cleveland, Ohio) that allowed Marzilli to score and tie the game. A double by Jackie Bradley Jr., a walk to Brady Thomas and a double by Jeffrey Jones would end the night for Pritcher. Raymond Copenhaver (Apopka, Fla.) then came in and allowed a base hit to Nick Ebert to score the fifth run of the inning for the Gamecocks, all of which were unearned, making it a 6-2 lead for South Carolina.
Holmes went 3.1 innings, allowing five hits, two runs, one walk and striking out four on 54 pitches. Pritcher (2-2) went 4.2 innings, allowing five hits, six runs, one earned run, two walks and three strikeouts on 84 pitches.
Wingo homered again in the sixth, this time off Copenhaver, to increase the South Carolina lead to 7-2. Altman singled in the bottom half of the inning, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Kyle Enders. An errant throw by Taylor in an attempted pick-off move then scored Altman to cut the lead to 7-3.
The Gamecocks would get three more in the eighth as Ebert led the inning off with a walk from Chris Boyce (Simpsonville, S.C.) and then advanced to third on a sac bunt attempt by Adam Matthews that Greene threw past first to allow the runners to advance a base. Adrian Morales then singled to left and advanced to second as William Ladd (Winnsboro, S.C.) misplayed the ball in left allowing both Gamecock runners to score. Later, Wingo would single off new Bulldog reliever Nick Sprowls (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) to score Morales and put the Gamecocks ahead, 10-3.
A plethora of substitutions by both squads saw the Bulldogs score on in the bottom of the ninth as pinch hitter Josh Pless (Boiling Springs, S.C.) hit his first career triple off Parker Bangs to start off the frame. A groundout by Matt Reifsnider (Ormond Beack, Fla.) scored Pless, giving The Citadel their fourth run of the evening. Kirk Sims (Columbia, S.C.) walked to reach base for the first time in his career and Will Darby (Atlanta, Ga.) then followed with a walk of his own, but a pair of new Gamecock relievers would then end the threat and the contest.
Altman went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and a stolen base to lead the Bulldogs. Drew Mahaffey (Summerville, S.C.) pitched a perfect ninth inning in relief. For the Gamecocks, Wingo went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs and three RBI to go with his two homers.
"They got two big two-out base hits there in the fifth that really extended the ballgame and with their pitching it was difficult to get back into it," said head coach Fred Jordan. "I thought we played well in spots and then we made two blunders and they capitalized on them and that's what great clubs do. We have to go out and play one pitch, one inning at a time this weekend and see what happens, it's in their (the players) hands now."
The Citadel returns to conference action on Friday when they host Furman at Riley Park. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. Live play-by-play, video and stats will be available.
Presbyterian 9, Furman 4
GREENVILLE, S.C. ? Gabe Grammer’s three-run sixth inning triple broke open a close game and propelled Presbyterian to a 9-4 victory over Furman in baseball action Wednesday at Latham Stadium.
The win was the second of the season for PC (9-23) over Furman (11-22), which dropped to 2-8 in mid-week games this year. The two teams will meet again next Thursday at Fluor Field in a 7:00 p.m. game.
With the Blue Hose holding a 4-3 lead, Grammer stroked a pitch by Furman’s Bobby Lyne into the right center field gap to score Nate Horton, Aaron Preston, and Alex Loftin for a 7-3 advantage.
PC added two unearned runs in the ninth to close out the Paladins.
The Blue Hose, who entered the contest hitting just .236 on the year, racked up 12 hits against Paladin pitching and also benefitted from six walks and hit three hit batsmen.
Grammer fashioned a 2-for-5 performance at the plate and drove in three of PC’s nine runs.
Kenny Bryant, who came into the contest hitting just .218, went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Horton, hitting only .225, had two hits and two RBI. Lofton, meanwhile, improved his .214 season batting average with a 2-for-5 performance, and Preston, hitting only .191 on the campaign, delivered his team leading fourth home run, a solo blast to over the right center field fence off Barry Benton (0-4) in the fourth, to put PC ahead, 4-3.
Furman had nine hits, including a pair by Aaron Thompkins and Andrew Cadger. Paul Nitto cracked a two-run home run, his sixth on the year, in the third inning to tie the game.
The win went to Steve Richardson (2-6), and the loss was charged to Benton
Furman opens a Southern Conference series Friday at The Citadel. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.