Wofford 17, UNC Greensboro 9
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? Kyle Behrendt hit a triple to the gap in left center in the top of the eighth inning to complete the cycle and Wofford scored 11 runs in the final three innings as UNC Greensboro fell to the Terriers, 17-9, on Saturday afternoon at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Wofford improved to 12-26 on the year and 5-12 in Southern Conference action, while the Spartans fell to 17-22 overall and 4-15 in league play.
Terrier reliever Pete Noordsy picked up the win after allowing no runs and just two hits in 1 2/3 innings. UNCG starter Greg Smith was credited with the loss after giving up four runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings of work.
Corey Overholtzer led the Spartans at the plate as he went 2-4 with five RBI and a run scored, while Kris Richards had a 3-5 performance with an RBI and run scored.
Behrendt shined for the Terriers as he went 5-5 with two RBI and five runs scored. James Foster had a nice day as well by going 4-5 with three RBI and three runs scored and Mac Doyle chipped in a pair of hits and five RBI.
The game was very close in the early going as the two teams traded runs. The Terriers struck first in the top of the first inning as Foster led off the game with a single to center field. He advanced to third on a single by Behrendt and then as Behrendt stole second, Foster broke for home to pull off the double steal and put Wofford on the board. Behrendt scored later in the inning on a single by Landon Bennett.
Wofford went ahead 3-0 in the top of the second as Matt Moore hit a solo home run to left field.
The Spartans responded though with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second to cut into the Terrier lead. Ray Quinones and Zach Leach led off the inning with a pair of walks before Richards loaded the bases with a bunt single. Quinones then scored on a sacrifice fly to center field and Leach did the same two batters later to make it a 3-2 ballgame.
Behrendt then led off the third inning with a double to center field before advancing over to third base on a wild pitch. Doyle then hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Behrendt and put Wofford ahead, 4-2.
UNCG got that run back in the bottom half of the third though as Ed Jayjack and Quinones got things going by drawing back-to-back leadoff walks. They moved over to second and third on a sacrifice bunt before Jayjack scored on a groundout to pull the Spartans within 4-3.
That was as close as UNCG would get the rest of the afternoon as the Terriers put up two more runs in the top of the fourth to make it 6-3 on a sacrifice bunt by Alex Lee and an RBI single by Behrendt.
The score stayed that way until the seventh inning when Wofford exploded for five runs. Behrendt once again was behind the Terrier attack as he led off the inning with a solo home run to right center. The Terriers added another run on a sacrifice fly before Foster hit a double down the left field line with the bases loaded to score three more runs as they extended their lead to 11-3.
With only a triple keeping him away from the cycle, Behrendt led off the top of the eighth with a triple to the gap in left center to complete the cycle. He then scored on a groundout by Doyle to make it 12-3.
The Spartans added a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth to make it 12-5 as Chris Barker scored on a balk and Overholtzer hit a double down the left field line to score Cody Walker.
The Terriers once again struck for a five runs as they pushed their lead to 17-5 in the top of the ninth, highlighted by a three-run triple by Doyle.
UNCG continued to fight though as back-to-back singles by Richards and Barker put two runners on before Eric Brindle loaded the bases by reaching on an error. Overholtzer then took an 0-1 pitch over the wall in right center for a grand slam and make the final score, 17-9.
The two teams will meet for the rubber game on Sunday at 1p.m.
Western Carolina 11, Georgia Southern 3
STATESBORO, Ga. ? After waiting out inclement weather for four hours and 15 minutes, Western Carolina came out strong taking game two from Georgia Southern, 11-3, Saturday evening (April 24) at J.I. Clements Stadium. Justin Hess came on in relief to throw 5.1 innings allowing only one run after WCU scored 10 early.
Georgia Southern (22-18, 13-7) was outhit 16-5 by Western Carolina (24-13-1, 7-9-1). Shawn Payne (Stone Mountain, Ga.) went 2-for-3 with two runs to lead the Eagles. Eric Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.) also posted two hits going 2-for-4.
Ross Heffley was 3-for-4 for WCU to pace the Catamounts. Matt Benedict picked up the win to move to a perfect 6-0 on the season throwing six complete, allowing two runs (one earned) on only three hits. Eagle starter Matt Murray (Spring City, Pa.) was charged with the loss after three innings and seven runs.
Western Carolina quickly scored two in the top of the first. Matt Johns reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on a single up the middle off the bat of Heffley. A Radley Haddad double to the left field wall scored Heffley as WCU took a 2-0 lead after the first frame.
Trevor Collias made it a three-run ballgame with a solo shot to left field in the fourth that opened what would become an eight-run fourth inning. The Catamounts sent nine batters to the plate in the third before an out was recorded as WCU closed the inning collecting six hits and eight runs off 13 batters for a 10-0 lead.
A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) put the first Eagle hit on the board singling on a full count to left center in the second, but it wouldn’t be until the fourth when the Eagles would begin to cut its deficit. GSU used two Catamount errors and one hit to plate a run, making the score 10-1.
The Catamounts took the run back pushing their advantage back to 10-runs with a Tyler Kirkpatrick solo home run to left center in the fifth.
With runners on first and third in the fifth, the Eagles picked up their second run off an error when Benedict faked a throw to first and spun around to look at the runner on third. The Catamount starter lost control of the ball faking an attempt to the third baseman. The ball bounced to the warning track in front of the home dugout, scoring an Eagle from third.
After giving up one run in the fifth, reliever Hess (Panama City, Fla.) held the Catamounts scoreless for four innings while the Eagles picked up another run in the seventh. A groundout from Kevin Bowles (Statesboro, Ga.) scored Payne who reached on a single for an 11-3 tally.
Payne roped his second hit of the contest, a double to left center in the bottom of the ninth, but was stranded when Catamount Preston Hatcher closed out the game for a final 11-3 score.
The final game of the series will take place on Sunday, April 25, at 1:30 p.m.
College of Charleston 16, Elon 6
College of Charleston 6, Elon 4
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. ? Senior 1B Greg Blake (Westerly R.I./ Lake City CC) blasted a pair of three-run home runs and senior RHP Tom Schiller (Rochester, N.Y./Monroe CC) allowed one run in 4.2 innings of relief as the College of Charleston pounded out 14 hits on the way to a 16-6 victory over Elon in game one of a Southern Conference doubleheader at Patriots Point. The Cougars improve to 29-12 overall, 13-7 in the SoCon, while Elon falls to 26-15, 12-8 in the league.
The Phoenix jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first on a RBI single up the middle by Neal Pritchard. Charleston moved ahead 2-1 in the third inning as junior CF Cole Rakar (Mt. Pleasant, S.C./Wando) lined a RBI double into left and junior C Rob Kral (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) hit a sacrifice fly to center.
Elon posted a pair of runs in both the fourth and fifth innings for a 5-2 advantage. Matt Hinson led off the fourth with a solo home run to right and harry Austin added a RBI double to left center, while Ryan Adams RBI double and a sacrifice fly by Hinson did the damage in the fifth.
The Cougars broke the game open with eight runs in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by Blake’s three-run shot to right center and a three-run triple by sophomore 3B Matt Leeds (Boca Raton, Fla./American Heritage). Junior RF Baker Knox (San Mateo, Fla./Daytona Beach CC) kicked things off in the frame with a double down the right-field line and junior DH Kolby Epley (Yadkinville, S.C./Forbush) walked on six pitches before Blake deposited the first pitch from Elon reliever Ken Ferrer over the wall for his ninth home run of the season and knotting the score at 5-5. After senior SS Joey Bergman (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny) was hit by a pitch and stole second, Rakar walked and Kral lined a single to right to load the bases for Leeds. The sophomore cleared the bases with a triple to right center, giving him 61 RBI on the season. Epley added a RBI single to left center and sophomore LF Jose Rodriguez (Hialeah, Fla./Broward College) capped the inning by scoring on throwing error by the Elon catcher for a 10-5 CofC lead.
Charleston added six insurance runs in the next two innings, scoring a single run in the seventh and plating five in the eighth before Elon added a final run in the last inning. Kral lined a RBI double to right in the eighth extending the lead to 11-5. Rodriguez led off the eighth with a double to left center and Knox walked to put runners at first and second. Epley singled through the left side, advancing the runners and a throwing error by Hinson allowed Rodriguez to score and put Knox at third. Blake stepped to the plate and dropped a 0-1 pitch over the fence in right center for his second round-tripper of the afternoon, giving him six RBI in the game and 32 on the season. Kral added his second sacrifice fly of the game for the Cougars’ final run.
Schiller earned the win for the Cougars in relief of Charleston senior RHP Kevin Decker (Washington, Ind./Seminole CC), improving to 5-1 on the season. The right-hander scattered four runs and allowed one run, while striking out four.
Ferrer took the loss for Elon, allowing four runs on one hit, and walking two in a third of an inning. Elon starter Daniel Britt lasted five innings, giving up three runs on four hits with five strikeouts.
Game Two
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. ? Sophomore RHP David Peterson (Walnut Creek, Calif./Los Lomas) struck out a career-high 10 batters and College of Charleston used a four-run second inning to pull ahead of visiting Elon and held on for a 6-4 victory in game two of a doubleheader in Southern Conference action Saturday evening at Patriots Point. The Cougars took two games in the three-game set, improving to 30-12 overall and 14-7 in the SoCon.
Peterson scattered six hits in 6.2 innings, allowing two runs, one earned with two walks. The 10 strikeouts top a career-high of eight he set last week in a win over Wofford. Peterson improved to 6-2 on the season and has won his last four starts.
Charleston opened up a 1-0 lead in the first inning, with junior CF Cole Rakar (Mt. Pleasant, S.C./Wando) scoring on a sacrifice fly by fellow junior C Rob Kral (Randolph, N.J./Randolph). Elon knotted the score with a run in the second as Seth Canipe’s RBI groundout plated Matt Hinson.
The Cougars sent nine batters to the plate in the fourth, scoring four times on four hits to take a 5-1 lead. Sophomore LF Jose Rodriguez (Hialeah, Fla./Broward College) led off with a single to left and senior 1B Greg Blake (Westerly R.I./ Lake City CC) doubled to left center, advancing Rodriguez to third. Junior DH Kolby Epley (Yadkinville, N.C./Forbush) walked to load the bases for fellow junior RF Baker Knox (San Mateo, Fla./Daytona Beach CC), who lined a RBI single to left, scoring Rodriguez, while Blake came home on a fielding error by Hinson. Senior SS Joey Bergman (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny) ripped a RBI single through the left side to plate Knox for the fourth run.
Charleston added a solo run in the fifth when Rodriguez scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch by Elon reliever Jim Stokes to give the Cougars a five-run cushion. Elon cut the lead to four on a RBI groundout by Matt Kirchner in the seventh and scored two more in the ninth before Charleston junior closer Heath Hembree (Cowpens, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist College) got Neal Pritchard to ground into a game-ending double play.
Bergman finished the game with two hits for the Cougars, while Rodriguez scored two runs. Harry Austin went 3-for-4 for Elon and Ben Scott scored twice for the Phoenix. Jared Kernodle took the loss for Elon, allowing five runs on six hits in three innings with two strikeouts.
The Cougars return to action next weekend as they travel to face Davidson in a three-game SoCon series starting Friday night. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.
The Citadel 7, Davidson 0
The Citadel 5, Davidson 3
Charleston, S.C. - The Citadel swept a doubleheader with Davidson on Saturday, winning the first game, 7-0, before ousting the Wildcats, 5-3, in the rubber game to conclude the series at Riley Park.
The Citadel 7, Davidson 0 (Game 1)
Matt Talley (Sumter, S.C.) threw a complete game shutout in game one, allowing only three hits, one walk and striking out nine to pick up his fourth win of the season. It was the first complete game of the left-hander's career and he also struck out a career-high nine batters. It's the first complete game shutout for The Citadel (27-15, 15-2) since Matt Crim did it against College of Charleston on May 16, 2009.
Talley retired 17 Wildcat hitters in a row at one point and allowed only one hit through the first eight innings. "I felt pretty good, tried to make things a little interesting in the ninth inning, but felt great overall," said Talley. "They hit the ball hard a few times, but the defense was there to make the plays. It was important to come out strong and take game one of this doubleheader."
It's the second complete game of the season for the Bulldogs and the third shutout of the year, the second in conference play.
Leading the Bulldog offense was David Greene (Columbia, S.C.) who went 4-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored. The four hits tie a career high for the sophomore third baseman. "It's the best I have felt all year, really just trying to relax out there," said Greene. "It's always tough to win both games of a doubleheader, just glad to help the team anyway I can. It was important for us to win the series and continue momentum in conference play as we head into May."
Greene would start the scoring for the Bulldogs as he homered for the second time in the series in the third inning off Davidson (18-21, 5-14) starter Chris Lamb (2-6). Nick Orvin (Moncks Corner, S.C.) drew a walk and Brad Felder (Orangeburg, S.C.) then doubled to right to score the leadoff man and put The Citadel in front, 2-0.
Justin Mackert (Cleveland, Ohio) singled, moved to second on a groundout and came around to score on an RBI single by Greene in the fourth. In the sixth, Mackert reached on an error by third baseman Andrew Barna, stole second and moved to third on a fly out. Greene would then drive in his third run of the game as he singled up the middle to make it 4-0.
A triple by Felder, his fourth of the season, led off the eighth inning and chased Lamb from the game. Matt Simonelli (Orlando, Fla.) then ripped an RBI single off new Wildcat pitcher Ian Horkley to score Felder. Bryan Altman (Summerville, S.C.) would cap the scoring when he launched a homer over the left field wall to make it 7-0.
Lamb went 7.0 innings, allowing five runs, four earned runs, two walks and four strikeouts in the loss.
The Citadel 5, Davidson 3 (Game 2)
In game two, Bulldog starter Michael Clevinger (Jacksonville, Fla.) tossed a career-high 7.1 innings, allowing nine hits, two runs, no walks and six punch-outs to pick up his third win of the season. It was the fourth consecutive start that the freshman right-hander has gone at least 7.0 innings. It was the second straight weekend that all three Bulldog starters went at least 7.0 innings in their starts.
Davidson (18-22, 5-15) would take an early lead on Clevinger as leadoff man Seth Freeman singled to start the game. A sac bunt by Drew Gadaire and a wild pitch moved Freeman to third. Barna then hit an infield single to score Freeman and put the Wildcats in front, 1-0.
Altman would homer off Davidson starter Ryan Overcash in the second inning to tie the game. It was the second homer of the day for Altman and the 28th of his career for the redshirt senior, who moved into seventh place on the all-time career list.
The Bulldogs would plate three in the sixth inning as Altman and Mackert singled to lead things off. A sac bunt by Kyle Jordan (Goose Creek, S.C.) advanced the runners, and Overcash then intentionally walked Greene to load the bases. Josh Pless (Boiling Springs, S.C.) came in to pinch hit for Grant Richards (Morrisville, N.C.) and the freshman hit a ball that bounced high off the first baseman's glove as the bases remained loaded and Altman came in to score. William Ladd (Winnsboro, S.C.) then doubled to right field to score Mackert and Greene and push the lead to 4-1 and knock Overcash from the game.
Felder doubled down the left field line off Davidson reliever Matt Sliwiak to start off the seventh. A groundout moved Felder to third and he came in to score on a sac fly by Mackert to make it 5-1.
A single by Danny Weiss, followed by an RBI double in the gap by Barna would chase Clevinger from the contest. Bulldog reliever Drew Mahaffey (Summerville, S.C.) was able to strikeout a pair of Wildcats to get out of the jam in the eighth. In the ninth, Davidson would get across a run off Mahaffey, but Raymond Copenhaver (Apopka, Fla.) came in to record the final out on one pitch earn his first save of the season and nail down the 5-3 win for The Citadel (28-15, 16-2).
Altman went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs, a homer and an RBI, while Mackert went 3-for-3 with a run, an RBI and a sac fly. Ladd went 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI as well. Overcash (5-1) took his first loss of the season for Davidson, going 5.1 innings, allowing eight hits, four runs, a walk and four strikeouts. Barna went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI to lead the Wildcats.
"I thought Talley pitched as well as I have ever seen him pitch today," said Bulldogs Assistant Coach David Beckley. "He was sharp, got ahead of hitters and threw to both sides of the plate with a great curveball. This team has got to pitch and play defense to be successful and we were able to do both today. Clevinger was outstanding for us today as well. Our guys showed a lot of toughness to come back from last night and sweep a doubleheader against a scrappy Davidson squad."
The Citadel will break for final exams during midweek and return to action on Friday, April 30 as they travel to Birmingham, Ala. to face Samford in a three-game set. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. (ET). A live broadcast with play-by-play announcer Darren Goldwater, along with live stats will be available at CitadelSports.com.
Severe Weather Washes Away Baseball Again
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ? Continued severe weather along the Gulf Coast postponed Saturday's planned resumption of Friday's suspended baseball game between Appalachian State and Samford.
Friday's series opener, which was suspended due to rain and lightning with the score knotted at 7-7 in the top of the fifth inning, is now scheduled to resume on Sunday at noon EDT at Samford's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Game two of the originally scheduled three-game series will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of the suspended contest. The series finale has been canceled.