The Citadel 9, Georgia Southern 4
STATESBORO, Ga. ? Asher Wojciechowski tossed his third complete game of the season as The Citadel clinched at least a share of the Southern Conference regular season title with a 9-4 win at Georgia Southern.
The Citadel moved to 36-20 on the season and 22-6 in Southern Conference play, while Georgia Southern fell to 34-20, 19-9.
Both starters were of record in the ultimate pitcher’s duel with both team’s aces taking the mound. Setting down a string of 14 Eagles at one point, Wojciechowski picked up the win and a complete game. Wojciechowski struck out nine, walked two and surrendered four runs on seven hits in nine innings. Jake Brown (Forest Hill, Md.) was charged with the loss after seven innings, allowing six runs (three earned) on nine hits while striking out four.
Burruss (Marietta, Ga.) led the Eagles at the plate, going 3-for-4 against the tough right-hander. The redshirt-freshman accounted for one of GS’s four runs in the contest. Meanwhile, Shawn Payne (Stone Mountain, Ga.) launched a three-run home run in the eighth, while Arthur Owens (Fayetteville, Ga.) picked up the other RBI with a single in the same inning.
Two scoreless innings opened the contest before The Citadel posted three in the third on a costly Eagle error. Quickly drawing the first out with a strikeout, Brown proceeded to give up two singles before a misplayed groundball to third allowed the first run to score. The Bulldogs posted the next two runs on a groundout and single from Justin Mackert.
Brown sat the next eight Bulldogs down, but a solo home run from Mackert snapped the streak and handed The Citadel a 4-0 lead in the sixth. In the seventh, a fly ball caught in foul territory turned into a sacrifice fly for Nick Orvin as the Bulldogs posted their fifth run. Another run crossed the plate for The Citadel in the frame on a Matt Simonelli single.
A three-run eighth frame for the Bulldogs cushioned their advantage to 9-0 before Georgia Southern exploded in the home half of the inning. The Eagles got on base with the first batter as Burruss singled to left and moved to third when Brad Felder kicked the ball into the left field corner. Owens’ hard-hit single to shortstop posted the first GS run before Randy J. Williams (Valdosta, Ga.) took a free pass, setting up Payne’s three-run shot to deep center in the next at-bat.
The inning sliced the score to 9-4, but despite putting a runner on in the ninth with a Burruss single, the Eagles could not finish the comeback, falling in game one.
For The Citadel, Mackert went 3-for-4, while three other Bulldogs posted two hits apiece. Orvin and Mackert both recorded two RBI.
Game two of the three-game series is set for a 7 p.m. first pitch on Friday, May 21. The series will conclude on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
Western Carolina 7, Davidson 6 (10 inn.)
Cullowhee, N.C. ? Austin Schultz delivered a two-out double to right center field to drive in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning as Western Carolina scored four in the final frame to rally past the upset-minded Davidson Wildcats, 7-6, Thursday night in the Southern Conference series opener at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
Game two of the three-game set is scheduled for 6:00 pm on Friday night.
Schultz finished 3-for-6 with the lone RBI in the extra inning victory, WCU’s second of the season.
Senior Dylan de Graaf laced a two-out single through the right side in the bottom of the eighth inning as Western Carolina broke a 2-2 tie to pull ahead for the third time in the contest. However, half an inning later, the Wildcats knotted the game at three and eventually force extra innings with an RBI single to left field by Seth Freeman driving in Coleman Barron who singled to open the frame.
Davidson (19-30, 5-23 SoCon) pushed three runs across in the top of the 10th inning to seize control in the extra frame. Consecutive one-out singles by J.P. Craven and Calvin Sigelbaum put two aboard at the corners before Will General laid down a would-be sacrifice bunt back to the mound. The ensuing relay to the plate could not prevent Craven from scoring with a passed ball to the subsequent batter plating a second run. The Wildcats capped their rally with a sacrifice fly by Barron to take a 6-3 lead.
Walks to both Trevor Collias and Ollie Goulder sandwiched around Cameron Dullnig’s school-record tying 22nd hit batsman loaded the bases for the Catamounts in the home portion of the 10th inning. Freshman Bryant Noteboom then lifted a pinch hit bloop single to right field to drive in two runs with de Graaf driving a sacrifice fly to left field to score Goulder from third to tie the game at six, setting up Schultz’s heroics.
Schultz’s double tailed away from Wildcat centerfielder Barron who dove on the play which allowed the ball to roll deep into the alley with Noteboom and the game-winning run racing home in the process. Also, for Dullnig, the 10th inning HBP tied him for the school single-season record matching former Catamount Jonathan Greene’s total from 2007.
Noteboom led WCU with two RBI on the one swing, while de Graaf also drove in a pair for the Catamounts.
After missing his second save opportunity of the year, junior reliever Brandon Johnson (7-1) picked up the win thanks to the WCU rally. The Morehead City, N.C., native worked two innings allowing four runs ? only one of which was earned ? on four hits with a strikeout.
Davidson’s ninth-inning rally thwarted WCU starter Matt Benedict’s bid for his team-leading ninth victory. He tossed eight solid innings, striking out a career-high eight batters against two walks while scattering eight base hits. Neither of the two runs allowed were earned as the St. Petersburg, Fla., native lowered his ERA to a SoCon-leading 2.45.
Each time WCU managed a lead, Davidson was able to rally back within the next half inning. Sophomore Ross Heffley gave WCU an early 1-0 lead with his 11th home run of the season in the bottom of the first inning. He finished 2-for-4 on the day and was among three Catamounts with multiple hits in the win.
However, the Wildcats responded with a run in the top of the second to tie the game at one.
In the third, consecutive singles by de Graaf and Schultz followed by a double-steal put runners at second and third before a walk to Heffley loaded the bases with one out. Senior Tyler Kirkpatrick then walked to force home a go-ahead run, 2-1, but the Catamounts ended up stranding three in the frame.
The Wildcats again responded in the top of the fourth with a two-out rally as a costly WCU error allowed the game-tying run to score, setting up the three frames that saw a combined nine runs score.
For Davidson, reliever Andy Bass (0-4) took the loss after pitching the final two and two thirds, surrendering four runs on three hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Starter Thomas Middour tossed six innings with four walks and three strikeouts, limiting WCU to a pair of runs on eight hits.
Freeman finished with three hits on a 3-for-5 showing to lead five Wildcats with multi-hit games.
Furman 4, UNC Greensboro 3
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? UNC Greensboro took a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning, but Furman rallied for a run in the eighth and the winning run in the ninth inning as the Spartans fell to the Paladins, 4-3, on Thursday evening at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. Due to the threat of evening showers on Friday, the game time has been moved to 2 p.m. from the original time of 6 p.m.
The loss mathematically eliminated the Spartans from postseason contention as they needed to sweep the Paladins in order to have a chance of making the Southern Conference Tournament.
Ian Parry picked up his fifth win of the season for the Paladins (17-35, 9-19 SoCon) as he pitched a complete game. He allowed just three runs, two earned, on eight hits, while striking out six and walking none. Blake Hassebrock suffered the loss as he went eight plus innings and allowed four runs on 11 hits, while striking out four batters.
The Spartans (20-31, 7-21 SoCon) were led by Eric Brindle, Chris Barker and Corey Overholtzer who all had two hits apiece. Overholtzer, along with Lloyd Enzor and Zach Leach, provided an RBI each for UNCG.
Brian Harrison paced the Paladins on Thursday as he went 3-4 with an RBI and three runs scored. Will Miller had a pair of sacrifice flies in the game to add two RBI.
After the two teams were scoreless through three innings, Harrison got the Paladins on the board first. He led off the top of the fourth inning with a line-drive solo home run to left field to give Furman a 1-0 lead.
That lead didn’t last long though as UNCG answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at one. Barker led off the inning with a double down the right field line and two batters later, Enzor hit a single to right center to score Barker and make it a 1-1 game.
The game stayed that way until the top of the sixth inning when Harrison singled on a chopper to the third baseman to lead off the inning. Reese Wade followed with a double down the left field line to move Harrison over to third. Miller then hit a sacrifice fly to center field to easily score Harrison and put the Paladins ahead, 2-1.
Once again though, the Spartans immediately answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game. This time it was Harry Slade who led off the inning with a double. He moved over to third on a passed ball before scoring on a double to left field by Overholtzer to tie the game at two.
The Spartans took their first and only lead of the evening in the bottom of the seventh on a sacrifice fly. Brindle led off with a single up the middle and then moved to third on a throwing error by the catcher on a sacrifice bunt by Drew Gehringer. Leach followed with a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Brindle and put UNCG in front, 3-2.
In what seemed like d?j? vu from the sixth inning, Harrison hit a single with one out and Wade followed with a double to put runners on second and third. Miller then hit another sacrifice fly to center field to score Harrison and tie the game at three.
The Paladins broke through for the game-winning run in the top of the ninth on a groundout. J.B. Jenkins led off the inning with a walk before stealing second. He advanced to third two batters later on a single to center field by Will Owens. Aaron Thompkins then hit a groundout to second base, but Owens was running on the play and the Spartans weren’t able to turn an inning-ending double play as Jenkins scored to make it 4-3.
It appeared for a second in the bottom of the ninth that UNCG had tied the game as Ray Quinones led off the inning with a blast down the left field line, but his ball hooked just foul of the left field pole.
The two teams will meet for the second game of the series on Friday at 2 p.m.
Samford 11, Elon 10 (10 inn.)
ELON, N.C. -- Mike Melillo sent a 2-0 pitch over the wall in center in the bottom of the eighth inning to become Elon's all-time home run king with 38 career dingers, but it was not enough as the Samford Bulldogs rallied for three ninth inning runs and pushed across another in the 10th as the Phoenix fell 11-10 in a Southern Conference baseball contest from Latham Park.
Melillo's homer was the 38th of his career and broke a tie with Scott Brendle (1996-99). In the first inning, Melillo recorded his 200th career hit.
The Phoenix (35-20, 18-11 SoCon) broke through first, scoring the game's first run when Ryan Adams sent a two-out single to right after a Melillo single and a Neal Pritchard walk. With runners on the corners, Scott Riddle faced a 1-2 count as Adams broke for second and the Bulldogs threw down and Adams headed back to first as Pritchard stole home to make it a 2-0 game.
Samford (30-22, 17-11) got one back in the second when Trey Hayes lined his eighth homer of the year over the left field wall with one out.
Stephen Ballard started the Bulldog fourth with a double down the left field line before scoring on Mason Meredeth's single up the middle to tie the game at two. Hayes then put Samford on top 4-2 when he went deep for the second time in as many at bats.
In its half of the fourth, Elon got a lead-off walk to Adams ahead of a Riddle double. With one away, Ben Scott's ground out plated Adams from third as the Phoenix closed its deficit to 4-3. Justin Hilt's two-out single through the left side of the infield brought Riddle in from second to knot the game at four. Elon went back on top 5-4 when, after Hilt stole second, Harry Austin doubled into the left field corner to score Hilt.
Just as he did in the fourth inning, Ballard began the sixth inning with a double. A ground out moved Ballard to third before he scored on a Bo Smith ground out to force yet another tie.
With one down in the Elon sixth, Austin, Niko Fraser and Melillo all walked to load the bases off of Samford reliever Joshua VanFleteren before the Bulldogs handed the ball to Andrew Jones. Pritchard then grounded a 1-0 pitch through the left side of the infield to score both Austin and Fraser to put the Phoenix back in front, 7-5. Adams drew his second walk of the game, and 50th of the year, to reload the bags, but Elon was not able to push across any more as Riddle grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Samford put runners on second and third with a fielder's choice and a double before Brad Moss lifted a sacrifice fly to center which scored Michael Johnson from third to make it a 7-6 Elon advantage.
Elon got its two-run edge back with two outs in the bottom of the seventh when Hilt drilled his 10th homer of the season, this one over the scoreboard in left-center.
Ballard started the Samford eighth with an infield single and then headed to second on a wild pitch. The Bulldogs put runners on the corners when Meredeth lined a single to left. Ballard crossed the plate to make it 8-7 when Bo Smith lined a single to right-center. After a wild pitch moved both runners up, Hayes drew a walk to load the bases. Jared Kernodle came on and got Gary Cramer to ground into a 3-2-3 double play and then retired Johnson on a fly out to center to keep it a one-run game.
After Fraser was retired to start the Elon eighth, Melillo hit his 10th home run of the season off the batter's eye in center. The blast also set a new program record for homers. Two pitches later, Pritchard went deep for a solo shot that gave the Phoenix its largest lead of the game at 10-7. It was the 27th of Pritchard's career, moving the junior into a tie for ninth in program history.
After the first two hitters of the ninth were retired, Wayne Miller reached on a single and took second on a defensive indiference. Ballard drove Miller in with a single to center before Meredeth tied the game at 10 with his 12th home run of the year, this one to left.
Ben Scott singled through the left side to begin the bottom of the ninth before Hilt reached on a bunt single. On the play, the ball was thrown away at first allowing the runners to end up on second and third. Lex Rutledge then proceeded to strike out the next two hitters and then get Melillo to ground out to third to end the inning.
Hayes lined a single to left to start the 10th inning and then scored on a hit-and-run double down the right field line off the bat of Cramer as Samford took its first lead since a 4-1 edge in the top of the fourth.
With two outs in the bottom of the 10th, Riddle singled and then went to second on a wild pitch. Elon could not get the tying run home though as Seth Canipe struck out to end the game.
Thomas Girdwood (3-1) took the loss after being charged with four runs on five hits in an inning. Starter Daniel Britt allowed five runs on six hits in six innings.
Rutledge (5-0) was the winning pitcher. He threw two scoreless innings in relief and struck out four. Starter Kyle Putkonen gave up five runs on nine hits in five innings.
Riddle had a career-high four hits for Elon, while Hilt finished 3-for-5. Melillo and Pritchard each had two hits for the Phoenix.
Hayes ended the day 3-for-4 with two homers, three runs scored and three RBI for Samford. Meredith added three hits while Ballard was 4-for-5 with four runs scored.
The two teams will play the rubber match of the series on Friday afternoon at 1 p.m.
UNC Wilmington 3, College of Charleston 2
WILMINGTON, N.C. - UNC Wilmington's Thomas Pope lined a RBI single up the middle to score pinch-runner Cameron Cockman from third, capping a two-run ninth-inning rally and give the host Seahawks a 3-2 victory over College of Charleston in non-conference action Thursday night at Brooks Field. The Cougars fall to 40-15 on the season, while UNCW improves to 30-24. The two teams meet again Saturday evening at Patriots Point at 6:00 p.m. to complete the regular season.
UNCW staked an early 1-0 lead as Michael Rooney led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run to left center of Charleston freshman starter Matt Pegler (Greenville, S.C./Riverside). The Seahawks kept the Charleston offense at bay, as starting LHP Cameron Roth did not allow a hit until junior DH Kolby Epley (Yadkinville, N.C./Forbush) ripped a RBI single up the middle in the top of the fifth inning. Epley brought home senior 1B Greg Blake (Westerly, R.I./Lake City CC) who drew a five-pitch base on balls and proceeded to steal second.
The score remained 1-1 until the top of the ninth, when junior SS Jamie Holler (Rock Hill, S.C./USC Sumter JC) blasted a 1-0 pitch over the wall in right center for his third round-tripper of the season and a 2-1 Cougars lead.
With redshirt-senior LHP Owen Brittle (Cross, S.C./Florence Darlington Tech) on the mound to start the ninth, UNCW began to mount a comeback, loading the bases before Brittle could retire a batter. Robbie Monday led off with a single to shallow center and was replaced by pinch-runner Will Edgerton. Hunter Ridge walked on six pitches and Michael Bass reached on a bunt single when Brittle slipped fielding the ball. Junior RHP Heath Hembree (Cowpens, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist College) entered the game with the bases loaded and no outs and got Matt Holt to ground into a 6-3 double play, as Edgerton scored and Cockman, who was pinch-running for Ridge, advanced to third. Pope then lined the 1-1 pitch from Hembree up the middle for the walk-off win.
Brittle took the loss for the Cougars, who only had five hits on the evening, allowing the two runs on two hits and a walk without recording an out. Pegler tossed seven innings, settling down after the run in the first inning to hold UNCW to six hits and striking out three.
UNCW reliever Seth Frankoff picked up the win, allowing one run on two hits in three innings with four strikeouts. Roth scattered three hits over six innings, walking two and striking out three.
The Cougars will have a Senior Night ceremony prior to the final regular season game Saturday night against UNC Wilmington. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.