UNC Greensboro 12, Davidson 5
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? UNC Greensboro starter Colby Hyatt went eight innings for his third consecutive outing of seven or more innings and the Spartans exploded for six runs in the third inning as they completed the three-game sweep over Davidson, 12-5, on Wednesday evening at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Hyatt collected his sixth win of the season and fourth of the month for the Spartans (18-23, 5-16 Southern Conference) as he allowed five runs, three earned, on seven hits over his eight innings. He also struck out a season-high six batters, including catching four of them looking at strike three.
Davidson starter Brian Russell suffered the loss after allowing seven runs on just five hits in 2 1/3 innings of work.
Ray Quinones led the Spartans at the plate on Wednesday as he went 4-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. Eric Brindle and Ed Jayjack also chipped in two RBI apiece as five Spartans added two hits as well.
The Wildcats (18-23, 5-16 SoCon) were led by Sam Payne who went 3-5 with two home runs, three RBI and two runs scored. Leadoff hitter Seth Freeman added the two other RBI for Davidson.
Payne got the scoring started in the top of the first inning after Freeman led off the game with a single up the middle. Payne then stepped to the plate and took a 3-2 pitch out to right field to give Davidson the early 2-0 lead.
The Spartans responded though as Chris Barker was hit by a pitch with one out in the bottom of the first. It was the 17 times in the past 20 games that Barker has been hit by a pitch. He scored later in the inning on an RBI triple by Lloyd Enzor to make it 2-1.
Payne struck again for the Wildcats in the top of the third inning as he blasted a shot down the right field line for his second home run of the evening to put Davidson ahead, 3-1.
UNCG would take the lead for good though in the bottom of the third as the Spartans were able to score six runs on just three hits. Harry Slade drew a leadoff walk, but was thrown out at second on a fielder’s choice by Barker. Corey Overholtzer and Enzor then drew back-to-back walks to load the bases for Jayjack.
Jayjack followed with a walk of his own to walk home Barker from third and then Quinones doubled down the left field line on a ball that ricocheted off the third base bag to score two runs and give UNCG a 4-3 lead.
Brindle then hit his own double to score Jayjack and Quinones to make it a 6-3 contest. Brindle scored later in the inning on a single by Kris Richards to give the Spartans a four-run lead.
The Spartans were able to add another run in the fourth inning as Enzor drew a two-out walk and Jayjack made the Wildcats pay as he doubled to right center to score Enzor from first base and to push the UNCG lead to 8-3.
UNCG put together another two-out rally in the sixth inning as Jayjack reached first on a fielder’s choice. After stealing second, Quinones singled to right center to score Jayjack and make it a 9-3 ballgame.
The Wildcats answered with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the seventh inning to pull within 9-5 of the Spartans. Will General reached on a fielding error and Michael Zeblo then walked two batters later. A failed pickoff attempt allowed the runners to move to second and third before Freeman hit a two-out single to center field to score General and Zeblo.
The Spartans added an unearned run in the bottom half of the seventh to make it 10-5 before scoring two more runs in the eighth inning. Quinones led off the eighth with a double to left center and after a pair of fly outs, Richards hit an infield single. Slade then singled up the middle to score Quinones and Richards was able to score later on a Wildcat error to make the final score 12-5.
The Spartans will return to action this weekend as they travel to face Western Carolina for a three-game series beginning Friday at 8 p.m.
Davidson entertains College of Charleston in a three-game set with game one starting Friday night at 7 p.m.
Elon 13, North Carolina State 9
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Niko Fraser went 3-for-4 and drove in a career-best four runs while Ben Scott pounded out a personal-best four hits and scored a career-high four runs as the Elon Phoenix handed the North Carolina State Wolfpack a 13-9 defeat from Doak Field on Wednesday night. The Phoenix improved to 28-16 overall this season, including a perfect 6-0 against ACC competition. NC State fell to 26-17.
Elon sent nine men to the plate and scored four times in the second inning to take an early lead. Ryan Adams led off with a walk and then went to third on Ben Scott's one-out double to right-center. Seth Canipe was hit by a pitch to put three aboard for Niko Fraser who bounced a 2-2 pitch over the bag at third for a double which scored both Adams and Scott. Elon upped its lead to 3-0 when Harry Austin's bounce out to short plated Canipe. Alex Swim followed with a RBI single which drove home Fraser.
With one down in the third, Scott Riddle reached on a Wolfpack error and went to second on Scott's single through the left side. After Canipe's fly out advanced Riddle to third, Fraser placed a bunt down the third base line for a single to score Riddle. Austin followed with a ground ball to second that was booted for the second error of the inning and Scott was able to score to make it a 6-0 advantage in favor of Elon.
Russell Wilson singled off of the leg of Elon starter Dylan Clark to start the bottom of the third. With Clark out of the game, Wilson moved to second on a ground out before scoring on Matt Bergquist's double to the gap in right-center. After a walk to Dallas Poulk, a passed ball allowed both runners to take off, however Elon had a shot to get the lead runner, but the throw to third sailed into left field and allowed Bergquist to score and left Dallas Poulk on third. After Chris Schaeffer walked, Drew Poulk drove in Dallas Poulk with a fielder's choice that erased Schaeffer as NC State closed its deficit to 6-3.
With two away in the top of the fourth, Matt Hinson drilled the first pitch he saw from Vance Williams over the wall in dead center field to make it a 7-3 game. It was the 14th home run of the year for Hinson.
Wilson was hit with a one-out pitch before scoring on a pinch-hit double to right-center off the bat of Danny Canela as Elon's lead was trimmed to three at 7-4 in the bottom of the fourth.
Once again, Elon came right back. Riddle singled to right before moving to third on Scott's ground-rule double to start the top of the fifth. With one down, Fraser grounded out to short, but drove in his fourth run of the game as Riddle scored the eighth Phoenix run of the night. After Austin drew a walk and stole second, Swim lifted a ball to left that the Wolfpack defender missed, allowing both Scott and Austin to cross the plate as the Phoenix exteneded its lead to 10-4.
Drew Poulk doubled with one out in the last of the fifth and then scored on a Harold Riggins single to right. On the throw to the plate, Riggins raced to second. He then scored when Andrew Ciencen singled up the middle as State maked it a 10-6 contest.
Riddle reached on a two-out single in the sixth before stealing second and heading to third when the throw to second sailed into center field. Scott's fourth hit of the night, a single, plated Riddle. Elon then loaded the bases as both Canipe and Fraser were hit by pitches. Austin made it a 13-6 game by driving in both Scott and Canipe with a bouncing single through the right side of the infield.
The Wolfpack loaded the bases in its half of the sixth as Bergquist and Dallas Poulk singled ahead of a walk to Schaeffer. A one-out wild pitch let Bergquist come home with State's seventh run of the night, but they would edge no closer.
Wilson led off the bottom of the seventh with a single and then scored on a Bergquist triple off the glove of a diving Hinson in right-center. Dallas Poulk followed with a double to the gap in right-center to make it a 13-9 game as Bergquist crossed the plate.
Thomas Girdwood entered with two aboard in the bottom of the ninth and slammed the door shut, striking out two of the three hitters he faced to earn his sixth save of the year. Jared Kernodle (5-2) was awarded the win in relief after he allowed three runs on three hits in an inning and a third.
Mike Russo (2-1) was handed the loss after he gave up four runs on three hits in just 1.2 innings.
Riddle contributed two hits and scored three runs to the Phoenix attack.
Bergquist recorded four of State's 14 hits, going 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBI.
Elon returns to Southern Conference action this weekend with a three-game set at Wofford beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday evening.
Appalachian State 10, Wake Forest 5
BOONE, N.C. ? Matt Andress (Charlotte, N.C./South Mecklenburg) tied Appalachian State University's career wins record and became the program's all-time strikeouts leader in the Mountaineers' 10-5 victory over Wake Forest on Wednesday at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.
Andress allowed just one earned run over three innings to earn the 25th victory of his career, moving him into a tie with Kevin Simmons (1983-86) atop Appalachian's all-time wins list. Andress picked up the win in just three innings because the Mountaineers came into the game with a prearranged "split start," which allowed most of the staff's primary weekend pitchers to get work heading into a six-day break due to final exams.
In addition to tying the school's all-time wins record, Andress broke the program's career strikeouts record by fanning Wake Forest's Pat Blair to lead off the game. The right-handed senior finished with five strikeouts in his three innings of work, giving him 227 for his career and surpassing the 222 racked by Simmons in the mid-80s.
Despite Andress' record-breaking performance, offense was the story of the day for Appalachian (31-8-1). ASU scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning and banged out 12 hits to overcome a season high-tying four errors in the win.
Thanks in large part to the three-run first, the Mountaineers led 6-2 after three innings. However, Wake Forest (12-32) chipped away at the lead and cut it to 6-5 with runners on second and third and no outs in the top of the fifth.
Faced with the two-runners-in-scoring-position, nobody-out jam, freshman Nathan Hyatt (Brevard, N.C./Brevard) got perhaps the two biggest outs of the afternoon for ASU when he induced a shallow fly ball, a strikeout and a groundout to end the threat and maintain the Apps' one-run lead.
From there, it was all Appalachian, as the Mountaineers tacked on four more runs over their next three at-bats to stretch the advantage to 10-5 going into the eighth. That would be more than enough for ASU closer Chris Patterson (Laurinburg, N.C./Scotland County), who surrendered just one hit over the final two innings to seal the triumph. However, it was not a save situation for Patterson and the right-hander remained tied with Virginia's Kevin Arico for the nation's saves lead with 13.
Jerod Faggart (Concord, N.C./Northwest Cabarrus) and Jeremy Dowdy (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield) led the Mountaineers' 12-hit attack by recording three hits apiece and combining to drive in five of the club's 10 runs (Dowdy with three RBI, Faggart with two). They both homered, with Dowdy launching a two-run blast to left field in the third inning and Faggart skimming a solo shot inside the left field foul pole in the fifth for his team high-tying 11th home run of the season. Tyler Zupcic (Charlotte, N.C./Providence) also had three hits for the Mountaineers and Wes Hobson (Winston-Salem, N.C./North Forsyth) extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a first-inning single
Blair went 4-for-5 with an RBI to lead the Demon Deacons.
After losing 17-straight games to Wake Forest from 1997-2006, Appalachian beat the Demon Deacons for the fourth time in the teams' last seven meetings. With the win, ASU also moved to 20-0 in non-conference games this season and remained the nation's only NCAA Division I club with an undefeated record versus non-conference competition.
Following the week-long break for finals, Appalachian returns to action next Wednesday (May 5) at home versus Gardner-Webb. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at Smith Stadium.
Georgia 13, Western Carolina 10
Athens, Ga. ? Tyler Kirkpatrick posted a 4-for-5 showing at the plate including a game-high five RBI and his team-leading 12th home run of the season, but it wasn’t enough as Georgia used an eight-run bottom of the eighth inning to erase Western Carolina’s five-run, 9-4, lead in downing the Catamounts, 13-10, Wednesday night in nonconference action at Foley Field.
Kirkpatrick gave WCU (25-14-1) an early 1-0 lead with a solo home run in the first inning, and then legged out a base-clearing, three RBI double in the third as the Catamounts climbed on top of the slumping Bulldogs, 4-2 through three. Tyler White singled and Dylan de Graaf doubled to score two runs in the fourth with a three-spot in the sixth handing Western Carolina a 9-4 advantage.
However, the Bulldogs scratched the scoreboard for eight runs in the home half of the sixth to seize control of the game. After a lead-off strikeout, back-to-back walks put two aboard before third-baseman Todd Hankins belted a three-run home run to centerfield trim the WCU lead to two, 9-7. Johnathan Taylor laid down an infield bunt single ahead of a second strikeout in the frame before second baseman Levi Hyams knotted the game with a two-run blast to center.
Taylor posted a four-hit performance in going 4-for-5 with two runs scored while Hankins and Hyams both finished 3-for-4 with three RBI apiece.
Georgia’s rally continued with three additional runs coming home including one on a wild pitch and two on base hits giving the Bulldogs a 12-9 lead with both teams scoring a run in the eighth to provide the final tally.
In addition to Kirkpatrick’s solid night at the plate, five other Catamounts recorded multi-hit games with Dylan de Graaf finishing 3-for-5 with a double and two runs driven in. Cameron Dullnig finished 2-for-3 after pinch hitting and subbing into right field, while Trevor Collias led three players with 2-for-5 outings including his 10th homerun of the year. Austin Schultz and Tyler White also rapped out two hits apiece for WCU.
Defensively, catcher Ollie Goulder threw out four would-be Bulldog base stealers through the first four innings. Conversely, the Catamounts swiped five bases including two by Dullnig with Collias, de Graaf and Schultz each adding one.
Freshman T.J. Page earned his first collegiate start on Wednesday, working two and two-thirds innings and scattering six hits with two runs allowed. He gave way to classmate Jeremy Sluder who surrendered two runs on three hits in an inning and a third. Andrew Chilcoat (1-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing four earned runs on three hits.
All told, the Catamounts used six pitchers which combined for 10 strikeouts including four by Blackwell, two by Page and Chavis and one by Stewart and Chilcoat.
Reliever Ben Cornwell (1-1) picked up the win after tossing an inning and two-thirds out of the bullpen, holding the Catamounts scoreless with just one base hit. Cooper Moseley picked up his fourth save of the season, striking out two against two base hits in closing out the ninth inning.
Western Carolina opens a three-game Southern Conference series against UNC Greensboro this Friday night at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium in Cullowhee with a special start time of 8:00 pm. The series continues with first pitch at 3:00 pm on Saturday and will conclude with a 2:00 pm start on Sunday afternoon.
Gardner-Webb 22, Wofford 7
FOREST CITY, N.C. ? Wofford College baseball team was defeated 22-7 by Gardner-Webb at McNair Field on Wednesday night. The Runnin’ Bulldogs scored eleven runs in the first inning, only two of which were earned, and the Terriers never were able to recover.
Wofford is 13-27 on the season and 6-12 in the Southern Conference. Gardner-Webb evens their record to 20-20 overall. The Terriers were led by Konstantine Diamaduros with three RBIs and Kyle Behrendt with two RBIs. The Runnin’ Bulldogs were led by Aaron Miller with four hits and seven RBIs as thirteen players recorded hits.
In the top of the first, Wofford opened with a walk by James Foster and he moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Alex Lee. A single to right center by Kyle Behrendt scored Foster for a 1-0 lead. A single to right by Landon Bennett added a run, but the Terriers left the bases loaded at the end of the inning.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs answered in their half of the first with a single by Daniel Merck and a home run to left field by Aaron Miller to tie the game at 2-2. Josh Drewery added a three-run homer to right field to take a 5-2 lead.
Gardner-Webb continued to score at will in the first when a triple by Aaron Miller drove in two runs and Jake Watts added an RBI double. Adam McFarland added an RBI double to extend the lead. In the inning, the Runnin’ Bulldogs sent fifteen batters to the plate and scored eleven runs on ten hits and one Wofford error. Only two of the eleven runs were earned in the inning.
Wofford got one run back in the top of the second with an RBI single by Mac Doyle that scored Alex Lee, who had reached on a single. With the bases loaded, Konstantine Diamaduros walked to score a run and make it 11-4, but a fly ball ended the second for the Terriers. Gardner-Webb added two runs on back-to-back ground-outs in the bottom of the second for a 13-4 lead.
In the bottom of the third, Ty Boyles added a two-run homer over the left field wall to increase the lead to 15-4. A triple by Daniel Merck drove in two more runs as the Runnin’ Bulldogs built an 18-4 advantage.
The Terriers opened the fourth with a single from Mac Doyle and a double by Landon Bennett. A ground-out by Konstantine Diamaduros drove in one run. The Runnin’ Bulldogs added two runs in the bottom of the fourth with RBI singles from John Harris and Aaron Miller for a 20-5 lead.
After Wofford was retired in order in the top of the fifth, Gardner-Webb had one hit in the bottom of the fifth, but did not score for the first time in the game. Taylor Rozier added a double in the top of the sixth and was driven home by a single from Konstantine Diamaduros.
To open the seventh, Wofford had singles from Josh McKinney and Matt Moore and a walk to James Foster to load the bases. A sacrifice fly from Kyle Behrendt drove in one run to make it a 20-7 game.
Back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the seventh by O.J. McFarland and Aaron Haynes added two more runs for the Runnin’ Bulldogs. Neither team added a run in the eighth inning. Wofford’s Josh McKinney led off the ninth with a single, but was stranded at the end of the inning for a 22-7 final score.
For the Terriers, starter Gus White did not get out of the first inning, allowing seven runs on five hits in just two-thirds of the frame. Anthony Rowland closed the first and allowed five hits and four unearned runs with one strikeout. Alex Wilson went two innings and allowed seven runs on seven hits. Brandon Yarusi threw 3.1 innings and allowed eight hits and four runs with one strikeout. Pete Noordsy went the final 1.2 and gave up one hit with one strikeout.
Gardner-Webb starter Brandon Boling went 1.2 innings with four hits allowed and four runs scored. Kyle Paeplow threw 2.1 innings with two hits and one run allowed with two strikeouts. Michael Hanzlik went two innings and allowed only two hits and no runs. Emilio Pagan threw the seventh and allowed one run on two hits. Brett Stackhouse pitched the eighth and had two strikeouts without allowing a hit. Jeff Howell went the ninth and recorded two strikeouts with one hit allowed.
The 26 hits allowed by Wofford were a season high and the 22 runs allowed tied the season high set by New Mexico State on March 28. Gardner-Webb swept the three-game series against Wofford this season. The Terriers return home for a three-game series against Elon beginning on Friday night at 7:00 p.m.
UNC Asheville 14, Furman 2
GREENVILLE, S.C. ? Mike Vaughn’s grand slam highlighted an eight-run first inning and helped propel UNC Asheville to an easy 14-2 win over Furman in baseball action Wednesday afternoon at Latham Stadium.
The Bulldogs (12-26) scored all the runs they would need in their first at bat when Vaughn directed a one-out pitch by Furman’s Nate Smith over the left center field fence for a 4-0 lead.
Smith (2-1), who had walked two batters prior to Vaughn’s bases clearing clout, proceeded to load the bases a second time with a hit and two walks before Jordan Lurie stroked a two-run double down the first base line to make it 6-0.
Paladin reliever Barry Benton, summoned to replace Smith, yielded a sacrifice fly to Catlin Carter to extend the advantage to 7-0, and Danny Baatz wrapped up the first inning outburst with an RBI single to center field.
The Bulldogs added to their tally in the seventh, taking advantage of a hit and five walks issued by Paladin relievers Stephen Gary and Kevin Gottlieb to plate two more runs, and closed their four more in the eighth.
The big run support allowed Grier Harrington ( 1-3) to cruise to the victory. The junior right-hander allowed only an unearned run on four hits over seven innings. He walked three and fanned two.
UNC Asheville banged out 15 hits in the contest, including three each by Carter, Schuman, and Beau Zinman. Carter and Vaughn had four RBI apiece.
J.B. Jenkins double and tripled for Furman, which mustered only five hits.
Furman (13-26) opens a Southern Conference series against Georgia Southern with a Saturday doubleheader beginning at noon at Latham Stadium.