Samford 12, The Citadel 11
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford senior center fielder Wayne Miller singled up the middle to drive in two runs and cap a four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Bulldog baseball team a thrilling 12-11 Southern Conference win over league-leading The Citadel Sunday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
The win, which came after a rain delay of over an hour in the bottom of the ninth, gives Samford the series win, two games to one, marking the first time The Citadel has lost a conference series this season. Samford improves to 25-18 overall and 13-7 in SoCon play with the win. The Citadel drops to 29-17 overall and 17-4 in league play.
Samford trailed, 11-8 entering the bottom of the ninth inning after The Citadel had plated five runs in the top of the ninth to take the lead. Mason Meredeth led the inning off with a single and advanced to second base on a Citadel error. Meredeth moved to third base on a fly out by David Schulze. Bo Smith and Trey Hayes then walked to load the bases. With two outs, Michael Johnson walked to drive in Meredeth to make the score 11-9.
After a pitching change by The Citadel, Samford sent Tripp Swann into the game as a pinch hitter. The players were then pulled off the field due to lightning in the area. The weather delay lasted for an hour and 12 minutes. When play resumed, Swann walked to drive in Smith to make it an 11-10 game. With an 0-2 count, Miller singled up the middle to drive in Johnson and Hayes for the walk-off win.
"What a way to end a game," Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. "For Wayne to get an 0-2, two-out hit like that was big. It was just a huge hit at what couldn't have been a bigger time."
Samford had led, 8-6, entering the top of the ninth, but The Citadel scored five runs in the top of the ninth to take the 11-8 lead. Four of the five runs came on a grand slam by David Greene. Bryan Altman also had an RBI single earlier in the inning to start the rally.
Samford was led at the plate by Hayes, going 3-for-4 with a home run, a triple and three RBI. Johnson was 2-for-4 with four RBI. Meredeth, Schulze, Smith and Gary Cramer had two hits each for Samford. Schulze extended his current hitting streak to 19 games, the longest on the team this season. Miller was 1-for-6 with two RBI in the game.
Andrew Jones pitched the final 1.2 innings, giving up five runs on five hits to earn the win and improve to 4-1 on the season. Josh Martin started the game on the mound for Samford, pitching 5.0 innings, giving up five runs on eight hits. Lex Rutledge pitched 2.1 innings in relief, giving up one unearned run on four hits.
For The Citadel, Greene hit a grand slam and had five RBI in a 1-for-5 performance at the plate. Matt Simonelli was 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI. Altman, Justin Mackert and William Ladd had three hits each for The Citadel, while Brad Felder and Kyle Jordan had two hits each.
Drew Mahaffey pitched 1.2 innings in relief for The Citadel, giving up four runs on two hits to take the loss and drop his season record to 2-3.
After The Citadel scored a run in the top of the second inning to take an early lead, Samford came back with two runs in the bottom of the second to take a 2-1 lead. Smith doubled to left-center field to drive in Schulze for the game-tying run. Johnson later doubled to left-center to drive in Smith to give Samford the lead.
Samford added two runs in the fourth inning and three more in the fifth to push its lead to 7-1. Johnson doubled to right field to drive in Hayes and Smith for the two runs in the fourth inning. In the fifth inning, Hayes hit a three-run homer to right field with Schulze and Meredeth on base to give Samford a six-run lead.
The Citadel fought back with five runs in the top of the sixth inning to cut the Samford lead to 7-6. Simonelli hit a two-run homer to left-center field for the first two runs of the inning. Greene and Ladd also had an RBI each in the inning, and Grant Richards scored on a Samford error to pull The Citadel to within one run.
Samford added a run in the bottom of the eighth inning to push its lead to 8-6. Cramer doubled to left-center field to drive in Hayes to give Samford a two-run lead and set the stage for the decisive ninth inning.
Samford will return to action on Friday, May 7, when the Bulldogs open a three-game Southern Conference series at Wofford. The first pitch for Friday's series-opener is scheduled for 6 p.m. (CT) in Spartanburg, S.C.
The Citadel returns to action next Friday with a 6 p.m. game at cross-town rival College of Charleston.
Georgia Southern 14, Furman 8
GREENVILLE, S.C. ? Kevin Bowles went 3-for-5 and drove in a pair of runs and Georgia Southern took advantage of poor Furman defensive play to claim a 14-8 win and three-game series sweep of the Paladins in Southern Conference baseball action Sunday afternoon at Latham Stadium.
With the victory the Eagles improve to 26-19 overall and 16-8 in SoCon play. The loss, Furman’s seventh straight SoCon setback, drops the Paladins to 13-29 overall and 5-16 in league action.
The Paladins’ performance included four errors, which led to seven unearned runs for Georgia Southern, two picked off baserunners, and a runner thrown out at the plate for the first out in the ninth inning following a bases loaded RBI single.
Freshman second baseman Will Muzika hit his team leading 12th home of the season, a three-run job to left field in the bottom of the first inning, to stake Furman a 3-1 lead, but the Eagles countered with five unearned runs in the second, fueled by four hits and three Paladin errors, to go up 6-3.
A.J. Wirnsberger led off the decisive GSU second with a single and advanced to second on a fielding error by Furman shortstop J.B. Jenkins. The Paladins then misplayed a sacrifice bunt attempt when catcher Dylan Cole’s throw to first base deflected off the back of GSU’s Michael Burruss, allowing Wirnsberger to score. Following an RBI single by Arthur Owens, Furman pitcher Kevin Gaid overthrew first base on another sacrifice bunt attempt, permitting another run, and the Eagles closed out the frame with a Shawn Payne sacrifice fly RBI and Kyle Blackburn RBI single.
Georgia Southern made it 7-3 in the third with a Burruss RBI single before the Paladins answered with three in their half of the inning on a line drive three-run home run to left field by Brian Harrison.
That’s as close as the Paladins would get, however, as the Ealges kept the pressure on by tallying two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to take control. Randy Williams’ ground-rule, two-run double to left field in the fifth proved to be the biggest blow, helping the Eagles build a 12-6 margin.
The solid run support keyed Eagle starting pitcher Andy Moye (6-3) to the victory. The junior right-hander worked six innings, allowing nine hits and seven runs while walking three and striking out four.
Gaid (1-4) was charged with the loss after yielding nine runs, though only four were earned, on eight hits over four innings.
Led by Bowles’ three base knocks, Georgia Southern was credited with 15 hits in the contest, including two each by Payne, Eric Phillips, Wirnsberger, Burruss, and Owens. The Eagles also swiped seven bases, including three by Payne, who upped his season thefts tally to 30.
Muzika paced Furman’s 14-hit attack by going 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBI. Will Owens also had three three hits for the Paladins, and Aaron Thompkins, Rob Fondu, and Harrison collected a pair of safeties in the contest.
Furman opens a three-game Southern Conference series next Friday at Western Carolina. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.
GSU takes a seven-day break before hosting Alcorn State in a doubleheader next Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.
Wofford 12, Elon 10
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? In a back-and-forth battle, the Wofford College baseball team scored the final three runs in a 12-10 win over Elon on Sunday afternoon at Russell C. King Field. The seventh inning saw Elon take a lead at 10-9 in the top half and Wofford regained the lead with two runs in the bottom and added a run in the eighth for the victory.
Wofford is 14-29 on the season and 7-14 in the Southern Conference. Elon is 30-17 overall and 14-10 in the conference. The Terriers were led by Konstantine Diamaduros with two hits and four RBIs, including a home run, and Landon Bennett added three hits. Elon was led by Matt Hinson with three hits and three RBIs.
The Phoenix had the bases loaded with one out in the top of the first when a single by Matt Hinson scored two runs. Scott Riddle reached on an error to bring home a run and Ryan Adams added an RBI on a ground-out to take a 4-0 lead. In the top of the second, Elon added a run when Mike Melillo was caught in a run down between first and second that allowed Niko Fraser to score from third for a 5-0 advantage.
Wofford responded in the bottom of the second with six runs to take a 6-5 lead. With one out, David Roney walked and Landon Bennett added a single. Konstantine Diamaduros then hit a home run over the left field wall to score three runs. Taylor Rozier and James Foster added walks and Alex Lee was hit by pitch to load the bases with two out. Kyle Behrendt reached first on an error to score two runs and a wild pitch scored the sixth run of the frame for the Terriers.
Elon tied the game in the top of the third when Neal Pritchard led off with a double and scored on a single to right field by Matt Hinson. The Terriers were able to regain the lead in the bottom of the third. David Roney singled and Landon Bennett reached on an error. A second error in the inning allowed Roney to score from third to make it a 7-6 game.
After a scoreless fourth, Wofford was able to add one run in the bottom of the fifth when Landon Bennett singled, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. A ground out by Konstantine Diamaduros drove in Bennett for an 8-6 lead.
In the top of the sixth, Ryan Adams tripled with one out and a home run by Ben Scott to left field tied the game at 8. Wofford answered again in the bottom of the sixth when James Foster reached on a bunt and moved to third with a single by Alex Lee. Kyle Behrendt hit a sacrifice fly to score Foster and regain the lead at 9-8.
The lead was short, as Elon had back-to-back solo home runs by Mike Melillo and Neal Pritchard to take a 10-9 lead in the top of the seventh. Once again though, the Terriers responded in the bottom half of the inning. Walks to David Roney and Landon Bennett plus a single by Konstantine Diamaduros loaded the bases with no outs. The next two batters for Wofford flew out and did not advance the runners. With the bases still loaded, James Foster walked to score a run and tie the game at ten. Alex Lee was hit by a pitch to bring in the eventual winning run for an 11-10 score.
Elon left two runners on base in the top of the eighth. In the bottom of the eighth with two outs, Landon Bennett singled and Konstantine Diamaduros singled. A wild pitch moved both runners and when Josh McKinney reached on an error, Bennett scored to give Wofford a 12-10 lead.
Heading to the bottom of the ninth, the Phoenix followed the first out with two singles. A fly ball moved a runner to third with two out, but Bobby Streisel struck out the final batter to give the Terriers the win.
For the Terriers, John Cornely went the first 5.2 innings with seven hits allowed and eight runs scored with two strikeouts. Cash Collins allowed two runs on three hits in a third of an inning, while Ryan Traylor faced one batter with one out. Pete Noordsy (2-4) picked up the win with two-thirds of an inning without allowing a hit. Bobby Streisel recorded his first save of the season with two innings of work with two hits allowed, no runs and one strikeout.
Elon starter Jim Stokes threw three innings with seven runs (three earned) and four hits allowed with one strikeout. Jared Kernodle went the next three innings with four hits and three runs allowed with three strikeouts. Kyle Webb went 1.2 innings with two hits, two runs and two strikeouts. Greg Amorosso hit his only batter faced and Thomas Girdwood finished the final third of an inning.
The Terriers will play at East Tennessee State on Wednesday night before returning home on Friday night for the beginning of a three-game series against Samford at 7:00 p.m.
Elon visits North Carolina Monday at 6 p.m.
UNC Greensboro 14, Western Carolina 2
Cullowhee, N.C. ? UNC Greensboro rapped out 15 base hits and capitalized on seven walks and four Catamount errors to take Sunday’s rubber match in the three-game Southern Conference series with a 14-2 victory over Western Carolina at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
It is the first time since 2004 that the Catamounts had not taken the SoCon series over the Spartans, dropping both of the two games that were played back in the ’04 season with the third cancelled due to inclement weather.
After coming on as an injury substitution for the Spartans in the second inning, first baseman Joey Frabasile recorded a game-high four hits including two doubles, finishing 4-for-6 with two RBI and three runs scored to lead UNCG. Frabasile was one of five Spartan hitters to post a multi-hit game.
For the Catamounts, four players recorded two hits apiece led by Tyler Kirpatrick who legged out his team-leading 13th double of the season to represent WCU’s lone extra base hit on the afternoon. The senior from Charlotte, N.C., finished 2-for-4 with a run scored. He was joined at 2-for-4 by classmate Trevor Collias who also stole a base, with freshman Bryant Noteboom finishing 2-for-3 for his second-consecutive multi-hit game, adding his first collegiate stolen base as WCU swiped four including two by Cameron Dullnig.
Junior Austin Schultz also tallied two hits for the Catamounts, finishing 2-for-5 with a pair of singles.
Making his first collegiate start, freshman Preston Hatcher (0-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing five runs ? only one of which was earned ? on four hits in three and a third innings of work. The Catamounts used a combined seven pitchers including six in relief, walking seven while striking out five including a team-high five by Andrew Blackwell with Kyle Stewart tossing the longest in relief after working two and a third with one strikeout.
UNCG starter Colby Hyatt (7-3) scattered WCU’s 10 base hits through eight innings of work to earn the victory. He struck out seven against just one walk while also having the benefit of three double plays turned behind him by the Spartan infield. Matt Parish worked the ninth inning, striking out two of the four batters he faced with a hit batter as his only blemish.
Western Carolina will break for final exams this week with its next SoCon series against Furman spread over four days next weekend in Cullowhee. With graduation ceremonies on both campuses next Saturday, the teams will open the set with a 1:00 pm first pitch on Friday before returning to the diamond for 3:00 pm starts on Sunday and Monday.
UNCG hosts North Florida Tuesday at 6 p.m.
College of Charleston 8, Davidson 4
DAVIDSON, N.C. - Catcher Rob Kral went 4-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI to lead the College of Charleston Cougars past the Davidson Wildcats, 8-4, and complete the sweep in the series finale Sunday at Wilson Field.
Kral's two-run home run in the third lifted the Charleston (33-12, 17-7 SoCon) to a 4-0 lead. Center fielder Cole Rakar (2-for-4, 2 RBI) added two more in the fourth inning on the second Cougar home run of the day, and Kral followed with his second in the next at-bat to push Charleston's lead to 7-0.
Charleston starter David Peterson (W, 7-2) faced the minimum through three innings before sophomore center fielder Seth Freeman got the first hit of the day for Davidson (18-26, 5-19 SoCon), a single up the middle to lead off the fourth. He was wiped out on junior left fielder Sam Payne's fielder's choice, but the Wildcats got their first run as Payne took second on a balk, third on a base hit by sophomore first baseman Drew Gadaire and scored on freshman third baseman Andrew Barna's sacrifice fly.
Brian Russell, Mac Hunter and Andy Bass held the Cougars to just one run over the final 5 1/3 innings in relief for Wildcat starter Ryan Overcash (L, 5-2), who took the loss after allowing seven runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings, and the Wildcats cut into Charleston's lead with two runs in the sixth. Freeman doubled into left field, his second hit of the game, to start the inning and scored as Payne followed with a base hit into center field. Gadaire got the Wildcats' third hit of the inning to move him to third, and he scored from third as Barna grounded into a double play.
Charleston added its final run in the seventh. Hunter started the inning and allowed a single to first baseman Greg Blake before striking out pinch hitter Hutson Dodds. Blake stole second to get into scoring position for right fielder Blake Knox, who plated him with a base hit into right field. Hunter got a strike out and a line out to strand a runner and end the inning.
With Bass, who struck out five over the final two innings, in control, the Wildcats scratched across a run in the eighth and made some noise in the ninth, but left three runners on base. Freshman shortstop Michael Zeblo dropped a perfect bunt down the third base line to start the eighth but was caught stealing second for the first out. Payne worked a walk from Charleston reliever Tom Schiller and scored as Rakar misplayed Gadaire's single into center field into a two-base error, cutting the deficit to four runs.
Schiller dealt back-to-back, one-out walks to pinch hitters Jay Honeycutt and Will General but ended the game with two more punch outs.
Davidson will face its final non-conference opponent when it travels to Virginia Tech for a 5:30 p.m. game Tuesday night. The Hokies will return to Wilson Field May 18, after Davidson hosts Georgia Southern for its final home SoCon series of the season.
College of Charleston entertains first place The Citadel in a key SoCon series next weekend, beginning Friday at 6 p.m.