UNC Greensboro 5, Western Carolina 3
Cullowhee, N.C. ? A two-run rally by UNC Greensboro in the eighth lifted the Spartans to a, 5-3, victory over Western Carolina on Saturday afternoon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
The Catamounts (26-15-1, 9-10-1 SoCon) tied the game at three in the seventh with a Ross Heffley RBI single to left field, allowing second baseman Matt Johns to score. UNCG answered with a two-run spot in the eighth and sealed the win as the Spartans set up a rubber-match contest for Sunday.
Tyler Kirkpatrick led the Catamounts with a 2-for-4 afternoon, a double with a run scored. Freshman Bryant Noteboom recorded his first collegiate hit as he completed the contest 2-for-4 with a run.
Saturday hurler Matt Benedict (6-1) took his first loss of the season after fanning four Spartans, but giving up five runs, three earned, on seven hits in seven and a third innings pitched.
WCU went up 1-0 in the fourth after Trevor Collias hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, allowing Kirkpatrick to score.
UNC Greensboro answered with a two-run tally in the fifth as Ed Jackjack hammered his sixth homerun of the year to lead off the inning. Ray Quinones added the second run by scoring from a passed ball to make it a, 3-1, UNCG advantage.
Johns’ groundout in the fifth allowed Noteboom to score, cutting WCU’s deficit to 3-2. The Cats’ loaded the bases in the sixth, but were unable to push a run across home plate. Heffley tied the game at 3-3 in the home-half of the seventh with a RBI single to left. He finished the afternoon 1-for-4 with an RBI.
The Spartans re-took the lead as Harry Slade reached on base due to a defensive miscue. A Corey Overholtzer double to right broke the tie, while Jayjack again answered with his third RBI of the day as UNCG took a 5-3 lead. Jayjack finished a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with a home run, a run scored and three runs-batted-in.
Catamount reliever Brandon Johnson tossed an inning and two-thirds of relief, giving up just one hit during that span. Senior Dylan de Graaf also notched a multi-hit game as hit 2-for-4 in the contest.
UNC Greensboro starter Warren Slack improved to 3-8 after pitching a complete game, surrendering the runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts.
Western Carolina will look to clinch the series in Sunday’s rubber match. The contest is slated for a 2 pm first pitch. Live coverage will be provided through GameTracker at CatamountSports.com.
Elon 14, Wofford 4
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? On Saturday afternoon, the Wofford College baseball team was defeated 14-4 by Elon at Russell C. King Field. The Phoenix scored seven runs in the first inning and limited the Terriers to only four hits on the day.
Wofford is 13-29 on the season and 6-14 in the Southern Conference. Elon is 30-16 overall and 14-9 in the conference. The Terriers were led by Konstantine Diamaduros with one hit and two RBIs. Elon was led by Alex Swim with four hits and Matt Hinson with four RBIs.
The Phoenix got on the board early when with one out Neal Pritchard singled to drive in one run. Matt Hinson then hit a three-run homer to left field for a 4-0 lead. RBI singles from Ben Scott, Harry Austin and Alex Swim made it a 7-0 game before Wofford was able to get the third out.
After scoreless second and third innings, Elon added three runs in the top of the fourth inning as Matt Hinson and Ryan Adams had singles that drove in runs and a ground-out by Scott Riddle made it 10-0.
In the top of the fifth, two more runs scored for Elon on a homer to right field by Mike Melillo for a 12-0 lead. Wofford opened the bottom of the fifth with Mac Doyle reaching on a hit by pitch and David Roney walking. A double by Landon Bennett drove in one run and a double by Konstantine Diamaduros drove in two more runs to make it a 12-3 game with no outs. On a double play, Diamaduros scored from third to add a run. Wofford added a single by James Foster, but the inning ended with two runners left on base.
Elon added a run in the top of the sixth on an RBI double from Harry Austin and plated a run in the top of the seventh with a double by Scott Riddle to push the lead to 14-4. Wofford left one runner on base in the eighth and two on in the ninth.
For the Terriers, Drew Sheridan (2-4) started his first game of the season and gave up ten runs on eleven hits in 3.2 innings with two strikeouts. Gus White went the final 5.1 innings and allowed four runs on eight hits with three strikeouts.
Elon starter Daniel Britt (4-2) went six innings with four runs and four hits allowed with one strikeout. J.D. Reichenbach threw two innings and did not allow a hit with three strikeouts. John Brebbia closed the game with one strikeout and no hits allowed in the ninth.
Wofford had two hitting streaks end in the game, as Kyle Behrendt ended a streak of 21 games with a hit and Mac Doyle saw his 17-game streak end. The Terriers complete the three-game series against Elon on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
College of Charleston 11, Davidson 3
DAVIDSON, N.C. - The College of Charleston used five home runs to defeat the Davidson Wildcats 11-3 in game two to spoil senior day and win the SoCon series Saturday at Wilson Field.
Catcher Robert Kral (2-for-4, 3 RBI), third baseman Matt Leeds (1-for-4, RBI), left fielder Jose Rodriguez (1-for-3, RBI), first baseman Greg Blake (1-for-3, 3 RBI) and shortstop Jamie Holler (1-for-4, RBI) all went yard for the College of Charleston (32-12, 16-7 SoCon), who used 11 hits to score 11 runs and committed just one error. Second baseman Joey Bergman (2-for-5) and right fielder Baker Knox (3-for-4, RBI) also had multi-hit games for the Cougars.
Davidson (18-25, 5-18 SoCon) scored a run on two hits in the first inning, but would not score again until adding a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth off Cougar closer Heath Hembree. Junior left fielder Sam Payne legged out a triple on a ball hit into right field and scored as sophomore first baseman Drew Gadaire followed with a single into center in the next at-bat.
The Wildcats finished the game with six hits, as sophomore center fielder Seth Freeman (1-for-4, RBI), freshman third baseman Andrew Barna (1-for-4), sophomore second baseman Calvin Sigelbaum (1-for-4) and senior pinch hitter Jay Honeycutt (1-for-1) also tallied hits for the Wildcats. The Wildcats got a base runner in every inning but two, but left eight on the base paths.
Sophomore left-hander Chris Lamb (L, 2-7) took the loss for Davidson, allowing six runs on eight hits and striking out seven in 5 1/3 innings.
Kevin Decker (W, 5-0) earned the win for Charleston, holding the Wildcats to just the one run and scattering four hits and striking out seven over six innings.
Holler's one-out solo home run in the third tied the game and Charleston took the lead as Kral plated Bergman. Rodriguez led off the fourth with a solo home run to push Charleston's lead to 4-1, before Kral and Leeds hit back-to-back, two-out solo home runs in the fifth.
Blake drew a walk to start the sixth, stole second and scored as Knox's got a base hit into center field to make it 7-1 in Charleston's favor. Junior right-hander Ian Horkley got the final two outs of the sixth inning, but was touched up for five runs on three hits, including a three-run home run to Blake, in the seventh. Senior left-hander Mac Read came on and after giving up a walk and a hit, got a pair of outs to get the 'Cats out of the inning.
Read and senior left-hander John Edwards held the Cougars to just one hit over the final 2 2/3 innings and Davidson got a pair of runs in the ninth when Sigelbaum and Honeycutt started the inning with back-to-back base hits off Hembree. Senior catcher Tommy Piacenza took a one-out walk to load the bases, and freshman shortstop Michael Zeblo plated a run with another before Honeycutt scored as Freeman fouled out in foul territory down the right field line. But the deficit proved too great to overcome, as Hembree struck out Payne for the final out.
Davidson, who honored its seven seniors in a pre-game ceremony, and Charleston will conclude the series tomorrow at 1 p.m.
Georgia Southern 5, Furman 2
Georgia Southern 11, Furman 2
GREENVILLE, S.C. ? Kyle Blackburn homered twice and drove in five runs and Jake Brown and Matt Murray turned in strong pitching performances in leading Georgia Southern to a doubleheader sweep of Furman, 5-2 and 11-2, in Southern Conference baseball action Saturday afternoon at Latham Stadium.
Blackburn, who combined to go 5-for-9 and score three runs in the twinbill, delivered a solo home run in game one and stroked a two-run blast in the second contest to help give Georgia Southern (25-19, 15-8 SoCon) its first regular season series victory over Furman (13-28, 5-15 SoCon) since 2005. The Eagles will go for the series sweep on Sunday in a 1:00 p.m. game.
In the opener Jake Brown (7-4) scattered nine hits and allowed only two runs over eight innings to earn the victory.
Furman led 2-1 after six innings behind starting pitcher Ian Parry (3-5) until a Randy Williams RBI groudout scored Michael Burruss in the seventh to tie the game.
The Eagles took the lead for good in the eighth when Blackburn, who led off the frame with a single through the right side, scored on a double play, and Arthur Owens steered a two-out offering from Paladin reliever Kevin Gottlieb into center field for a 4-2 advantage.
GSU added an insurance run in the ninth on an Eric Phillips RBI double, and Dexter Bobo retired the Paladins in order in the ninth to earn the save, his seventh of the season.
Parry, who took the loss, allowed 10 hits and four runs in 7 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out eight.
Phillips led GSU’s 14-hit attack in the opener with a 4-for-5 performance, and Kevin Bowles, Blackburn, Owens, and Burruss had two hits apiece.
Furman had nine hits, including a solo home run by freshman catcher Dylan Cole, who went 2-for-4.
In the second game, Murray (4-2) worked out of a one-out, bases loaded jam in the first inning and cruised to the win. The sophomore right-hander surrendered only a run on three hits over seven innings and struck out six in completing the sweep for GSU.
He strong performance on the mound was backed up by solid work at the plate, where the Eagles pounded out 14 hits, including three by Blackburn, who went 3-for-6, including a two-run home run in the sixth.
Georgia Southern took an 1-0 lead in the first on after Shawn Payne led off with a double, stole third, and came home on a grounder.
The Eagles extended their margin to 3-0 in the fourth before Furman got on the board with a solo home run to right center field by Reese Wade.
GSU blew the game open with a seven-run sixth that was helped along on an error by Furman pitcher Daniel Stallsmith, whose throw to second base on the front end of an attempted double play pulled shortstop J.B. Jenkins off the bag. Following a sacrifice bunt, Bowles delivered a two-run single, and later in the frame Blackburn connected on a two-run clout to left center field. Burruss wrapped up the outburst with a two-run double to left center off Paladin reliever Bobby Lyne.
Owens matched Blackburn with three hits in the contest, and Payne scored three runs.
Wade and Blaine Rosenburg had two hits apiece for Furman, which managed only six hits in game two.
Stallsmith (2-2) was charged with the loss after tossing five innings and allowing nine hits and five runs, though only two were earned.
The Citadel 14, Samford 6
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford baseball team dropped a 14-6 decision to SoCon-leading The Citadel Saturday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field. Samford's loss evens the series between the two teams. Sunday's series finale has been moved to 12 p.m. due to forecasted inclement weather for the Birmingham area.
With the loss, Samford drops to 24-18 overall and 12-7 in Southern Conference play. The Citadel improves to 29-16 overall and 17-3 in league play.
Samford was led at the plate by David Schulze, going 3-for-5 with an RBI. Schulze extended his current hitting streak to 18 games, the longest on the team this season. Tripp Swann went 2-for-2 with an RBI. Mason Meredeth, Trey Hayes and Marcus Rodriguez had two hits each for the Bulldogs.
Kyle Putkonen pitched 3.1 innings, giving up 10 runs, just three earned due to five Samford errors, on eight hits to take the loss and drop his season record to 3-4. Dayne Cutrell, Joshua VanFleteren and Tyler Vanderheiden also saw time on the mound for Samford.
The Citadel was led by Bryan Altman, going 4-for-4 with a home run, two doubles and four RBI. Brad Felder went 4-for-5 at the plate for The Citadel. Grant Richards went 2-for-5 with a double and five RBI. David Greene hit his second home run of the series in a 2-for-4 performance with two RBI. Justin Mackert and Kyle Jordan also had two hits apiece for The Citadel.
Matt Talley tossed 7.0 innings, giving up three runs on eight hits and striking out five batters to earn the win and improve to 5-2 on the season. Chris Boyce and Nick Sprowls pitched the final 2.0 innings for The Citadel.
The Citadel jumped out to an early lead with four runs in the top of the first inning. Altman singled through the left side of the infield to drive in Nick Orvin for the game's first run. Jordan later grounded out to the pitcher to drive in Felder for a two-run lead. Richards later singled to center field to drive in Altman and Matt Simonelli to make the score 4-0.
The Citadel added two runs in the third inning to push its lead to 6-0. Mackert and Altman both scored when Richards reached on a Samford error for a six-run Citadel lead.
The Citadel plated four more runs in the fourth inning to make the score 10-0. Altman doubled to left-center field to drive in Simonelli and Orvin for the first two runs of the inning. Jordan later singled up the middle to drive in Altman, and Richards hit a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Mackert for the final runs of the inning.
Samford got on the scoreboard with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Rodriguez scored Samford's first run of the game on a wild pitch. Michael Johnson later doubled to right-center field to drive in Austin Allison to make the score 10-2. Schulze later singled to third base to drive in Davis Harrison to cut The Citadel's lead to 10-3.
The Citadel answered with three more runs in the top of the eighth inning to push its lead to 13-3. Altman hit a solo home run to left field and Greene hit a two-run homer to left-center field for a 10-run lead for The Citadel.
In the top of the ninth inning, The Citadel put up one more run to make the score 14-3. Richards doubled down the left-field line to drive in Mackert for The Citadel's final run of the game.
Samford plated three final runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to make the final score 14-6. Swann singled through the right-side of the infield to drive in Meredeth for Samford's first run of the inning. Tommy Corbin later hit a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Schulze. The game's final run scored when Hayes scored from third base when Allison reached base on a fielder's choice.
Samford and The Citadel will conclude their three-game SoCon series with a game Sunday at 12 p.m. CT (1 p.m. ET) 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.