College of Charleston 10, Davidson 8
DAVIDSON, N.C. ? Senior Thomas Middour held the College of Charleston to just two hits through seven innings and struck out a career-high nine, but the Cougars scored eight runs off the Davidson Wildcat bullpen in the last two innings in their comeback 10-8 win Friday night at Wilson Field in the opening game of the SoCon series.
Just a week removed from his defeat of the first-place Citadel Bulldogs and with the Davidson Wildcats (18-24, 5-17 SoCon) scoring eight runs in the first four innings, Middour was on his way to a victory over the second-ranked College of Charleston (31-12, 15-7 SoCon).
After allowing just two runs on two hits in the second, Middour faced just one over the minimum in the third, fourth and sixth. He retired all three hitters in the third inning, and a fielding error in the seventh gave the Cougars a base runner.
The Davidson bats gave Middour an early cushion, putting up runs in bunches to start the game. The Wildcats got their first runs in the second as sophomore center fielder Drew Gadaire (3-for-5, 2 RBI) hit his first home run of the season to score sophomore left fielder Seth Freeman (2-for-5, 2 RBI).
Charleston got to Middour for a pair of runs in the second as third baseman Matt Leeds (1-for-2) doubled to start the inning, moved to second on his throwing error and scored on a wild pitch. Designated hitter Hutson Dodds’ (1-for-3, RBI) two-out solo home run tied the score, but the Cougars would not challenge Middour again.
The Wildcats retook the lead with three runs on three hits in the third as Gadaire and freshman third baseman Andrew Barna (1-for-5) started the inning with back-to-back base hits and scored on sophomore second baseman Calvin Sigelbaum’s (1-for-5, 2 RBI) triple into right field. Junior designated hitter J.P. Craven walked before senior catcher Tommy Piacenza sacrificed Sigelbaum in. Pinch hitter Jake Berman drew another walk to chase Charleston starter Christian Powell in favor of Casey Lucchesse (W, 1-0), who ended up the winner after allowing just one run on two hits over 4 2/3 innings.
Davidson would tack on another run in the fourth as Gadaire knocked a one-out single up the middle, stole second and scored on a fielding error by shortstop Jamie Holler, and Middour would turn over an 8-2 lead to the Wildcat bullpen to start the eighth.
Unable to solve Middour, the Cougars jumped on the Wildcat bullpen for seven runs on six hits, batting around in the eighth. Junior right-hander Andy Bass got pinch hitter Dre Watts on strikes to start the inning, but by the time Barna made a leaping play on a hot shot from second baseman Joey Bergman (1-for-5) 10 at-bats later for the third out, Davidson was trailing a run. Bergman, center fielder Cole Rakar (1-for-3, RBI), left fielder Jose Rodriguez (1-for-5, 2 RBI), first baseman Greg Blake (1-for-4, RBI) and right fielder Baker Knox (1-for-4, RBI) all got a hit and scored in the inning.
The Cougars tacked on another as catcher Rob Kral turned a one-out double into an insurance run in the ninth, and Owen Brittle (S, 3) retired six straight Wildcats over the final two innings to earn his third save of the season.
Junior right-hander Mike Frongello (L, 2-4) was tagged with the loss, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits in 1 1/3 of relief.
The Wildcats and Cougars will play the second game of the series tomorrow at 2 p.m. Davidson will honor its seven seniors prior to the first pitch.
Elon 8, Wofford 2
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Wofford College baseball team was defeated 8-2 by Elon at Russell C. King Field on Friday night. The game was tied at one each after five innings, but six runs in the top of the sixth for the Phoenix allowed them to pick up the road win.
Wofford is 13-28 on the season and 6-13 in the Southern Conference. Elon is 29-16 overall and 13-9 in the conference. The Terriers were led by Kyle Behrendt with two hits and Landon Bennett and Josh McKinney each with RBIs. Elon was led by Mike Melilo and Scott Riddle, each with two hits and three RBIs.
After a scoreless first, the Phoenix got on the board in the top of the second when Matt Hinson reached on an error. A double by Scott Riddle to right center scored the run. The Terriers answered in the bottom of the second when Landon Bennett singled and a double by Michael McDonnell gave Wofford runners at second and third with one out. Josh McKinney laid down a perfect bunt in front of the plate that scored Bennett to tie the game.
It remained a pitcher’s duel through the fifth inning, as Elon added three hits and Wofford had two but it remained a 1-1 game.
In the top of the sixth, the Terriers got the first two outs of the inning. A walk and a home run to Scott Riddle gave the Phoenix a 3-1 lead. A hit by pitch, single and walk loaded the bases and Alex Swim drove in two runs with a single to left. Another single by Mike Melilo drove in two runs to make it a 7-1 score before Wofford could get the third out.
Wofford was able to get one run back in the bottom of the eighth when Kyle Behrendt was hit by a pitch and moved to third on a double by Mac Doyle to right field. A sacrifice fly by Landon Bennett scored Behrendt, but the Terriers left one on base at the end of the inning at 7-2.
The Phoenix made it 8-2 with a solo home run over the right field fence from Mike Melilo. There were two on and nobody out when Pete Noordsy entered the game and struck out the first batter and then a double play ended the top of the ninth. In the bottom of the ninth, Josh McKinney walked and David Roney singled with one out, however a double play ended the game for the Terriers.
For the Terriers, starter Tom Dolinak (0-4) went 5.2 innings with six hits and six runs allowed with four strikeouts. Cash Collins allowed two hits and one run in a third of an inning. Anthony Rowland threw two innings with not hits allowed and two strikeouts. Alex Wilson gave up one run and Pete Noordsy went the final inning with one strikeout and no hits allowed.
Elon starter Jimmy Reyes (7-3) threw 7.1 innings and allowed eight hits and two runs with eight strikeouts. Mitch Conner went an inning without allowing a hit with one strikeout and Greg Amorosso closed the final two-thirds of an inning with one hit allowed.
The Terriers continue the three-game series against Elon on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. and on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
Samford 7, The Citadel 5
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford baseball team jumped out to an early five-run lead and held on late for a 7-5 Southern Conference win over league-leading The Citadel Friday night at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
"This was a heck of a job by our players of getting off to a good start," Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. "This was just a complete job by our guys against a good pitcher."
With the win, Samford improves to 24-17 overall and 12-6 in SoCon play. Samford stands in third place in the league standings, but the Bulldogs close the gap between Samford and The Citadel to three and a half games. The Citadel drops to 28-16 overall and 16-3 in league play.
Samford was led at the plate by Gary Cramer, going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Wayne Miller and Trey Hayes each went 2-for-4 at the plate. David Schulze drove in two runs in a 1-for-3 performance, extending his hitting streak to 17 games.
Samford's Jonathan Stephens pitched 5.2 innings, giving up five runs, only four earned, on seven hits to earn the win and improve to 6-1 on the season. Andrew Jones pitched 1.2 innings, allowing two hits and then Lex Rutledge tossed the final 1.2 innings, allowing just one hit to earn his eighth save of the season.
For The Citadel at the plate, David Greene went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and all five of the team's RBI. Bryan Altman went 3-for-4 for The Citadel. Asher Wojciechowski pitched 7.0 innings, giving up seven runs, only five earned, on 10 hits to take the loss and drop his season record to 8-2.
Samford jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs in the inning, Bo Smith singled to right field to drive in Miller for the first run of the game. Schulze later scored from third base when Hayes reached on an error by The Citadel. Cramer then singled to right field to drive in Smith for a 3-0 Samford lead.
The Citadel put its first run on the board in the top of the second inning. Altman scored from third base when Greene reached base on a Samford error to make the score 3-1.
Samford plated two more runs in the bottom of the second inning to push its lead to 5-1. Schulze doubled down the right-field line to drive in Mason Meredeth and Miller for a four-run Samford lead.
Samford added another run in the third inning for a 6-1 lead. Michael Johnson hit a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Hayes for Samford's sixth run of the contest.
The Citadel plated a run in the top of the fifth inning to cut the Samford lead to 6-2. Greene led off the inning with a solo home run to left-center field.
Samford answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 7-2. Hayes scored from third base when Johnson grounded into a double play for a five-run Samford lead.
The Citadel came back with three runs in the sixth inning to cut the Samford lead to 7-5. After Jones entered the game for Stephens with the bases loaded and two outs, Greene doubled to left-center field to clear the bases and drive in Kyle Jordan, Altman and Brad Felder.
Jones got the next batter, Legare Jones, to ground out to third base to end the threat. Jones and Rutledge held The Citadel scoreless for the final three innings to close out the win.
Samford and The Citadel will continue their three-game SoCon series with a game Saturday at 1 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field. The game can be heard locally on WVSU-FM 91.1, or worldwide on the internet at www.samford.edu/wvsu. The game can be viewed online via the Bulldog Big Screen at www.samfordsports.com.
Western Carolina 11, UNC Greensboro 10
Cullowhee, N.C. - Matt Johns' walk-off RBI single to left field in the bottom of the ninth capped a six-run rally as Western Carolina topped UNC Greensboro, 11-10, on Friday evening at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
The Catamounts (26-14-1, 9-9-1 SoCon) used their second consecutive six-run rally in conference play to down the Spartans (18-24, 5-17 SoCon), while extending their conference win streak to three games. The contest lasted into the early minutes of Saturday morning as the game was officially fours and seven minutes.
WCU trailed 10-5 after five complete innings, but a Ross Heffley home run in the eighth evened the contest at 10-10. Johns scorched a ball to left center as Dylan de Graaf tallied the game-winner.
Johns finished the evening 2-for-6 with a run and a RBI, while Heffey was 2-for-5 with a home run, run scored and two runs batted in. Reliever Brandon Johnson secured with win after tossing two hitless frames with two strikeouts. Johnson, a junior from Morehead City, N.C., improved to 5-1 on the season.
Junior Austin Schultz nailed a lead-off homerun in the top of the first to give the Catamounts the early 1-0 lead. The homer was Schultz's sixth of the year as he hit 2-for-4 with two runs, two RBI in the contest.
WCU added another pair of runs in the inning after Trevor Collias and Johns rounded homeplate after a UNCG defensive miscue. Schultz finished the evening with a 2-for-4 day with a pair of runs and two walks.
The Catamounts retook the lead, 5-3, in the third as Heffley scored an unearned run. Collias added another unearned run after de Graaf reached on base with a fielder's choice.
UNC Greensboro added seven runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take a five-run lead until the Catamounts responded in the sixth. Schultz's triple to right center field drove in de Graaf, who reached on a base with a wild pitch. The Catamounts added another two runs as Collias singled through the left side to drive in Schultz. Tyler Kirkpatrick scored an unearned run due to a fielding error to cut the gap to 10-8.
Heffley jacked his tenth home run of the season in the eighth inning to left field to tie the contest at 10-10. de Graaf stroked a two-out double in the ninth. Schultz would then walk, setting up Johns' game-winning single to left.
Freshman starter Taylor Sandefur tossed two and a third innings, giving up three runs, two earned, on three walks. Kyle Stewart came on in relief giving up just a run in one inning tossed. Jeremy Sluder and Vance Chavis relieved Stewart in the next inning and a third, giving up a combined five earned runs. White Hall, Md., native Andrew Chilcoat allowed a run on two hits in two and a third innings.
UNCG starter Blake Hasselbrock gave up just three earned runs, but a total of five unearned Catamount runs in the no-decision. The junior righty struckout seven and walked four in five and two-thirds tossed.
Zach Furl took the loss for the Spartans by surrendering three earned runs on four hits in three innings pitched. Ray Quinones led UNCG with a 2-for-5 person with three runs-batted-in.
Western Carolina will resume the three-game series on Saturday afternoon at 3 pm. Live GameTracker will be available online at CatamountSports.com.