Elon 11, St. Joseph's 2
ELON, N.C. -- Making his first career start in his 91st career appearance, Elon's Thomas Girdwood tossed five one-hit, scoreless innings as the Phoenix defeated visiting Saint Joseph's 11-2 from Latham Park on Wednesday afternoon.
Elon's first at bat began with Jake Luce reaching on an infield single. After a balk and stolen base moved Luce to third, Alex Swim looped a one-out single into left-center that plated the game's first run.
With one down in the bottom of the second, Harry Austin was plunked to reach first. A sac bunt moved Austin to second before a Niko Fraser line drive single to left scored him to make it a 2-0 game.
Back-to-back two-out walks to Seth Canipe and Sebastian Gomez got things going for Elon in the third inning. After a passed ball put the Phoenix runners on second and third, Matt Kirchner grounded a single up the middle to score the third and fourth Elon runs of the afternoon. Another walk to Harry Austin put two aboard for Luce. Luce popped a ball up that was dropped by the Hawks' shortstop, allowing Kirchner to come in to give the Phoenix a 5-0 lead.
The Phoenix kept its offensive attack up in the fourth inning. Fraser led off with a single to center, stole second and then scored on Swim's single up the middle.
In the sixth, Elon added another to its total when a balk scored Neal Pritchard from third.
The Hawks broke through with two in the seventh when Brett Tiagwad tripled to the gap in right-center to score both Joe Cook and Quinn Renner.
Elon loaded the bases in the eighth on an error, a walk and a hit batter when, with one out, Canipe lined a single to center to score two runs as the Phoenix stretched its lead to 9-2. Another walk reloaded the bags for Kirchner who singled home two more with a liner to left.
Girdwood (2-1) picked up the victory in his first career start. He struck out three hitters. Five Phoenix pitchers combined to allow just three hits on the day. It marked the first time that Elon held an opponent to three hits or fewer since allowing three hits to NC State on February 25, 2009.
Saint Joseph's Taylor Mahoney (0-2) was charged with the loss after he surrendered two runs on three hits in two frames. The Hawks used seven pitchers on the day.
Kirchner finished 2-for-5 with a run and career-high four RBI while both Swim and Canipe drove home two runs for the Phoenix. Fraser led Elon with three hits. He also scored twice.
Elon will hit the road to begin Southern Conference play this weekend, paying a visit to Appalachian State. Friday's first game is slated for a 3 p.m. start.
#21 College of Charleston 12, Ball State 1
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Senior RHP Robert Jeroszko (Greenville, S.C.) allowed one run over seven innings and struck out four to lead #21 College of Charleston to a 12-1 victory over Ball State Wednesday night at Patriots Point. The Cougars improve to 12-2 on the season and begin Southern Conference play this weekend at Davidson.
The Cougars plate a single run in the first and second innings to take a 2-0 lead. After junior RF Marty Gantt (North Augusta, S.C.) led off the inning with a four-pitch walk and senior CF Cole Rakar (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) singled down the right field line to put runners at the corners. Redshirt-junior 3B Matt Leeds (Boca Raton, Fla.) drove home Gantt from third with a fielder's choice to the third base side. In the second, doubles by redshirt-freshman LF Daniel Aldrich (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) and Gantt produced another run for Charleston.
CofC pulled away in the fourth inning with a five-run effort, taking a 7-0 lead. Aldrich led off the frame with a solo shot to left, his fourth of the season. With two outs, the Cougars plated four more runs, scoring on RBI doubles by Rakar and redshirt-junior 1B Jose Rodriguez (Hialeah, Fla.), on a passed ball by Ball State C Kevin Franchetti and a bases-loaded walk by Aldrich.
Charleston took an 8-0 lead in the sixth when redshirt-junior DH Rob Kral (Randolph, N.J.) scored on a wild pitch. Ball State broke the shutout bid in the top of the seventh on a solo home run to left by pinch-hitter Billy Wellman.
The Cougars plated a pair of runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to secure the win. Leeds and redshirt-graduate student PH Ryan Daniels (Victoria, Texas) knocked back-to-back RBI doubles in the seventh, while senior C Robert Pritcher (Charleston, S.C.) roped a two-run double to left in the eighth.
Four Cougars had two hits apiece, while Leeds, Aldrich and Pritcher had two RBIs each. Jeroszko scattered five hits over the seven innings to pick up his first win of the season. Nestor Bautista took the loss for Ball State, allowing seven runs on nine hits in 3-2/3 innings.
The Cougars begin Southern Conference play this weekend as they travel to Davidson for a three-game series with the Wildcats. Friday's game is set for a 7:00 p.m. start.
Western Carolina, Clemson Baseball Game Postponed
Teams have rescheduled for Wednesday, April 27 in Cullowhee
Cullowhee, N.C. - Rain across the southeast region has prompted officials at Western Carolina University to postpone today's scheduled baseball game between the Catamounts and the eighth-ranked Clemson Tigers at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. The two squads have agreed to reschedule the game for Wednesday, April 27 in Cullowhee.
It is the third-straight game that WCU has had rained out this week as tournament games against both Ohio State and Army slated for last weekend at McNair Field in Forest City were cancelled due to weather.
Rain - heavy at times - began overnight and continued through the morning. Forecasts include a steady, soaking rain throughout the day on Wednesday prohibiting the two squads from playing.
The Catamounts are scheduled to travel to Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, S.C., on Wednesday, April 6 at 6:30 pm.
Western Carolina (7-3) opens Southern Conference play this weekend as it travels to Greensboro, N.C., for a three-game league set against the UNCG Spartans. The three-game series opens on Friday evening at 6:00 pm, and continues with Saturday and Sunday afternoon games with first pitch at 1:00 pm both weekend days.
All three games will be broadcast on the Catamount Sports Network with pregame starting 15 minutes prior to scheduled first pitch. Fans can hear all the action online at www.CatamountSports.com.
WCU had its five-game series winning streak against the Spartans snapped a year ago after dropping 2-of-3 to UNCG in Cullowhee. It was the first time the Catamounts had dropped a SoCon series to the Spartans since 2004. The Catamounts swept the most recent three-game series held in Greensboro during the 2009 season, winning 11-0, 10-3 and 9-4.
FURMAN-PRESBYTERIAN BASEBALL RESCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, 2:00 P.M.
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Wednesday's Furman-Presbyterian baseball game at PC has been postponed due to rain and has been rescheduled for Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at Presbyterian Baseball Stadium, it has been announced.
Furman (6-7) dropped a 4-2 decision to East Tennessee State in Johnson City, Tenn., on Tuesday. Presbyterian (6-6) defeated Virginia Commonwealth, 3-2, in its last outing on Saturday.
Davidson-South Carolina Baseball Game Rained Out
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- Tonight's baseball game at No. 4 South Carolina has been postponed due to rain expected in the Columbia area this evening. No make-up date has been announced at this time.
Davidson returns to action this weekend when it hosts SoCon preseason favorite College of Charleston for three games at Wilson Field. Friday night is scheduled for a 7 p.m. first pitch. Saturday will be a 2 p.m. game, and the teams will play the finale at 1 p.m. on Sunday.