Georgia Southern 7, #28 College of Charleston 1
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Georgia Southern RHP Andy Moye tossed a complete-game six-hitter and struck out eight to lead the Eagles to a 7-1 win over the College of Charleston Sunday morning in Southern Conference action at Patriots Point. The Cougars fall to 16-9 on the season and 3-3 in the SoCon, while GSU takes the weekend series and improves to 15-10, 6-3 in the conference.
The win also marked the 500th career victory for Georgia Southern head coach Rodney Hennon. Hennon earned 419 of those wins at GSU and picked up the first 81 at his alma mater, Western Carolina.
Georgia Southern opened a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on a RBI sacrifice bunt by Ben Morgan that scored Victor Roache from third. The Cougars knotted the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the frame on a sacrifice fly to center by senior SS Jamie Holler (Rock Hill, S.C.) that plated redshirt-junior LF Jose Rodriguez (Hialeah, Fla.) from third. Rodriguez reached on a full-count walk and advanced to third on a single by senior CF Cole Rakar (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.).
The Eagles took a 3-1lead in the top of the third and plated four more runs in the eighth to seal the win. A sacrifice fly to right by Steve Cochrane and a RBI triple to right by Roache scored the runs in the third, while a pair of two-run singles with two outs by Shawn Payne and Michael Burress did the damage in the eighth.
Sophomore RHP Matt Pegler (Greenville, S.C.) took the loss for Charleston, allowing three runs on six hits in three innings of a spot start. Junior RF Marty Gantt (N. Augusta, S.C.) and Rakar each had two hits for the Cougars, while redshirt-junior C Rob Kral (Randolph, N.J.) added a double and a pair of walks to increase his team-high total to 29 on the season. Payne and Roache led Georgia Southern with three hits apiece.
The Cougars return to action Wednesday evening as they travel to UNC Wilmington for a non-conference matchup with the Seahawks at 6:00 p.m.
The Eagles continue their four-game road trip on Tuesday, March 29th, at Jacksonville at 6:30 p.m. before returning home for a Southern Conference series with The Citadel next weekend.
Elon 4, Samford 2
ELON, N.C. -- Garrett Koster's three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning lifted the Elon Phoenix to a key 4-2 victory over the visiting Samford Bulldogs in the rubber match of a three-game Southern Conference series on Sunday. By virtue of winning two of the three games over the weekend, Elon (17-9, 8-1 SoCon) continued to hold on to its SoCon lead.
Elon took an early lead thanks to a Samford miscue. With runners on the corners with two down in the second, Eric Serra sent a routine ground ball to second, but the throw to first pulled the first baseman off the bag allowing Ryan Kinsella, who led the inning off with a single, to score.
Samford (16-10, 6-3) evened the score when Brandon Miller led off the fourth inning with a towering fly ball over the left field fence for his sixth homer of the year.
Sebastian Gomez drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the fourth, moved to second on a wild pitch and to third when Scott Carcaise reached on a throwing error. Koster followed and cleared the bases by drilling a 2-1 pitch to straight-away left for his first home run of the year that give the Phoenix a 4-1 advantage.
Gary Cramer picked up his first homer of the year to make it a 4-2 game when he sent the first pitch of the ninth inning over the fence in right before Mitch Conner retired the next three hitters to end the game.
Jared Kernodle gave Elon a much-needed strong performance on the mound as the senior allowed just one run on six hits over seven innings to improve to 4-1 on the year. Kernodle struck out four and walked two. John Brebbia struck out two in a scoreless eighth while Conner picked up his fifth save of the year after tossing the ninth.
Samford starter Charles Basford (2-2) took the loss after being charged with four runs (two earned) on seven hits in six innings.
Koster finished the day 2-for-4 with a run and three RBI while both Alex Swim and Kinsella tallied two-hit outings for the Phoenix.
Stephen Ballard and Phillip Ervin accounted for four of Samford's nine hits, both going 2-for-4.
Elon will travel to East Carolina looking to avenge an earlier 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Pirates, on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Samford entertains Jacksonville State Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. CT.
Furman 6, UNCG 5 (12 inn.)
UNCG 11, Furman 4
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Alex Abrams delivered a bases loaded single in the 12th inning to lift Furman to a 6-5 victory over UNC Greensboro in game one of a Southern Conference baseball doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Latham Stadium.
In game two UNC Greensboro pitcher Colby Hyatt held Furman in check with seven solid innings of ball to give the Spartans an 11-4 victory and help UNCG avoid the three-game series sweep.
Furman emerged from the weekend with a 13-13 overall record and 6-5 SoCon slate while UNC Greensboro now stands 14-8 overall and 6-3 in SoCon action.
After a 1-4 start in SoCon play, the Paladins have won five of their last six league games and are 7-2 overall in their last nine outings.
In Sunday's opener Will Miller led off the Furman 12th with a double to right center field off UNCG's Tyler Hollstegge. Taylor Johnson and Reese Wade then drew walks to load the bases with no outs, after which Abrams, a freshman third baseman from Charleston, S.C., belted the second pitch he saw from UNCG reliever Greg Smith, to deep right center field, well out of reach of UNCG's drawn-in outfield defense to score Miller for the game winner.
Abrams' hit gave the victory to Dylan Cole (2-0), who came on in the 11th and retired all six batters he faced over the final two frames, striking out two.
Hollstegge (2-1), who retired the first 11 batters he faced after entering the contest in the eighth, pitched around a couple of walks to get out of the 11th before allowing his only hit, Miller's lead-off double in the 12th. In all he worked four-plus innings and surrendered one hit and four walks while striking out five.
UNC Greensboro used an Eric Brindle RBI triple in the fifth to break a 2-2 tie, and Ray Quinones' sacrfice fly an inning later gave the Spartans a 4-2 lead.
Furman answered with a three-run seventh, highlighted by back-to-back RBI singles by Johnson and Wade, to take a 5-4 lead.
The Spartans tied it at 5-5 in the eighth after Zach Leach stroked a single off Furman reliever Drake Brown into center field, moved to second on a sacrifice, and scored on Drew Gehringer's double over the head of Paladin left fielder Will Owens.
From that point, however, Browne and Cole combined to limit UNCG to one hit over the final 4 1/3 innings.
Johnson had two of the Paladins' seven hits and drove in three runs in Sunday's opener, including a two-out, two-run single in the first inning that tied the game at 2-2.
Thomas Troelstrup, Leach, and Gehringer had two hits apiece to pace UNCG.
In the Sunday's series finale Hyatt (3-1) limited Furman to only one run over the first six innings and rode solid run support from Eric Brindle, who belted a three-run home run as part of a 3-for-4, 4-RBI performance.
Hyatt allowed six hits and four runs, though only one was earned. He walked one and struck out one.
The Paladins pushed across a run on a wild pitch in the first inning, but UNCC responded with two runs in the third, one in the fourth, and three in both the fifth and sixth on the way to a commanding 9-1 advantage.
The Spartans got to Furman starting and losing pitcher Tyler Wood (2-2) in the third on an RBI single by Brindle, who then scored on a Trevor Edwards double for a 2-1 lead.
Gehringer's run scoring single in the fourth made it 3-1, and in the fifth UNCG didn't get a hit but capitalized on a pair of walks and back-to-back throwing errors by Paladin shortstop J.B. Jenkins to plate three more runs for a 6-1 margin.
It became 9-1 an inning later after Brindle deposited an offering by Paladin reliever John Paterson over the center field fence for a three-run home run.
UNCG finished game two with 11 hits, with Bobby Martin and Andrew Spleth following Brindle with two hits apiece.
Paul Nitto and Will Owens both went 2-for-4 for Furman, which had seven hits.
Wood allowed six runs, three of which were earned, on six hits over 4 2/3 innings that featured two walks and six strikeouts.
Furman will play at Winthrop on Tuesday in 6:00 p.m. game that will be broadcast will be broadcast over Furman flagship station WOLT-FM 101.3 and will over the internet through Stretch Audio at www.furmanpaladins.com. Chuck Hussion, the "Voice of the Paladins," will call the play-by-play, and former Paladin Clint Hill is set to deliver color commentary.
UNCG hosts North Carolina State Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Western Carolina 7, Davidson 1
Davidson 3, Western Carolina 0 (10 inn.)
DAVIDSON, N.C. - After the Western Carolina Catamounts secured the series victory with a 7-1 win in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader at Wilson Field, freshman right fielder Kelly Myers' three-run, walk off home run in the bottom of the 10th lifted the Davidson Wildcats to a 3-0 win in the nightcap.
Myers' (2-for-4, 2 RBI, HR) walk off hit was the second of his young career and made a winner out of senior RHP Andy Bass(W, 2-0), who scattered two hits and struck out four over the final 3 2/3 shutout innings in game two in relief of junior RHPRyan Overcash. Overcash struck out seven and allowed just five hits in 6 1/3 shutout innings in the start for Davidson (10-22, 4-6) but took the no decision as neither team scored until the 10th inning.
Overcash and Western Carolina (10-11-1, 2-7) starter Kyle Stewart took turns putting up zeroes on the scoreboard to start the game. After Stewart left the game in the fifth, Andrew Chilcoat continued the trend by tossing three shutout innings of relief.
The Wildcats got nine hits in the game, including a pair each from freshman left fielder Forrest Brandt (2-for-5), junior first baseman Drew Gadaire (2-for-4), sophomore third basemanAndrew Barna (2-for-5) and Myers (2-for-4) but left 13 runners on base.
Western finished with seven hits in the game, led by Dykota Spiess (2-for-3) and was threatening in the seventh as Matt Johns (1-for-4) and Cameron Dullnig (1-for-4) each singled to put runners on the corners with one out. But with Bass taking over on the mound, shortstop Calvin Sigelbaum went a long way and made a spectacular play on a foul ball to end Spiess' at-bat, and Bass struck out Aaron Attaway to end the inning.
Bass allowed a pair of two-out base hits over the next two innings, and Myers made him a winner in the 10th with his third home run of the season, which also scored Sigelbaum (fielder's choice) and junior second baseman James Cerbie (walk).
In the first game, the Catamounts tacked on four runs in the ninth to a 3-1 lead to win the game and the series. Jordan Smith (W, 3-2) allowed just one run and scattered four hits through eighth innings while striking out nine to pick up the win.
Davidson got its lone run in the seventh on an RBI-groundout from sophomore shortstop Michael Zeblo that scored Gadaire, who led off the inning with a base hit. That score cut into Western's 3-0 lead, but Smith got a fly out to end the inning and leave a pair of Wildcats on base, and the Catamounts tacked on four runs in the ninth to win the series.
Senior RHP Ian Horkley (L, 2-3) took the loss for the Wildcats, despite allowing just a pair of runs and striking out seven in five innings.
Western Carolina finished with 14 hits, led by Martin, who had a pair of two-RBI doubles. Schultz (2-for-4), Tyler White (2-for-5), Julian Ridings (2-for-5) and Attaway (2-for-4) also had two hits for the Catamounts.
Gadaire (2-for-4) and Weiss (2-for-4) accounted for four of Davidson's six hits, and Myers and Barna each had one.
Davidson wraps up a five-game home stand with a 6 p.m. game against N.C. Central Tuesday.
Western Carolina entertains High Point Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Wofford 6, The Citadel 4
The Citadel 13, Wofford 5
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - On a cold and damp Sunday afternoon at Russell C. King Field, the Wofford baseball team split a doubleheader with The Citadel. The Terriers won the first game 6-4, while the Bulldogs won game two by a 13-5 score.
Wofford wins the weekend series against The Citadel two games to one, marking the first SoCon series win for the Terriers over the Bulldogs since joining the conference. Wofford is now 13-11 on the season and 2-4 in the SoCon, while The Citadel is 9-14 overall and 5-7 in conference play.
In the first game, the Bulldogs got on the board in the top of the first when Drew DeKerlegand doubled and was driven home on a single by William Ladd for a 1-0 lead. Mac Doyle registered the first hit of the day for Wofford with a double. He scored on a triple to the right field wall by Konstantine Diamaduros to make it a 1-1 game.
Clark Wise led off the bottom of the third with a triple down the right line and the Terriers took a 2-1 lead with an RBI single by Mac Doyle that scored Wise. Both teams were retired in order in the fourth inning. In the top of the fifth, the Bulldogs tied the game at 2-2 with a ground out by Nick Orvin that scored Brad Felder from third.
Wofford regained the lead with a single in the bottom of the sixth from Josh McKinney. A double down the right line by Landon Bennett scored McKinney for a 3-2 advantage. Bennett stole third and the throw went into the outfield allowing him to score and give the Terriers a 4-2 lead.
The Bulldogs got one run back on a solo home run by Josh Felder in the top of the seventh to make it a 4-3 game. In the bottom of the seventh, Mac Doyle added a double and with two outs was driven in by Konstantine Diamaduros for a 5-3 lead. Josh McKinney reached on an error that scored Diamaduros as the Terriers had a 6-3 advantage.
In the top of the eighth, Nick Orvin added a solo home run to cut the lead to 6-4. Wofford left one on base in the bottom of the eighth and the Bulldogs left one on base in the top of the ninth for the final score of 6-4.
For Wofford, starter Drew Sheridan threw five innings and allowed two runs on four hits with three strikeouts. Ryan Traylor (2-0) went two innings with one run allowed on two hits to earn the win. Bobby Streisel threw the eighth and allowed one run on one hit. John Cornely picked up his fourth save of the season by not allowing a hit in the ninth.
The Citadel starter Austin Pritcher (3-2) went six innings and allowed four runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts. Logan Cribb threw two-thirds of an inning and allowed one run on two hits with one strikeout. T.J. Clarkson went 1.1 innings and allowed only two hits with two strikeouts.
In game two, Wofford opened the scoring with an RBI single by Josh McKinney. McKinney was caught in a rundown between first and second, which allowed Mac Doyle to score from third and give the Terriers a 2-0 lead. The Citadel scored one run on an RBI double by Josh Fless in the top of the second for a 2-1 score.
After going the third, fourth and fifth innings without a score, the Bulldogs tied the game in the top of the sixth. Drew DeKerlegand was hit by a pitch and was driven in by a double to left field by Matt Simonelli. With the bases loaded, a walk brought in a second run and a sacrifice fly by Legare Jones gave the Bulldogs a 4-2 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, James Foster walked and Mac Doyle singled. A ground out by Konstantine Diamaduros scored Foster to make it a 4-3 game. A single by Josh McKinney brought Doyle home to tie the game at 4.
The Citadel loaded the bases with one out in the top of the eighth and a walk scored one run for a 5-4 lead. A single by Matt Simonelli added a run and a wild pitch made it 7-4. A single by William Ladd drove in two runs to make it a 9-4 game.
In the bottom of the eighth, Wofford loaded the bases with a single by David Roney and two walks. A sacrifice fly by James Foster scored one run, but the Terriers left two runners on base to end the inning at 9-5. The Bulldogs loaded the bases again in the top of the ninth and Tyler Griffin hit a ball that just cleared the right wall for a 13-5 lead. Bradley Evsich added a single for Wofford in the bottom of the ninth, but he was unable to score.
Wofford starter Tom Dolinak went five innings and allowed two runs on five hits. Ryan Traylor picked up one out and Pete Noordsy faced two batters. Brandon Yarusi (0-1) threw two innings and allowed four runs on two hits along with two strikeouts. Eric Eck went two-thirds of an inning and allowed four runs on five hits. Anthony Rowland went the final inning and allowed one run on three hits.
The Citadel starter Justin Russell threw six innings and allowed two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts. Bryce Hines (2-2) went an inning and allowed three runs on three hits with one strikeout. Drew Mahaffey threw the final two innings and allowed only one hit with two strikeouts.
Wofford will travel to USC Upstate on Tuesday for a 6:00 p.m. contest and will host Presbyterian College at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday in non-conference action. On Friday the Terriers will begin a three-game series at Appalachian State.
The Citadel returns home to host Charleston Southern Tuesday at 6 p.m. in non-conference play.