Western Carolina 7, Furman 6
Cullowhee, N.C. ? Western Carolina used six runs over the final three frames to rally past the Furman Paladins, 7-6, Friday afternoon in Southern Conference action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. The Catamounts scratched out three runs in the seventh and a two-spot in the eighth to reclaim the lead en route to the win.
The three-game series will break until Sunday for graduation ceremonies on the respective campuses on Saturday. The set will resume on Sunday afternoon and conclude on Monday with first pitch both days at 3:00 pm in Cullowhee.
A trio of walks loaded the bases for the Catamounts in the home half of the seventh inning to start the rally. Ross Heffley, who again served as the designated hitter while nursing a sore hamstring, bounced into a would-be double-play at second. However, after turning the force at second unassisted, Will Muzika’s throw to first was off-line which allowed two runs to score and Heffley to move to second. Trevor Collias then doubled to left-center on a 0-2 pitch to plate Heffley and close the margin to one, 6-5.
Collias finished 3-for-4 with two extra base hits in the double and homer and two RBI.
In the decisive eighth, catcher Ollie Goulder drew a lead-off walk ahead of pinch hitter Russell Robertson who laid down a picture-perfect sacrifice bunt to move Goulder into scoring position. Senior Dylan de Graaf then laced a RBI double down the left field line to knot the game at six.
After consecutive infield singles by Austin Schultz and Matt Johns again loaded the bases for a second-straight inning, Cameron Dullnig delivered the go-ahead RBI as he drove one through the right side of the infield to plate de Graaf to provide the final tally, 7-6.
Brandon Johnson (6-1) earned his sixth victory of the season to match the staff lead, tossing the final inning and a third in hitless, scoreless relief with one strikeout. Freshman starter Taylor Sandefur worked the first five and two thirds, scattering seven hits and five runs, only two of which were earned, to factor in the no-decision. Andrew Chilcoat, Jeremy Sluder and Vance Chavis combined to toss two innings out of the bullpen with Chilcoat fanning one.
Western Carolina (27-16-1, 10-11-1 SoCon) jumped on top in the home half of the first inning as Heffley singled through the right side to drive in Johns who doubled as a part of his 2-for-3 with two walks performance at the plate.
However, the lead was short-lived as Furman answered with two runs in both the second and fourth, adding a fifth run in the top of the fifth inning to lead, 5-1. Catcher Dylan Cole doubled home the first two runs to give the Paladins the lead in the top of the second. A fielder’s choice on a potential double-play allowed the third run to cross home, with the fourth following close behind as the throw to first on the play was low and rolled far enough away to allow the run to score.
Furman’s fifth run was manufactured after consecutive bunt singles to open the frame with a pair of fly ball outs, including a sacrifice fly by Brian Harrison, to stake the visitors to the three-run lead.
Collias blasted his 11th home run of the season to open the sixth, pulling the Catamounts back to within three, 5-2. However, WCU gave the run back a half inning later as Will Miller lifted a two-out RBI single to center to score Reese Wade from second after he had doubled, stretching the advantage back to four, 6-2, setting up the final three frames.
Furman reliever Jay Friedman (1-2) was saddled with the loss after surrendering the game-winning run in the one inning he worked. Starter Daniel Stallsmith tossed six strong innings, limiting WCU to two runs on just five hits with four walks against one strikeout before giving way to Bobby Lyne. The second reliever gave up four earned runs on one hit with four walks in one inning of work.
First baseman Aaron Thompkins led the Paladin offense with a 3-for-5 showing at the plate while Wade tallied a double as a part of a 2-for-4 with one walk showing, scoring a game-high three runs.
Coverage of both Sunday and Monday’s games will be available online with live GameTracker, presented by Carolina West Sports Medicine and the WestCare Health System.
College of Charleston 13, The Citadel 9
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. ? Sophomore LF Jose Rodriguez (Hialeah, Fla./Broward College) went 4-for-4 with three RBI as the Cougars scored runs in each of the last five innings to take a 13-9 victory over The Citadel Friday evening in game one of a three-game Southern Conference series at Patriots Point. CofC improves to 34-12 on the season and 18-7 in the SoCon. The Citadel falls to 29-18, 17-5 in the league.
The Cougars jumped on the scoreboard early, touching Citadel starter Asher Wojciechowski for three runs in the first inning. Senior 2B Joey Bergman (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny) led off the frame with a single to right and advanced two bases to third on a fielding error by Citadel RF Matt Simonelli. Junior CF Cole Rakar (Mt. Pleasant, S.C./Wando) lined a RBI single to left center, scoring Bergman for a 1-0 lead. Junior C Rob Kral (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) walked and Rakar moved to third on a fly out to right by sophomore 3B Matt Leeds (Boca Raton, Fla./American Heritage). Rakar would score and Kral would advance to second on a passed ball and Rodriguez gave Charleston a 3-0 lead on a RBI single to left that scored Kral. The single increased Rodriguez’s hitting streak to 13 games.
The Citadel charged back to take the lead in the top of the fourth, plating six runs for a 6-3 lead. With one out, Kyle Jordan reached first after being hit by a pitch and scored on a RBI double down the left-field line by David Greene. Two more RBI doubles, off the bats of Grant Richards and William Ladd, knotted the score at 3-3 and a RBI single by Nick Orvin gave the Citadel a one-run advantage. With Orvin on second, junior reliever Casey Lucchese (Lexington, Ky./Paul Lawrence Dunbar) replaced freshman starting RHP Christian Powell (Greenwood, S.C./Greenwood). Brad Felder deposited the first pitch from Lucchese over the wall in left center for a two-run homer and a 6-3 Citadel lead.
Charleston cut into the Citadel lead with a single run in the bottom of the frame, as junior RF Baker Knox (San Mateo, Fla./Daytona Beach CC) plated Rodriguez on a fielder’s choice to short. The Bulldogs picked the run back up in the top of the fifth, scoring on a wild pitch by Lucchese. CofC scored two more in the bottom of the inning, to cut the Citadel lead to 7-6. Bergman led off the frame with a double to left and Kral blasted a 2-1 pitch over the wall in right center for his 14th round-tripper of the season.
The Cougars took the lead for good in the sixth, scoring four runs off Citadel reliever Matt Reifsnider to take a 10-7 advantage. Knox led off the frame with a double to right and junior SS Jamie Holler (Rock Hill, S.C./USC Sumter JC) reached first on a fielder’s choice with Knox being called out on a close play at third. Bergman lined his second double of the evening to left center to score Holler from first. Rakar roped a RBI single to center and Kral continued the onslaught with a double to right center, chasing Reifsnider to the bench in favor of TJ Clarkson. After Clarkson struck out Leeds, Rodriguez found the gap in left center for a two-run single and a three-run Cougar lead.
Charleston added two more in the seventh on back-to-back solo home runs by Knox and Holler to put The Citadel in a 12-7 hole after seven complete. The Bulldogs plated two more in the eighth on a two-run blast by Bryan Altman, while The Cougars added a single run in the bottom of the frame on a RBI double by senior 1B Greg Blake (Westerly R.I./ Lake City CC). Senior LHP Owen Brittle (Cross, S.C./Florence Darlington Tech) tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to close the door for the Cougars.
Lucchese picked up the win for the Cougars, improving to 2-0 on the season. The junior tossed 3-1/3 innings, allowing one hit and striking out four. Powell allowed five runs on five hits, striking out three in 3-1/3 innings. Bergman finished the game with three hits and three runs scored, while Rakar, Kral, Blake and Knox added two hits apiece.
Reifsnider took the loss for The Citadel, allowing four runs on four hits in 1/3 of an inning. Wojciechowski gave up six runs on seven hits in five innings with four walks and four strikeouts. Orvin and Richards had two hits each for the Bulldogs.
Charleston and The Citadel return to the field for game two of the series Saturday night at 7:00 p.m.
Elon 5, Appalachian State 4
ELON, N.C. -- Seth Canipe's bases loaded double in the bottom of the eighth inning broke a 3-3 tie and lifted the Elon Phoenix to a 5-4 Southern Conference baseball victory over the visiting Appalachian State Mountaineers in the first game of a three-game league set from Latham Park on Friday night.
Elon (32-18, 15-10 SoCon) starter Jimmy Reyes put together another impressive outing, improving to 8-3 on the season after allowing three runs on four hits in eight innings. The junior lefty also fanned seven hitters. Reyes has now picked up wins in each of his last five outings, going at least seven innings in each.
Neal Pritchard lined a single to right to lead off the bottom of the second and then went to second when Matt Hinson drew a walk. Ryan Adams followed with a single through the right side that drove home Pritchard to give Elon a 1-0 lead.
The Mountaineers (31-10-1, 11-9-1) put up all three of its runs in the fourth. With two away, Jerod Faggart reached on an infield single ahead of a Jeremy Dowdy walk. David Towarnicky then put Appalachian State on top by drilling his sixth homer of the year, this one down the right field line.
The Phoenix trimmed its deficit to just a run when Adams led off the bottom of the fifth by belting his 10th home run of the year over the wall in right.
Elon tied the score in the seventh when, with Adams on second and Ben Scott on first, Harry Austin hit a two-out single through the left side of the infield that plated Adams to make it 3-3.
After the Phoenix loaded the bases with singles from Mike Melillo and Matt Hinson and a walk to Adams, Canipe grounded a two-out, 1-2 pitch just inside the third base bag that scored both Melillo and Hinson to give Elon a 5-3 advantage in the eighth.
In the ninth, Elon handed the ball to closer Thomas Girdwood who issued walks to Wes Hobson and Faggart to start the frame. Dowdy hit a ground ball to short that was misplayed and allowed Hobson to come in to make it a 5-4 game. The play left runners on the corners before Towarnicky popped out to short for the first out of the inning. Girdwood then fanned Tyler Zupcic for the second out. Jason Wallace fell behind 0-2 which got much of the crowd of 667 fans on its feet to watch as Wallace went too far on a check swing for the strikeout.
Girdwood's performance earned him his seventh save of the year.
Appalachian's Chris Patterson took the loss to fall to 2-2. He gave up two runs on three hits in an inning of work. Entering the game, Patterson had allowed just two earned runs in 32.0 innings. Starter Matt Andress departed after 5.2 frames during which he had allowed two runs on six hits.
Four different Elon players had two-hit nights, led by Adams who was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBI. Austin, Melillo and Pritchard also had two hits.
For the Mountaineers, Towarnicky collected two of the team's four hits, going 2-for-4 with a run and three RBI.
The two teams will face off again on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. from Latham Park.
Wofford 14, Samford 9
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Wofford College baseball team scored four runs in the eighth inning to break open the game and defeat Samford 14-9 on Friday night at Russell C. King Field. The game featured 31 combined hits, 26 combined runners left on base and 13 total pitchers in the first of a three-game series.
Wofford is 15-30 on the season and 8-14 in the Southern Conference. Samford is 25-19 overall and 13-8 in the conference. The Terriers were led by Kyle Behrendt with four hits and two RBIs, Mac Doyle with two hits and three RBIs and Landon Bennett with three hits and four RBIs. The Bulldogs had three hits each by Mason Meredeth and David Schulze, while Trey Hayes had three RBIs.
The Terriers opened the game with two runs in first inning as Landon Bennett and David Roney each had RBI singles. In the top of the second, Samford answered with an RBI triple by Bo Smith and a sacrifice fly from Trey Hayes to tie the game.
In the bottom of the third, Mac Doyle hit a solo home run to left center between the light poles to give the Terriers a 3-2 lead. The lead was short-lived as the Bulldogs scored five runs in the top of the fourth inning. A double by Trey Hayes scored one run, a single by Gary Cramer added a run and a double by Michael Johnson scored two runs for a 7-3 lead.
Wofford answered in the bottom of the fourth when Clark Wise reached in a fielder’s choice, moved to third on a single by Matt Moore and scored on a wild pitch. An RBI single by Kyle Behrendt scored Moore and a walk by Landon Bennett with the bases loaded brought in a third run. The Terriers left the bases loaded, but pulled to within one run at 7-6.
Neither team scored in the fifth inning, but the Terriers left the bases loaded in their half of the inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Wofford tied the game when Mac Doyle scored on a wild pitch. A perfectly placed bunt by Clark Wise enabled Landon Bennett to score from third and give the Terriers an 8-7 lead.
Samford tied the game in the top of the seventh when an RBI single from Trey Hayes scored one run. The Bulldogs loaded the bases, but a strikeout for the third out stranded all three runners. In the bottom of the seventh with two out, Kyle Behrendt singled and Mac Doyle was intentionally walked. A double down the left field line scored both runners and Wofford had a 10-8 lead.
In the top of the top of the eighth, Samford got one run back with a solo home run by Mason Meredeth. A single, double and walk loaded with bases, but once again a strikeout left all three runners stranded.
Wofford broke the game open in the bottom of the eighth inning with four runs. Clark Wise led-off with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Matt Moore. James Foster laid down a bunt that scored Wise and Foster was safe at first. Alex Lee reached on an error and then Kyle Behrendt singled on a wild play that saw Foster score on an error and give the Terriers runners at second and third. Mac Doyle cleared the bases with a single to left field for a 14-9 lead. The Bulldogs left two on base in the top of the ninth on a single and a walk.
For the Terriers, Tom Dolinak started and went six innings with seven runs allowed on eight hits with six strikeouts. Ryan Traylor, Cash Collins, Bobby Streisel, Pete Noordsy and Drew Sheridan combined for the next 1.2 innings with six hits and two runs allowed with two strikeouts. Streisel picked up the win to go to 1-2 on the season. John Cornely went the final 1.1 innings with two strikeouts to get his first career save.
Samford starter Jonathan Stevens went 3.2 innings with seven hits allowed and six runs scored with two strikeouts. Michael Gunter and Mark Lewallyn went the next 1.1 with two hits, two runs and two strikeouts. Anderw Jones (4-2) had the loss with 2.1 innings of work with four hits and three runs allowed with two strikeouts. Lex Rutledge and Joshua VanFleteren combined for the final two-thirds of an inning with three runs scored on three hits.
The win was the first Friday night SoCon win of the season for Wofford. Mac Doyle hit his 16th home run of the season, which is second in the conference. The Terriers continue the three-game home series against Samford at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.