Samford 9, UAB 2
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Samford baseball team scored nine runs and pounded out 13 hits on its way to a 9-2 win at cross-town rival UAB Wednesday evening at Young Memorial Field.
The win is Samford's fifth-straight victory and improved the Bulldogs' record to 13-6. Samford has now won the last four meetings in its series with UAB. The Blazers fell to 8-8 with the loss.
Samford was led at the plate by Saxon Butler, going 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI. Michael Johnson, Phillip Ervin and Tripp Swann had two hits each for the Bulldogs. Tyler Filliben drove in two runs in a 1-for-4 performance.
Samford's Josh Martin (2-1) pitched 3.0 innings, giving up one run on one hit and striking out three batters to earn the win on the mound. Arthur Strauss, Sean Handlan, Gil Walker, Tyler Vanderheiden and C.K. Irby also saw time on the mound for Samford.
UAB's Nick Crawford, Jamal Austin, Ivan De Jesus and Michael Busby had one hit each for the Blazers. Chase Mallard (0-1) pitched 4.0 innings, giving up five runs, three earned, on nine hits to take the loss.
Samford jumped on top first with two runs in the top of the first inning. Ervin and Johnson both scored on UAB errors to give Samford a 2-0 lead.
UAB answered with a run in the bottom of the second inning to cut the Samford lead to 2-1. De Jesus scored from third base on a wild pitch for the Blazers' first run of the game.
The Bulldogs added two runs in the third inning to push its lead to 4-1. Swann scored from third base when Stephen Ballard hit a sacrifice fly to center field for the first run of the inning. Filliben later singled to center field to drive in Kevin Putkonen for a three-run Samford lead.
Samford added a run in the fourth inning and three more in the sixth to push its lead to 8-1. In the fourth inning, Swann doubled to right field to drive in Butler to make the score 5-1. In the sixth inning, Butler doubled to right field to drive in Ervin and Johnson for the first two runs of the inning. Butler later scored on a UAB error to give Samford a seven-run lead.
UAB added a run in the eighth inning to make the score 8-2. Matt Morse scored on a Samford error for the Blazers' second run of the game.
Samford plated one final run in the top of the ninth inning to make the final score 9-2. Filliben hit a sacrifice fly to left-center field to drive in Brandon Powell for the game's final run.
Samford will return to action on Friday, March 18, when the Bulldogs play host to SoCon foe Georgia Southern. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start from Joe Lee Griffin Field.
UNCG 1, Princeton 0
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Seven UNCG pitchers combined to pitch a seven-hit shutout and made Cambric Moye's RBI single in the fourth inning stand up as the Spartans defeated Princeton, 1-0, on Wednesday evening at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Zach Furl moved to 2-0 this season for the Spartans (11-5) after pitching a third of an inning and recording a strikeout. Tyler Hollstegge struck out the side in the ninth to close things out and record his second save of the season.
Princeton (2-7) starter A.J. Goetz was credited with the loss after allowing only one run on four hits in 3 1/3 innings, while striking out five batters.
Ray Quinones led UNCG at the plate as he went 2-4 with a run scored, while Moye went 1-2 with an RBI and a walk.
Mike Ford was the top Tiger at the dish as he went 2-3 with a pair of walks and Matt Connor had a double and a walk.
Despite the low scoring game, the teams combined to leave 24 runners on base and used a total of 10 pitchers.
After leaving runners on first and second in the opening two innings, UNCG was finally able to break through for a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out in the inning, Ray Quinones legged out an infield single to reach base.
Quinones then stole second before Joe Hager drew a five-pitch walk. Moye then delivered a single to left field to allow Quinones to score from second and put the Spartans ahead. Drew Gehringer followed with a single to right field to load the bases, but the Tigers got out of the inning by inducing an inning-ending double play.
Princeton threatened to score in the top of the fifth inning as it had runners on second and third with only one out, but Dylan Hathcock was able to get the Tigers to pop out and fly out to end the inning to end the threat.
The Tigers mounted one final rally in the top of the eighth inning. Princeton had a runner on third with only one out, but this time it was Jarett Miller who shut the door with a strikeout and fly out to end the inning.
UNCG returns to SoCon action this weekend as it hosts Appalachian State for a three-game series beginning Friday at 6 p.m.
#20 College of Charleston 8, Jacksonville 4
DAVIDSON, N.C. - Redshirt-junior 3B Matt Leeds (Boca Raton, Fla.) had two home runs and five RBIs, including a three-run home run in the second inning and senior RHP Robert Jeroszko (Greenville, S.C.) struck out a career-high nine batters over eight innings as #20 College of Charleston defeated visiting Jacksonville University 8-4 Wednesday evening at Patriots Point. The Cougars improve to 15-3 on the season and will host the Cougar Invitational this weekend with Southern Mississippi, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Charleston posted five runs in the bottom of the second and never looked back. Redshirt-freshman DH Daniel Aldrich (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) led off the frame with a walk and after a fly out to center, redshirt-junior 1B Ross Hanna (Greer, S.C.) picked up another base on balls to put runners at first and second. Senior SS Jamie Holler (Rock Hill, S.C.) reached on a fielding error by the third baseman that moved Hanna to second and allowed Aldrich to score for a 1-0 lead. After junior RF Marty Gantt (N. Augusta, S.C.) was hit by a pitch, senior CF Cole Rakar (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) knocked a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Hanna. Leeds followed with a blast to left field on a 3-1 pitch that cleared the bases for a 5-0 Charleston lead.
Jacksonville plated a run in the top of the third on a RBI single by Jonathan Murphy and cut the Cougars' lead to 5-2 in the fourth when Adam Brett Walker scored from third on a wild pitch by Jeroszko.
The Cougars got the two runs back in the bottom of the fourth on Leeds' second round-tripper of the game and his eighth of the season. Gantt drew a full-count walk and with two outs, Leeds deposited a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left for his 39th and 40th RBIs of the season and a 7-2 Charleston lead. CofC plated a single run in the fifth on a solo shot to right center by Aldrich, his seventh of the season, to lead off the frame.
The Dolphins tallied a pair of runs in the top of the eighth, scoring on a wild pitch and a throwing error after a dropped third strike.
Jeroszko had another solid outing for the Cougars, improving to 2-1 on the season. The right-hander scattered six hits over eight innings and allowed four runs, three earned, with no walks. Tony Mollica took the loss for Jacksonville, allowing five runs, only one earned, in 1-2/3 innings. The southpaw surrendered one hit and walked four with one strikeout.
The Cougars return to action Friday evening as they host the Cougar Invitational at Patriots Point. Charleston faces Southern Mississippi in the 5:00 p.m. game, while Connecticut and Rhode Island take the field at 1:00 p.m.
#4 South Carolina 8, Wofford 4
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The No. 4 ranked South Carolina Gamecocks used 13 hits to grab an 8-4 win over Wofford in a nonconference game at Carolina Stadium Wednesday night.
The Terriers were held to five hits, with their first hit coming in the in the top of the seventh inning.
The Gamecocks got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second inning as Adrian Morales sent a (count) pitch from Terrier starter Eric Eck into the left field seats to make it 1-0.
South Carolina loaded the bases in the bottom of the third with a hit from Scott Wingo and an Adam Matthews walk. Jackie Bradley Jr. struck out before Christian Walker earned a free pass to load the bases for the Gamecocks. Wingo would score on a wild pitch to take a 2-0 lead, before the Terriers could escape the bases load jam.
The Gamecocks would add two more runs in the fifth inning on a two-run triple bye Jake Williams, and three unearned runs in the sixth inning after a Terrier error extended the inning for Morales two RBI double. Morales would score on an Evan Marzilli single to give South Carolina a 7-0 lead.
The Terriers would earn their first hit of the game when Konstantine Diamadurous singled to right to lead off the top of the seventh inning. Walks to Landon Bennett and Josh McKinney loaded the bases for a two-out, two-run single off the bat of Matt Moore cut the game to 7-2. The Gamecocks escaped further damage, when Moore was forced out at second on a close play.
The Gamecocks added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh inning on Robert Beary led off the inning with a walk and was moved to second on a Scott Wingo sacrifice bunt. Matthews singled and to put runners on the corners with one out. Bradley drove home Beary with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 8-2.
Wofford would respond in the top of the eighth inning with two more runs. James Foster started the rally off with walk and was followed up with a Mac Doyle single. Clark Wise pinch hit and walked to load the bases. After a strike out McKinney smacked a two-out single plating Foster and Doyle to cut the Gamecock lead to 8-4.
Neither team would score over the remaining six outs as the Gamecocks would escape with the 8-4 win. Wofford falls to 11-6 overall on the season, while South Carolina improves to 12-3.
Eric Eck was saddled with the loss for the Terriers in his two and two third innings of work. He allowed two runs on on three hits while striking out three. Colby Holmes earned the win in relief for the Gamecocks. Holmes went five and a third innings, allowing only one hit and two runs. The two teams combined to use 13 pitchers in three hour one-minute long game. Wofford sent seven arms to the rubber, while South Carolina used six.
Moore led the Wofford offense by going 2-for-4 with two RBI. Doyle, Diamaduros, and McKinney had the other Terrier hits. McKinney also had two RBI.
For the Gamecocks, Morales was 3-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored. He also had two of the teams three extra base hits, a homerun and a double. Jake Williams had three hits in five plate appearances and drove home four runs. Williams had the other Gamecock extra base hit, a triple in the fifth inning.
Wofford will return to the diamond Friday night at 7 p.m. as they host instate rival Furman in their Southern Conference series opener.
UNC Asheville 6, Western Carolina 2
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina manufactured a pair of fifth inning runs to take a short-lived, 2-1, lead over mountain-rival UNC Asheville. However, the Bulldogs hung a four-spot on the board half an inning later and a trio of relievers kept the Catamounts off the bases as UNCA halted a 10-game losing skid with a 6-2 win Wednesday afternoon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
Western Carolina (8-7) was held to just four hits on the afternoon as the top five in the batting order finished 0-for-19. Three WCU players combined for the squad's four hits - all singles.
Reliever Kyle Stewart (0-2) was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs on four hits in relief of left-handed starter Vance Chavis, who made his first appearance on the season. Stewart struck out three and walked one in three innings of work while Chavis walked two with one strikeout.
All told, WCU used seven pitchers in the mid-week tilt.
UNC Asheville (5-10) took the early lead as Cody Buch, who drew a one-out walk, came home on a sacrifice fly to center by Eli Miller to give the Bulldogs the 1-0 lead through three innings.
In the fifth, the Catamounts scratched the scoreboard for two runs to pull out to a one-run lead. Cameron Dullnig and Tyler White both drew walks to open the frame with Macon Smith laying down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position at second and third. Freshman Aaron Attaway then singled to left to plate Dullnig, knotting the game at one apiece and chasing Bulldog starter Tommy Houmard. Another rookie, Julian Ridings, greeted the new hurler with a RBI bunt single to score White, handing the Catamounts a 2-1 lead.
Even with moving runners back to second and third with one out on a balk by UNCA's third pitcher, Grier Harrington, the Catamounts were unable to stretch their advantage as Attaway was gunned out at home on a play in the infield and Matt Johns drove one to deep left but into the glove of left fielder Beau Zinman.
Ridings was the lone Catamount to post a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI. Attaway and White recorded the other two markers for WCU in the losing effort.
The Bulldogs answered with four runs on five hits in a decisive top of the sixth inning, all coming after WCU turned its third double-play of the contest. With Jordan Lurie at third after opening the inning with a single, Patrick Koontz doubled to left center to score Lurie and tie the game. Mike Vaughn then snuck a double down the left field line by a diving Austin Schultz to score Koontz, with Ian Graham collecting a third-straight hit with a single through the right side, chasing Stewart.
WCU reliever Darron Dotson was tagged with a two-RBI double to left field by Zinman to cap the inning's scoring with the visitors leading, 5-2. Dotson rallied to strike out Buch to end the inning.
UNCA added a solo run in the top of the ninth for a little more breathing room, but the Bulldog pitching staff kept the Catamounts off the bases and off the board in scoring the win.
Western Carolina continues its current five-game home stand by opening a three-game Southern Conference series against the Elon Phoenix this Friday afternoon at 4:00 pm at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. The series continues with first pitch at 2:00 pm on both Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
Winthrop 3, The Citadel 1
Charleston, S.C. - The Citadel Baseball team fell behind early and could never get the offense going on Wednesday evening against Winthrop as they dropped a 3-1 decision at Riley Park.
The Bulldogs (7-9), who have now lost four straight games, did not get off to a good start as Citadel starter Bryce Hines (Hanahan, S.C.) gave up two runs in the top of the first to Winthrop. Leadoff man Adam Gliebe reached when third baseman Drew DeKerlegand (Pearland, Texas) bobbled the grounder and then threw to first off line, allowing Gliebe to reach. After a base hit by TJ Olesczuk and a walk to Eddie Rohan to load the bases, Brett Thomas ripped an RBI single. Matt Lobacz then singled in Olesczuk, while William Ladd (Winnsboro, S.C.) gunned down Rohan at the plate and Hines got a strikeout to prevent any further damage.
The Eagles (7-8), who used a split pitching staff on the evening, sent out five different pitchers. Matteo D'Angelo picked up the win for Winthrop, going 3.0 innings and allowing just one hit. WU would score their third run of the evening off Citadel relieverConnor Hitchingham (Jacksonville, Fla.) in the sixth when Patrick Gamblin doubled to left field and scored on an RBI single from Cam Walters.
The Citadel finally managed to get on board in the bottom of the eighth off reliever Eric Ruth when Grant Richards (Morrisville, N.C) snuck a double into the left field corner, advanced to third on a base hit by Nick Orvin (Moncks Corner, S.C.) and scored on a sac fly to right by DeKerlegand.
In the ninth, the Bulldogs would threaten closer Tommy Lawrence when Justin Mackert (Cleveland, Ohio) and Joe Jackson (Mauldin, S.C.) led off with walks. After a sac bunt from Ladd to advance the runners to second and third, Lawrence settled down and struck outLegare Jones (Columbia, S.C.) and Richards to end the game and earn his third save of the season.
Hines (1-1) took the loss for The Citadel, going 5.0 innings, allowing six hits, two runs (one earned), four walks and six strikeouts. Logan Cribb (Rock Hill, S.C.), TJ Clarkson (Coral Springs, Fla.) and Jeremy Long (Clover, S.C.) each pitched an inning of scoreless relief for the Bulldogs in the loss.
"The game is fighting this ballclub a little bit right," said head coachFred Jordan. "It has the last four games, but we have to keep playing. I am pleased with the way we are playing, we just need a couple breaks to go our way and get a win to get out of this funk. I was pleased with how we pitched for the most part and with the defense today, hopefully we can get on the right track this weekend with Davidson."
Orvin went 2-for-3 with a walk and extended his hitting streak to eight games to lead the Bulldogs, while Walters when 2-for-4 with an RBI to lead Winthrop.
The Citadel returns to action this weekend when they host Davidson in a three-game conference set at Riley Park beginning Friday at 6 p.m. Live stats and video stream will be available. Friday's game and Sunday's game will be broadcast with play-by-play announcer Darren Goldwater on Fox Sports Radio 1450 AM in Charleston. For more information on Bulldog Baseball, visit CitadelSports.com.
#21 Georgia Tech 12, Georgia Southern 3
ATLANTA - Georgia Southern scored first for the 11th time this season, but fell to #21 Georgia Tech for the second day in a row, 12-3. Tech took advantage of an eight-run second inning to sweep the two games in Atlanta and give the Yellow Jackets a 3-1 series record this season. The Eagles defeated the 21st-ranked Georgia Tech squad 6-5 in the teams' first meeting of the year in Statesboro.
Georgia Tech used 10 different pitchers in the game with the starter Dusty Isaacs grabbing the win in a Johnny Wholestaff scenario. Isaacs allowed one run on one hit and struck out four in two innings of work. Will Middour (Atlanta, Ga.) was tagged with the loss for Georgia Southern. He allowed seven runs on six hits and worked just over an inning. Colin Snow (Alpharetta, Ga.) and Taylor Burke (Statesboro, Ga.) both pitched scoreless innings in relief, while Drew Johnson (Peachtree City, Ga.) allowed one run in 3.2 innings and looked good, striking out three batters in the process.
Shawn Payne (Stone Mountain, Ga.) extended his reached-base streak to 47-games with a single in the fifth inning. Payne is tied with Kennesaw State's Ronnie Freeman, who also extended his reached-base streak to 47 games today in a 10-6 loss to Harvard. Georgia Southern and the Owls will meet in the Eagles' next home game on Tuesday, March 22nd, at 6 p.m.
The Eagles scored a two-out run in the first inning, its fourth such situation against the Yellow Jackets in the two-game series in Atlanta. Eric Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.) was hit by a pitch and came around to score on a RBI single by Steve Cochrane (Mooresville, N.C.).
Georgia Tech scored in the three first three innings and racked up 11 runs on 11 hits in the first three frames. The Yellow Jackets drove in a two-out run in the bottom half of the first inning for their first run of the game. Daniel Palka plated Kyle Wren, who led off the game with a single, with a RBI double.
The Yellow Jackets exploded for eight runs in the second inning after sending 13 batters to the plate. They pounded out six hits and took advantage of four walks to extend their lead to eight runs, 9-1. Tech added on two runs in the third inning, but went scoreless for the first time in the fourth inning.
Georgia Southern finally got back on the board in the fifth inning and added runs two and three. Arthur Owens (Fayetteville, Ga.) reached second base on an error by the third baseman with one out and scored on a RBI single by Payne. A wild pitch moved Payne to second base, before a bunt hit by Phillips brought him in from third base. Tech added a run in the fifth for its final score of the night, 12-3.