Elon 12, North Carolina State 2
ELON, N.C. -- Niko Fraser and Ryan Kinsella both drove in four runs and Kyle Webb fanned a career-best eight hitters in 6.0 innings as the Elon Phoenix baseball squad captured game two of a three-game series with North Carolina State by a 12-2 margin from Latham Park on Saturday. Both teams now sport a 1-1 record and the rubber match will be at 1 p.m. in Raleigh on Sunday.
Webb (1-0) was masterful in just his second career start. Along with the eight strikeouts, he allowed just five hits and two runs. Dylan Clark was awarded his first career save after he tossed three scoreless frames, surrendering just one hit.
For the second straight day Elon took an early lead. With two outs in the bottom of the first, Alex Swim doubled to right before Neal Pritchard was hit by a pitch. Kinsella followed and sent a 2-1 pitch up the middle for a RBI single as Swim scored.
Solo homers off the bats of Danny Canela and Chris Diaz in the top of the fourth inning put the Wolfpack in front, 2-1, and proved to be the only runs that NC State would push across on the afternoon.
Elon came right back in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Grant McCoury singled to right and went to second on a walk to Cyle Rasmus. After a fly out, Harry Austin lined a single to right-center to drive home McCoury and leave runners at the corners. A balk let Rasmus trot home with another Phoenix run as Elon went back on top 3-2. With Austin on second, Jake Luce singled to center to plate Austin to make it a 4-2 game.
With one away in the bottom of the fifth, Swim reached on an infield single before Pritchard drew a walk. Kinsella delivered again, belting his first career homer over the wall in left-center to give Elon a 7-2 lead.
The Phoenix added another to its advantage in the sixth when Fraser doubled home Austin who was on second after a walk and sacrifice bunt. A Wolfpack error put Elon runners on the corners and let a Pritchard fly ball to right turn into a sac fly as Fraser tagged from third to make it a 9-2 Phoenix margin.
After the first two hitters were retired in the bottom of the seventh, Elon loaded the bases with singles from Seth Canipe and Eric Serra sandwiched around a walk to Austin. Fraser battled in a 10-pitch at bat and laced a triple to the gap in left-center to score three more runs.
At the plate, Fraser ended the afternoon 2-for-5 with a run and four RBI while Kinsella was 2-for-4 with a run and four RBI. Austin scored three times while going 1-for-2 with a RBI. Swim had a three-hit day, marking the eighth career game with at least three hits for the sophomore, and scored twice.
The Wolfpack offense was held to just six hits with two hits coming from both Pratt Maynard and Diaz.
Josh Easley (0-1) was tagged with the loss after being roughed up for seven runs on eight hits in just 4.1 innings of action.
Western Carolina 18, Morehead State 0
Cullowhee, N.C. - Freshman RHP Jordan Smith scattered two hits over five scoreless innings in his first career start as Western Carolina blanked the visiting Morehead State Eagles, 18-0, on Saturday afternoon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium in game two of the three-game season-opening nonconference series.
WCU pounded out a season-high 20 hits - the most since recording 22 against Furman last May - including eight for extra bases as the Catamounts won its eighth-straight home game dating back to last season.
Smith (1-0), a native of Liberty, N.C., native worked around three walks with five strikeouts in scoring the victory, only allowing one base runner past first base. Reliever T.J. Page struck out two in his one inning of work with a walk with walk-on Darron Dotson likewise fanning a pair while allowing one hit. The final two frames were tossed by junior transfer Mike Gaffigan and junior Kyle Stewart.
Junior Ross Heffley finished a career-best 5-for-5 with two doubles and five RBI as five Catamounts recorded multi-hit games. Combined, 20 different players saw action on Saturday afternoon for WCU.
Western Carolina (2-0) scored all the runs it would need in the home half of the opening frame as Austin Schultz drew a lead-off walk ahead of Julian Ridings who singled back up the middle. Heffley tallied his first RBI on a line drive single back up the middle plating Schultz for the first of his three runs scored.
Later in the opening inning, Ridings was erased on a fielder's choice after getting caught in a run-down between third base and home plate. The freshman from Shelby, N.C., had to leave the game, however, after being spiked while trying to avoid the tag during the aforementioned run-down.
WCU took a 2-0 lead in the first when Tyler White sharply grounded out to short, pushing Heffley across the plate.
Schultz was 2-for-3 with three runs scored, twice getting plunked by pitches with White finishing 2-for-5 with the RBI. Freshman Aaron Attaway continued his strong start to the 2011 season with a 3-for-6 performance, legging out a double.
The Catamounts pushed across four runs in both the second and fourth innings highlighted by a two-run double by Heffley in the second and four-singles followed by a bases-clearing, three-RBI double by Cameron Dullnig in the four-run fourth. Dullnig finished 3-for-3 with three RBI and was hit by a pitch, a statistical category in which he set a school-record a season ago.
Western Carolina (2-0) added with a six-run fifth inning with freshman catcher Adam Martin blasting his first career home run - a solo shot to left - as a part of a two-run frame in the seventh.
Five different Eagles combined for Morehead State's five hits, all of which were singles. Morehead State starting pitcher Josh Schneider was tagged with the loss, giving up six earned runs on six hits with three walks against five strikeouts. Noah Smallwood gave up six more runs on six hits in one inning of relief, while Casey Branham was tagged for four earned runs in one third of a inning.
All told, Eagle pitching plunked five Catamount batters while also issuing five walks.
Game three is scheduled for 2:00 pm on Sunday afternoon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
Georgia Southern 5, George Washington 0
STATESBORO, Ga. - Junior right-hander Josh Adams (Bath, S.C.) threw five scoreless innings of two-hit ball to record his first Georgia Southern career win in a 5-0 shutout of George Washington (1-1) Saturday afternoon at J.I. Clements Stadium.
Adams set the tone early and helped the Eagles (1-1) bounce back from an 8-6 10 inning loss in the first game of the series. He combined with Colin Snow (Alpharetta, Ga.) and Matt Murray (Spring City, Pa.) to hold the Colonials to four hits to record the first shutout victory of the season.
Snow pitched two-thirds of the sixth inning but ran into some trouble after two baserunners reached on a hit and an error with two out. Murray came out of the bullpen with the tying run on-deck and set down and set down six batters in a row. Murray pitched 3.1 innings, allowing just one hit while striking out 3 hitters, to earn his second career save.
Georgia Southern tallied 11 hits and scored four of their five runs in the middle innings. Victor Roache (Ypsilanti, Mich.) led the team with three hits in four at-bats. Three other Eagles posted two hits each. Shawn Payne (Stone Mountain, Ga.) extended his hit streak to 11 games with two hits and two RBIs on the day.
The Eagles got on the board in the fourth inning with back-to-back hits. Eric Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.) doubled down the left field line with one out and scored on a single by Roache. The Colonials attempted to respond in the top of the fifth inning. Ollie Mittag singled to lead off the inning and advancing all the way to third base on a pair of ground outs.
GSU tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning on back-to-back doubles. Jesse Piccolo (Flagler Beach, Fla.) led off the inning with a walk before freshman Ben Morgan (Evans, Ga.) uncorked an 0-2 double down the left-field line, moving two runners into scoring position. Payne brought in both runs with another double, this one over the head of the left fielder.
The Eagles added solo runs in the sixth and eighth to tack onto their 3-0 lead. Morgan drove in a two-out run with a single through the right side of defense, scoring Steve Cochrane (Mooresville, N.C.) who walked earlier in the inning. Payne loaded the bases with a walk following the run, but Colonial reliever Justin Albright coaxed a ground out to end the inning.
Albright pitched well out of the bullpen allowing, one unearned run on four hits in 2.1 innings of work. Joe Richardson got the start for George Washington and allowed three runs on six hits over five innings.
Georgia Southern scored the unearned run off of Albright in the eighth inning. Piccolo was hit by a pitch to open the inning and was moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Morgan. He reached third base on a passed ball by Robbie Haden who had taken over the catching duties that inning. Arthur Owens (Fayetteville, Ga.) beat out a chopper down the first-base line to score Piccolo.
Neither team was able to get much offense going in the first three innings with both squads combining for three hits in the early going. George Washington got a two-out single in the first inning, but Adams struck out Paul Pakan looking to end the inning. Georgia Southern got its own two-out hit in the second inning on a double by Cochrane, but the inning ended a batter later on a fly out.
George Washington threatened in the ninth inning and had a runner reach second base with one out. A wild throw by the shortstop Phillips erased a great effort to field the ball deep in the hole, allowing the runner two bases on the error. Murray, who had struck out the first batter in the inning, quickly erased the runner at second base on a fielder's choice. Albright, who had advanced to second base on the rundown of Ollie Mittag, was picked off second base for the final out of the game.
George Washington will throw its second lefty Bobby Lucas Jr., on Sunday. Lucas Jr. was 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA. Georgia Southern will counter with freshman righthander Will Middour (Atlanta, Ga.).
Season tickets are currently on sale through the Georgia Southern Athletic Ticket Office at 800-GSU-WINS.
All baseball games can be heard on Fox Sports 106.5 FM in Statesboro and online at GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com/Eaglevision beginning 30 minutes prior to first pitch. Ryan Chambers of the Georgia Southern Radio Network will have the call live from J.I. Clements Stadium all weekend.
Furman 12, Ohio 5
Furman 10, Ohio 3
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Will Miller and Will Owens combined for 10 hits and scored seven runs to lead Furman to a doubleheader sweep over Ohio in baseball action Saturday afternoon at Latham Stadium.
Miller went 3-for-5 with a pair of triples, drove in two runs, and scored twice in Furman's 12-5 opening game win, and Owens followed with a 3-for-4, three-run performance in the Paladins' 10-3 decision in game two.
Furman (3-0) will go for the four-game series sweep of Ohio (0-3) on Sunday in a 1:00 p.m. game.
In Saturday's opener the Paladins banged out nine extra base hits in a 19-hit parade.
With the score tied 4-4, Furman erupted for five runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead for good. After pinch runner Hunter Burton scored on a wild pitch to give the Paladins a 5-4 lead, Will Muzika and Kevin O'Leary delivered RBI doubles, and Miller and Paul Nitto followed with back-to-back run scoring triples to stretch Furman's advantage to 9-4.
Ohio answered with a run in the seventh before Furman registered three more in the eighth to blow the game open. Miller's second RBI triple of the contest plated Kevin O'Leary, and after Miller came home on a wild pitch, Nitto stroked a double to center field and came around to score on Hunter Burton's two-out triple into the right center field gap.
Greenwood's Stephen Gary (1-0), who came on in relief of Paladin starter Daniel Stallsmith with two outs in the sixth and the game tied 4-4, was the beneficiary of Furman's five-run outburst and winning pitcher. He worked an inning, allowing a run on two hits. Drake Browne silenced Ohio's bats over the final 2 1/3 frames, striking out two.
The loss was charged to Marck Paliotto (0-1), who saw the first batter he faced in the Furman sixth, pinch hitter Harrison Farmer, reach base on an error.
Joining Miller with three hits in the opener were Nitto and Muzika. Rob Fondu drilled a pinch-hit, two-run home run in the fourth to give Furman a 4-2 lead.
Trace Voshell homered twice and drove in four runs for Ohio, including a two-run shot in the second that put the Bobcats up 2-0.
In the second game, Ohio grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first on Bryan Barnes' solo home run to right field off Paladin starter Matt Plate.
That would just about do it for Ohio highlights, however, as Furman responded with three runs in its first at bat. Kevin O'Leary's RBI single tied the game, and Miller's single through the right side drove home Muzika. Taylor Johnson capped the inning with an sacrifice fly that plated Dylan Cole to give Furman a 3-1 lead.
Owens, from Greer and Riverside High School, stroked an RBI double to left center field and later scored in a two-run second to push Furman's lead to 5-2, and Muzika's RBI single in the fourth made it 6-1.
The Paladins tacked on two more in the fifth on a Taylor Johnson two-run home run, a towering blast to center field, and single runs in the sixth and seventh in cruising to the victory.
The solid run support made a winner of Pate (1-0), the sophomore right-hander who allowed two runs, both earned, on a pair of hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked one and fanned three.
Taking the loss was Brent Choban (0-1), who was charged with eight runs on 10 hits in five innings.
The Paladins backed up their 19-hit performance in the opener with 12 hits in game two.
Barnes had three of Ohio's nine base knocks.
Appalachian State 13, Maryland-Eastern Shore 2
FOREST CITY, N.C. - Trey Holmes' (Rockwell, N.C./East Rowan) grand slam highlighted a seven-run seventh inning that broke open a close game and lifted Appalachian State University baseball to a 13-2 win over visiting Maryland-Eastern Shore on Saturday afternoon at McNair Field.
Appalachian (2-0) led just 3-2 going into the bottom of the seventh but sent 11 batters to the plate in the seven-run frame. With a run already across, Holmes broke the game wide open with his grand slam, a towering shot to right center field on the first pitch thrown by UMES reliever Karim Gonzalez, that gave ASU an 8-2 lead.
The Mountaineers tacked on five more runs after Holmes' blast - two in the seventh and three in the eighth - to account for the final margin.
ASU got on the board first with a pair of runs in the first inning. Hector Crespo (Miami, Fla./Florida Christian) led off with the first of his five walks on the afternoon and came home on Jeremy Dowdy's (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield) RBI double off the wall in left center field. One batter later, Holmes recorded the first of his five RBI with a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Dowdy.
Maryland-Eastern (0-2) knotted the score at 2-2 with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings but Appalachian took the lead back when Dowdy scored on an error by UMES second baseman Shaquille Bagwell, one of Bagwell's two and the Hawks' three miscues in the ballgame.
Four ASU pitchers combined to scatter nine hits. Freshman southpaw Lawrence Pardo (Miami, Fla./Christopher Columbus) surrendered just one run on five hits over five innings in his first collegiate start but right-hander David Port (Dunwoody, Ga./Dunwoody) got the win with two innings of one-hit, one-run relief.
Holmes, Dowdy, Tyler Tewell (Charlotte, N.C./Butler), Jack Myers (Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park) and Noah Holmes (Rockwell, N.C./East Rowan) led the Mountaineers' 13-hit attack with two hits apiece.
Luis Mena and Nick Wiggins each had two hits to lead UMES.
Appalachian looks to complete a three-game opening-weekend sweep of the Hawks when the teams square off on Sunday at 1 p.m. at McNair Field.
#20 College of Charleston 6, Miami (Ohio) 2
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Junior LHP Josh Renfro (Bradenton, Fla.) tossed five innings to pick up his first win at the College of Charleston and junior RF Marty Gantt (North Augusta, S.C.) added three hits and a pair of RBIs as the #20-ranked Cougars defeated Miami (OH) University 6-2 at Patriots Point Saturday afternoon in the CofC Invitational.
The RedHawks jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the opening frame as leadoff man Ryan Brenner singled to right center and proceeded to steal second and third. A sacrifice fly to deep center by Bryce Redeker scored Brenner and Miami (OH) was on the board.
CofC responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to take the 2-1 lead. Redshirt-junior Rob Kral (Randolph, N.J.) doubled down the left-field line and scored on a RBI triple by Gantt to right center. Redshirt-junior 1B Matt Leeds (Boca Raton, Fla.) continued his torrid RBI pace with a sacrifice fly to left to score Gantt. Leeds also added two more RBIs in the third and another in the seventh to give him 10 RBIs on the season.
Miami (OH) knotted the score at 2-2 with a double steal in the third. After Renfro struck out the first two batters, Jon Edgington singled through the left side and stole second. Redeker followed up with a hard single to third on a hit-and-run to put runners at the corners. As Redeker took off for second, Renfro went to first for the pickoff and Edgington slid in under the tag of redshirt-freshman C Jimmy Holton (West Palm Beach, Fla.) at home.
The Cougars pulled ahead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third and in the seventh to close out the game. A bases-loaded single to center by Leeds plated two for a 4-2 lead. In the seventh inning, senior Jamie Holler (Rock Hill, S.C.) reached on a fielding error to lead off and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Holton. Holler moved over to third on a wild pitch by Miami (OH) reliever Brooks Fiala and after Kral reached on a base on balls, scored on a RBI single to left by Gantt. Leeds followed up with a RBI single to right to wrap up the 6-2 victory.
Renfro fanned six RedHawk batters over the five innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Junior RHP Kyle Owings (Gilbert, S.C.) picked up his first save of the season, tossing the final four innings and scattering two hits with two strikeouts. Kral added two hits on the afternoon and scored three times. Shawn Marquardt took the loss for Miami (OH), allowing four runs on six hits in five innings.
The Cougars wrap up the CofC Invitational with a 3:00 p.m. contest against Marshall University Sunday afternoon. The first 75 fans through the gate will receive a College of Charleston 2011 baseball schedule t-shirt.
The Citadel 15, Towson 1
Charleston, S.C. - The Citadel Baseball team used a strong starting pitching performance by sophomore Austin Pritcher and an offensive onslaught to pick up their first victory of the season on a warm Saturday afternoon at Riley Park as they downed Towson, 15-1.
Every Bulldog starter registered at least one hit and The Citadel batted around in both the fifth and seventh innings. The Citadel (1-1) also scored in every inning but one on Saturday as they racked up 15 runs on 16 hits.
"This was a good win by this ballclub today," said Head Coach Fred Jordan. "It was nice to see them respond this way after a tough loss yesterday. Austin Pritcher really pounded the strike zone and had an excellent day on the mound. It was great to see our freshman hitters come through for us today as well."
Towson (1-2) struck for their only run of the game in the top of the first inning when designated hitter Brandon Gonnella drew a walk and stole second. Chris Wychock then drew a walk before Austin Harclerode double into the gap in right. Gonella crossed the plate for the first run and Wychock attempted to follow suit but was gunned down at the plate as centerfielder Nick Orvin (Moncks Corner, S.C.) relayed to shortstop Calvin Orth (Jacksonville, Fla.) whose on-line throw went right to Joe Jackson (Mauldin, S.C.) at the plate for the final out.
The Bulldogs wasted no time responding in the bottom of the first off Towson starter Sean Thompson. Matt Simonelli (Orlando, Fla.) walked and then proceeded to steal second before coming around to score on an RBI double to center by Justin Mackert (Cleveland, Ohio), who went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and a run scored.
In the second, The Citadel would take the lead when a pair of freshman collected their first collegiate hits. Jackson made his collegiate debut behind the plate and went a perfect 3-for-3 on the afternoon, scoring two runs and driving in two before being lifted late for a pinch hitter. A base hit by Jackson and by Calvin Orth(Jacksonville, Fla.), who went 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI of his own, led off the frame. Legare Jones (Columbia, S.C.) then sacrificed the runners over and Drew DeKerlegand (Pearland, Texas) drove in Jackson on a fielder's choice groundout.
"It felt really good to be out there for the first time," said Jackson. "Finally getting to play for the team I wanted to play for all along is just really exciting. Today was a team effort and I'm glad we were able to respond the way we did today after last night's loss."
Simonelli went 3-for-4 with a walk, two RBI and a career-high four runs scored. He launched a deep homer to left center field to lead off the third. William Ladd (Winnsboro, S.C.) later walked, advanced to second on a balk and scored on an RBI single by Jackson to make it 4-1 after three innings. Orvin went deep in the fourth on a solo shot as he went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and three RBI. That would end the day for Tigers starter Thompson who allowed six hits, five runs, a walk and two strikeouts in four innings of work.
Towson reliever Chris Acker didn't find much success either as he allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits with a pair of walks and strikeouts in the fifth and sixth innings. The Bulldogs batted around in the fifth with Simonelli, Ladd, Jackson, Orth and Jones all coming around to score.
Kyle Paul was the third reliever for the Tigers and he too gave up five runs in two innings. The Citadel would bat around in the seventh inning also as Paul got two quick outs, but then things unraveled. Orth came around to score on an Orvin RBI single. Brad Felder (Bowman, S.C.) then singled and move to third when Simonelli logged another base hit to score Orvin. Mackert then reached first safely on an infield hit he ran out while Felder scored.
Pinch-hitting for Ladd, Kirk Sims (Columbia, S.C.) then crushed the first pitch he saw to deep left field that bounced off the scoreboard, narrowly missing a three-run homer. That was the first hit for the senior and the first two RBI of his career as Simonelli and Mackert came in to score.
Pritcher (Charleston, S.C.) settled down after the first and scattered five hits over 7.0 innings, allowing just the one run while walking a pair and striking out a career-high eight batters.
"I felt good out there," said Pritcher. Things started a little rough in the first inning, but I found my composure and settled after getting a big strikeout in the second inning. It was important for us to get a win today after a tough loss to start the season last night."
Coming out of the bullpen and making their collegiate debuts were right-handed freshman Bryce Hines (Hanahan, S.C.) and southpaw rookie Cam Grimsley (Jacksonville, Fla.) who both danced around trouble but pitched one scoreless inning each to close out the game.
The win is the largest margin of victory for The Citadel since they defeated Davidson, 20-6, on April 11, 2009.
Leading the way for Towson was right fielder Steve Rice, who went 2-for-4. Wychock went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks also.
The Citadel Memorial Challenge presented by the Charleston Crab House concludes on Sunday as The Citadel takes on Towson at 11 p.m. and will then face Gardner-Webb approximately 30 minutes after the finish of the first game. Stay current on Bulldog Baseball at CitadelSports.com.
UNCG 10, Delaware 9
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Chris Barker belted a two-run walk-off double to the gap in right center to propel UNCG to a 10-9 victory and give head coach Mike Gaski his 600th career win on Saturday afternoon at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
The win is also No. 600 in program history as Gaski has been the head coach at UNCG for all 21 seasons.
For a moment, it appeared as if Gaski would have to wait until Sunday to try to reach No. 600 as his Spartans (2-0) trailed the Blue Hens (0-2), 9-8, heading into the bottom of the ninth inning. Eric Brindle led off the inning with a single through the right side and move over to second after a sacrifice bunt by John Hein.
Drew Gehringer then drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Barker followed with a drive all the way to the wall in right center that allowed Gehringer to come all the way around from first and score the game-winning run.
Barker led the Spartans with three RBI as he went 3-4 at the plate and was also hit by a pitch. Brindle went 2-4 on the afternoon with a pair of RBI and three runs scored.
Logan Gallagher paced the Blue Hens at the plate as he had three RBI on 2-5 hitting. Steve Ulaky also had a nice afternoon as he went 3-5 with an RBI and a runs scored.
Delaware was the first team to get on the board as a walk and pair of singles loaded the bases for Dave Anderson in the top of the second. Anderson then delivered a single through the right side to score Dyland Shupe and put the Blue Hens ahead, 1-0.
The Spartans immediately responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the second to take a 2-1 lead. With one out, Brindle was hit by a pitch and then scored on a double to right center by Cambric Moye. Moye would score later in the inning on a double to right center by Barker.
Once again, the Blue Hens took advantage of a bases loaded opportunity to put runs on the board. With two outs, Delaware had the bases loaded on a walk and two singles before Gallagher hit a double down the left field line to clear the bases. That hit put the Blue Hens in front, 4-2, at the middle of the fifth.
UNCG responded again though, with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the fifth. The Spartans would get a run on a throwing error by the catcher and another on a sacrifice fly to knot the game at four.
The seesaw battle continued as the Blue Hens scored on a wild pitch in the top of the sixth to retake the lead at 5-4.
UNCG seemed to take control of the contest in the bottom of the seventh by putting up four runs and taking an 8-5 lead. With one out, Bobby Martin and Trevor Edwards drew a pair of walks. Thomas Troelstrup then hit a single down the left field line to score Martin and move Edwards to second. Brindle then hit a triple to left center to clear the bases and make it 7-5. Brindle would later score on a sacrifice fly by Matt Crump.
As quickly as the Spartans took the lead, the Blue Hens seized it right back in the top of the eighth. Delaware struck for a trio of RBI singles and also scored on a wild pitch to take a 9-8 lead.
Things would stay that way until Barker's walk-off double in the ninth.
The Spartans will look to make it a sweep of the Blue Hens on Sunday at 1 p.m. at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Wofford 7, Iona 3
Wofford 15, Iona 7
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Wofford baseball team swept a doubleheader against Iona on Saturday at Russell C. King Field. In the first game, the Terriers picked up a 7-3 win in a seven-inning contest. In game two, Wofford won 15-7 on the strength of a seven-run second inning.
Wofford improves to 3-0 on the season and Iona is 0-2. In the two games, the Terriers were led by Mac Doyle with five hits and Alex Lee and Landon Bennett with four RBIs each. Taylor Rozier was 3-of-5 with the only home run of the day.
In the first game, the Terriers got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the third inning. Wofford had RBI singles from Josh McKinney, Konstantine Diamaduros and Mac Doyle and a ground out by Landon Bennett to take a 4-0 lead.
Wofford added a run in the fourth when James Foster drove in Alex Lee on a double. In the fifth, Mac Doyle led off with a triple to left center and was driven in with a single by Landon Bennett. Taylor Rozier opened the bottom of the sixth with a bomb over the left center wall to give the Terriers a 7-0 lead. The Gaels scored two runs on an RBI single and an error in the top of the seventh for the 7-2 final score.
For the Terriers, starter Cash Collins (1-0) went the complete game with ten hits and three runs allowed along with three strikeouts. The seven innings marked the longest outing of his career.
Iona starter Justin Wiley (0-1) threw 5.2 innings and allowed seven runs on ten hits with two strikeouts. Christian Rahman went the final third of an inning with one hit allowed.
In game two, Iona scored twice in the first inning and added an RBI single in the second for a 3-0 lead. The Terriers got things going in the bottom of the second when two walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases. Luke Feisal was hit by pitch to bring in one run. Alex Lee then hit a triple and reached home on an error by the left fielder to clear the bases for a 5-3 lead. Wofford added runs in the second on a single by Mac Doyle and a bases-loaded walk issued to Matt Moore for a 7-3 advantage.
The Gaels answered in the top of the third with a run on an RBI single. Wofford was able to extend the lead in the bottom of the third when a single by Konstantine Diamaduros scored two runs. Josh McKinney crossed the plate after a throwing error on a single by Matt Moore for a 10-4 lead.
Iona scored three runs in the top of the fourth, once on a wild pitch and then twice on a single by Kyle Charron for a 10-7 game. The Terriers though would add two runs in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by James Foster and a single by Josh McKinney. Wofford extended the advantage with three more runs in the bottom of the eighth as the Terriers scored on only one hit with the help of three players hit by pitch and an error. Bradley Evsich came up with an unassisted double play at first base to end the game in the top of the ninth with a 15-7 final score.
Wofford starter Pete Noordsy went 3.1 innings and allowed seven runs on ten hits with four strikeouts. Anthony Rowland (1-0) went the next 2.2 and did not allow a run on two hits with four strikeouts. Bobby Streisel threw an inning with one hit and three strikeouts. J.D. Osborne pitched the eighth and allowed two hits with one strikeout. Gus White closed the game in the ninth with one hit allowed.
For the Gaels, starter Colin Lyall (0-1) went the first 1.1 innings and allowed six runs on two hits. Matt Marley went 1.2 innings with four runs allowed on four hits. Eddie Macaluso added 2.2 innings with two runs scored on four hits. Kenny Dietrich threw 1.1 innings with one hit allowed and two strikeouts. Jordan Gilruth went a third of an inning with three runs allowed on one hit and Vincent Parisi went the final two-thirds without allowing a hit. The Gaels combined to hit ten Wofford players by pitch, marking a new school record for the Terriers, topping the previous high of seven.
Wofford will close the weekend home stand against George Mason on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Next weekend the Terriers will host Butler, Presbyterian and Dayton.
Samford 4, Western Illinois 0
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford junior pitcher Kyle Putkonen pitched 6.0 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out nine batters to lead the Bulldog baseball team to a 4-0 win over Western Illinois Saturday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
Putkonen (1-0) earned the win in his first outing of the season for the Bulldogs. Junior Charles Basford tossed the final 3.0 innings, surrendering just three hits to earn his first save in a Samford uniform. The shutout was the first for Samford since May 9, 2010, when the Bulldogs won 13-0 at Wofford.
"Both Kyle and Charles did phenomenal jobs for us," Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. "They commanded the strike zone and they limited walks. They got ahead in the count and really threw the ball well."
Samford was led at the plate by Saxon Butler, going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Michael Johnson also went 3-for-4 for the Bulldogs. Gardner Richey went 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI.
For Western Illinois, Bryan Jordan went 2-for-4 at the plate. Ryan Wachholder pitched 5.0 innings, giving up three runs on eight hits to take the loss.
Samford put its first run on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning. Johnson singled to lead off the inning and then advanced to second base on a balk. He then advanced to third base when Butler grounded out to second base. Johnson then scored wild pitch to give Samford a 1-0 lead.
The Bulldogs added a run in the third inning and another in the fourth to make the score 3-0. In the third inning, Kevin Putkonen singled with one out and later scored on a WIU error for Samford's second run of the game. In the fourth inning, Richey led the inning off with a solo home run to left-center field to make the score 3-0.
Samford added one final run in the bottom of the seventh inning to make the final score 4-0. After Johnson tripled to lead off the inning, Butler later doubled to drive in Johnson for the game's final run.
With the win, Samford improves to 2-0 on the season. Western Illinois drops to 0-2 with the loss.
Samford and Western Illinois will conclude their three-game series with a game Sunday at 12 p.m. CT.
Davidson 2, Georgetown 1
Army 10, Davidson 6
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- Army scored seven runs in the final three frames en route to a 10-6 win over the Davidson Wildcats, who came back with strong pitching from junior Ryan Overcash and senior Mike Frongello to pick up a 2-1 win over Georgetown in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Wilson Field.
Overcash allowed just one run and scattered four hits through 6 2/3 innings in the no-decision. Frongello (W, 1-0) came on after a two-out hit to second baseman Andy Lentz and got center fielder Justin Leeson on strikes. He allowed just one more hit, a one-out single to third baseman Sean Lamont in the eighth, over the final 2.1 to earn the win.
Will Harris was equal for Georgetown, scattering five hits through six innings and allowing just one run while striking out four. He was the pitcher of record when the Hoyas knotted the score with a run in the sixth, as catcher Erick Fernandez legged out a two-out triple to score Lamont, who was hit by a pitch.
With Overcash in the dugout, Thomas Polus (L, 0-1) took over to start the seventh and dealt back-to-back walks to sophomore shortstop Michael Zeblo and freshman left fielder Forrest Brandt, his only two batters. Mike Seander got freshman catcher Daniel Gerow on strikes, but walked sophomore second baseman Jack McLindon to load the bases. Freshman centerfielder Kelly Myers sacrificed in Zeblo to give the 'Cats the only other run of the game in the next at-bat.
Frongello struck out right fielder Rand Ravnaas to start the eighth before plunking shortstop Mike Garza. The Hoyas were threatening with a pair on after Lamont followed with a single but McLindon and Zeblo turned an inning-ending double play to work out of the jam.
The Wildcats stranded Payne, who took a one-out walk, on the base paths in the eighth, and Georgetown got something going in the top of the ninth on a leadoff single from designated hitter Steve Anderson. First baseman Dan Capeless took a pitch to give the Hoyas life, but Frongello knocked down the lead runner on a fielder's choice from left fielder Corbin Blakey and McLindon and Zeblo turned another double play to end the game.
Despite a strong start from senior Ian Horkley, who scattered eight hits through six innings with six strikeouts, Army scored single runs in the second, third and fourth to open a 3-0 lead in the first game of the day. The Wildcats got a run back in the fourth as sophomore third baseman Andrew Barna led off with a infield single to third base and moved around to second on a throwing error by third baseman Steve May. Barna bumped two bases as first baseman Matt Ray and Brandt earned walks before scoring on junior catcher Seth Freeman's base knock to left.
Freshman Jip Richards took over for Horkley to start the seventh. The Black Knights got another score as second baseman Zach Price doubled to lead off and was sacrificed around, and they added four more in the eighth on a pair of hits and three Wildcat errors to take an 8-1 lead.
Davidson rallied with three runs in the eighth, as Zeblo and Ray scored on Brandt's base hit to left and the subsequent throwing error by left fielder Joey Henshaw. Freeman drove in his second run of the game, doubling in Brandt to cut Army's lead in half, 8-4. Army answered, though, adding a pair of a solo shot from first baseman Kevin McKague and an RBI-single from catcher J.T. Watkins, and Davidson managed just two runs and stranded three in the final frame. Zeblo took a bases-loaded walk and Brandt's sacrifice fly cut it to 10-6, but McKague ended the Wildcat threat and picked up the save.
The Wildcats will play the final game of the weekend against Radford tomorrow at 1 p.m.