College of Charleston 24, Wofford 6
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - On Saturday at Russell C. King Field, the Wofford baseball team was defeated 24-6 by the College of Charleston. The Cougars scored eight runs in the fifth inning to take the lead and added six runs in the ninth on the way to the victory.
Wofford is now 19-24 on the season and 6-14 in the Southern Conference. College of Charleston is 29-15 overall and 13-7 in conference play. The Terriers were led by Mac Doyle who was four-of-five from the plate with two doubles and two RBIs. For the Cougars, Daniel Aldrich had three hits, two of them home runs, and eight RBIs. Matt Leeds added six hits and four RBIs.
The Cougars got on the board in the top of the first inning. Matt Leeds singled and then a single by Daniel Aldrich, combined with a fielding error, made it a 1-0 game. Robert Pritcher had a double for the College of Charleston to open the third inning. Rob Kral drove him in with a single up the middle to take a 2-0 lead. After another single, a double by Jose Rodriguez scored two runs for a 4-0 score.
In the bottom of the third, Wofford had singles from Alex Lee and Clark Wise. James Foster was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Mac Doyle hit a single that scored two runs. The score was 4-2 at the end of three, as Wofford left two runners on base.
The College of Charleston had eight runs on eight hits in the top of the fifth. Daniel Aldrich cleared the fence in right for a three-run homer, while Marty Gantt and Matt Leeds drove in two runs each on the way to a 12-2 lead.
The Terriers got one run back when Mac Doyle singled and was driven home on a fielder's choice by Josh McKinney for a 12-3 score at the end of five innings. Both teams were retired in order in the sixth inning. Daniel Aldrich added a sacrifice fly for the Cougars and a walk with bases loaded made it a 14-3 game. Rob Harding hit a two-RBI single that pushed it to 16-3 before the College of Charleston left three on base at the stretch.
In the bottom of the seventh, Wofford loaded the bases but left all three runners. The Cougars added a two-run homer in the top of the eighth by Matt Leeds for an 18-3 lead. In the top of the ninth, the College of Charleston added six runs on three hits, including a grand slam by Daniel Aldrich, to push the advantage to 24-3. Wofford was able to score three runs in the bottom of the ninth as a single by Eric Brenk scored one run and a double down the left field line by Josh Hyman drove in two runs for the 24-6 final score.
Wofford starter Brandon Yarusi (0-4) lasted four innings and gave up eleven hits and nine runs with two strikeouts. Bobby Streisel went an inning with three hits and three runs allowed, plus one strikeout. Alex Wilson threw an inning and allowed four runs on two hits. Anthony Rowland went 1.2 innings and allowed six runs on four hits with three strikeouts. Eric Eck went the final two-thirds with two runs allowed on one hit and a strikeout.
College of Charleston starter David Peterson (5-4) went six innings and allowed seven hits and three runs with one strikeout. Dre Watts picked up his first save of the season with three innings on the mound and three runs allowed on four hits along with three strikeouts.
The Terriers will complete the series against the Cougars on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. On Wednesday, May 4, Wofford hosts South Carolina at Russell C. King Field at 7:00 p.m. Reserved tickets are sold out, however standing room tickets will be available the day of the game.
UNCG 7, Georgia Southern 6 (10 inn.)
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Bobby Martin hit a double to left field that allowed John Hein to score from first in the bottom of the 10th inning to give UNCG a 7-6 walk-off victory over Georgia Southern on Saturday afternoon at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
After the two sides were deadlocked at six after nine innings, the teams settled in for extra innings. In the bottom of the 10th, Georgia Southern closer Matt Murray recorded a pair of strikeouts. John Hein then drew a six-pitch walk before Martin put the barrel of the bat and sent it to left field. The left fielder went back to track the ball and appeared to lose his footing on the warning track, allowing Martin's ball to fall harmlessly and Hein to score from first to give UNCG the walk-off victory.
The win clinched the weekend series for the Spartans, vaulted them into second place in the Southern Conference standings and was their fifth win in a row.
Jarett Miller (4-2), who picked up the save on Friday night, came in to pitch the final two innings and gave up just one hit to pick up the win. Murray (4-2), who came into the game with a miniscule 0.86 ERA, was credited with the loss after allowing one run on two hits, while striking out four, in 2 2/3 innings of work.
Martin went 2-3 on the day for UNCG (24-17, 13-7 SoCon) with an RBI and run scored and Eric Brindle had a 3-5 performance with an RBI. Leadoff hitter Hein went 1-2 after being hit by a pitch twice, drawing a walk and scoring three runs.
Victor Roache continued his torrid pace this season for the Eagles (25-18, 13-7 SoCon) as he went 3-6 with two home runs and three RBI. Eric Phillips pushed his season batting average to an amazing .430 for Georgia Southern as he went 4-6 with a run scored.
Similar to Friday night, Georgia Southern struck with a run in the first inning to take the early lead. With runners on first and second, the Eagles drew back-to-back walks to score the first run of the game and take a 1-0 lead.
Also just like Friday, UNCG answered with a run in the bottom half of the first inning. Hein led off with a single to right field and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Martin. Trevor Edwards then hit a double to right field to score Hein and tie it at one.
The UNCG didn't last for long as Roache hit his nations-best 21st home run of the season to lead off the third inning and give the Eagles a 2-1 lead.
Once again, the Spartans had an answer in the home half of the inning to take the lead. Martin led off with a walk and then Edwards followed by being hit by a pitch. After a strikeout, Chris Barker was hit by another pitch to load the bases. Brindle then singled through the right side to score Martin and Ray Crawford followed with a fielder's choice to score Edwards and make it 3-2. UNCG added another run on a single up the middle by pinch hitter Joe Hager to give the Spartans a 4-2 lead.
Roache and the Eagles were able to tie it up immediately in the top of the fourth when he hit his 22nd home run of the season, this time a two-run blast to dead center, to tie the game at four.
The seesaw battle continued in the home half of the fourth when Hein was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. After Martin advanced him to second on another sacrifice bunt, Drew Gehringer singled to left field to score Hein and give UNCG the lead back at 5-4.
The Eagles took advantage of a Spartan miscue in the top of the fifth to retake the lead once again. With runners on first and second, Tom Richardson laid down a sacrifice bunt, but the throw to first went down the right field line to allow one runner to score. Georgia Southern would score another run later in the inning on a squeeze bunt to take a 6-5 lead.
UNCG played some more small ball in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at six. Kris Richards led off the inning with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Hein. Martin then hit an infield single to put runners on first and second. After Edwards drew a walk to load the bases, Gehringer hit a fly ball down the left field line that was just deep enough for Richards to tag up and score from third to tie the game at six.
Neither team was able to push another run across the plate until Martin's double in the 10th inning.
The Spartans will look for the sweep on Sunday in the series finale at 1 p.m.
Elon 8, Davidson 2
ELON, N.C. -- Thomas Girdwood struck out a career-high 10 hitters during a personal-best eight innings to help the Elon Phoenix claim an 8-2 victory over the Davidson Wildcats in game two of a three-game Southern Conference baseball series on Saturday evening. The 10 Ks were the most by an Elon pitcher this season.
Davidson (18-24, 8-17 SoCon) snapped Elon's 19-inning streak of not allowing a run in the second inning when Michael Zeblo's single through the right side plated James Cerbie who had walked and stolen second with two outs.
Elon (29-17, 17-6) evened the score in the bottom half when Garrett Koster ripped a double to right-center on the ninth pitch of an at bat to score Ryan Kinsella who was on first after a fielder's choice.
Harry Austin began the last of the third with an infield single, moved to second on a sac bunt and to third on a fly out. Austin then scored the second Elon run of the night when Sebastian Gomez doubled off the third base bag. The Phoenix took a 3-1 lead as Neal Pritchard lined a 1-1 pitch into center which scored Gomez.
The Elon fifth started with a single from Niko Fraser. A failed pickoff attempt allowed Fraser to race all the way to third before Gomez rapped his second double of the night to make it a 4-1 game. Two batters later, Alex Swim lined a single into center to drive home Gomez to stretch the Phoenix lead to 5-1.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Austin reached on his second infield single of the night and then swiped both second and third. After Eric Serra walked and stole second, Fraser bounced a single back up the middle to plate both Austin and Serra as Elon built a 7-1 advantage. Gomez picked up his third RBI when his infield single scored Fraser from second.
Davidson tacked on a run in the ninth when pinch-hitter J.P Craven's sacrifice fly brought home Sam Payne.
Gidwood improved to 3-4 on the season with the win. Over his eight innings, the senior walked four and scattered three hits while allowing just one run.
Ian Horkley took the loss, falling to 4-4. He surrendered five runs on eight hits in just 4.1 innings.
Gomez ran his hitting streak to seven games, including five consecutive multi-hit outings, by going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and career-high three RBI. Fraser and Austin both posted 2-for-4 nights and each scored twice. Fraser also drove in two.
For Davidson, Zeblo was 1-for-3 with a RBI while Cerbie went 1-for-2 with a run scored.
The Phoenix will look to complete the sweep of the Wildcats during Sunday's 1:30 p.m. game.
Samford 11, Furman 5
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Kevin Putkonen went 4-for-5 and drove in three runs and Samford pounded out a season high 18 hits to defeat Furman, 11-5, in Southern Conference baseball action Saturday evening at Latham Stadium.
The Bulldogs (26-17, 13-9 SoCon) and Paladins (19-26, 9-12 SoCon) conclude the series with a Sunday doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Putkonen helped Samford grab a 2-0 lead in the first inning with an RBI single, singled in another run in a three-run third, doubled in the seventh, and finished off his night with an RBI base hit in a three-run eighth in keying the Bulldogs to their fifth consecutive victory over the Paladins dating back to last year.
Samford built an early 6-0 third inning lead behind starting pitcher Kyle Putkonen (6-2) but saw the Paladins slice the advantage to 6-5 before putting the game away with a three-run eighth and two-run ninth.
Putkonen earned the victory after working 6 1/3 innings and allowing 12 hits, five runs, and two walks. He struck out six.
Samford built its early advantage against Paladin starter and losing pitcher Bobby Lyne (2-4), who surrenderd six runs and nine of the 12 hits he allowed over the first three frames. He shut out the Bulldogs over his final four innings, allowing three hits, before departing after seven innings.
Michael Johnson contributed to Samford's potent attack with three hits, including a two-run home run in the ninth, and three RBI. Saxon Butler and Phillip Ervin also banged out three hits in the contest, as did Brad Moss.
Will Owens paced a 12-hit Furman effort with three hits, including a double.
Butler's RBI double in the first scored Moss to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead, and two batters later Butler made it 2-0 when he sprinted home on Putkonen's bunt single to third base.
Samford scored an unearned run in the second for a 3-0 lead and came back with a three-spot in the third, highlighted by an RBI triple to right field by Ervin, who came home on Putkonen's solid single to right field that made it 6-0.
Furman got off the deck for four runs in the fourth, keyed by a J.B. Jenkins two-run double to left center field.
The Paladins cut it to 6-5 in the seventh on Will Muzika's sacrifice fly but stranded a pair of runners after Grant Sides came on in relief of Tyler Vanderheiden and struck out Alex Abrams to end the threat.
In the the Bulldog eighth Tyler Filliben greeted Paladin relief pitcher Stephen Gary with a leadoff single and advanced to second on a sacrifice and to third on wild pitch before coming home on a Butler single to center field. Gary's troubles continued with a walk and two singles that led to two more runs and a 9-5 Bulldog advantage.
Michael Johnson concluded Samford's onslaught with a two-run blast to right field in the ninth off Paladin reliever Matt Plate.
The Citadel 13, Presbyterian 2
Charleston, S.C. - The Citadel Baseball team scored 13 unanswered runs on Saturday evening as every starter picked up at least one hit in a 13-2 victory over visiting Presbyterian at Riley Park.
After breaking for a week for final exams, The Citadel (17-24) showed little rust as they fell behind in the top of the first, but scored nine runs in the first three innings to take control over Presbyterian (18-24), who lost for the 13th consecutive game.
Senior left-hander Matt Talley (Sumter, S.C.) allowed a leadoff double to Andrew Williams but recovered after a sac bunt pushed Williams to third with a strikeout and what should have been a pop up in foul territory that dropped after defensive indifference by the Bulldog infield. Tony Micklon would reach on an infield single on the next pitch to score Williams for an early 1-0 lead by PC.
Nick Orvin (Moncks Corner, S.C.) and the Bulldogs wasted little time responding. The centerfielder belted his team-leading seventh home run to left center in the bottom of the first off Blue Hose starter Jordan Pace to knot the game at 1-1.
Talley (3-5) would settle down and scatter six hits over 6.0 innings, allowing just the one earned run with a walk and four strikeouts in the win. Meanwhile, Calvin Orth (Jacksonville, Fla.) ripped an RBI single to left field in the second with the bases loaded to score Joe Jackson (Mauldin, S.C.) who leadoff the inning with a walk. A sac fly to right by Orvin would later score Justin Mackert (Cleveland, Ohio), who singled to get on, and give the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead.
The wheels would come completely off for Pace (2-6) and the Blue Hose in the third inning as the Bulldogs batted around. Five consecutive singles, including RBI base hits from Josh Pless (Boiling Springs, S.C.), Orth and Grant Richards(Morrisville, N.C.) would chase Pace from the contest after he went 2.1 innings, allowing eight hits, eight runs and three walks.
New Presbyterian pitcher Chad White would walk Orvin to load the bases with one out. After a sac fly off the bat of Drew DeKerlegand (Pearland, Texas) scored Orth, Matt Simonelli (Orlando, Fla.) cleared the bases with a two-run double to increase the lead to 9-1 after three innings of action.
Talley was able to get out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the sixth when he got Nate Horton to pop up to third base and induced a groundball inning-ending double play by Kyle Galloway. Jeremy Long (Clover, S.C.) closed out the final 3.0 innings for the Bulldogs, allowing just one hit, one run, and a walk while pitching a pair of perfect innings.
The Citadel would strike for three more in the seventh off White when Richards and Orvin singled and came around to score on a two-run triple from DeKerlegand into the right field corner. An RBI groundout by Simonelli would bring in DeKerlegand to make it 12-1. A double by Richards, his third hit of the game, in the eighth would score pinch hitter Legare Jones (Columbia, S.C.) for the 13th run of the game for the Bulldogs off PC reliever Stewart Curry.
"I thought we pitched well and defended extremely well, which was the most pleasing things to see," said head coach Fred Jordan. "We were able to get timely hits to extend the lead and didn't over swing against a starter that had thrown well this year coming in. Talley pitched well, it was a good win for us coming off a week break."
The Blue Hose did manage a run in the top of the ninth when Alex Lofton singled home Aaron Killingsworth. Micklon lead the Presbyterian offense, going 3-for-3 with an RBI. For the Bulldogs, Orvin went 3-for-4 with three runs, a pair of RBI, a walk and a home run. Richards matched his career-high in hits, going 3-for-5 with a pair of runs and two RBI. DeKerlegand tied his career-high with three RBI, while Simonelli set a season-high in RBI with three
The Citadel and Presbyterian conclude their series with a doubleheader on Sunday beginning at noon at Riley Park. Live stats, video and audio will be available along with recap and box score following the action on all new CitadelSports.com.
San Diego State 11, Western Carolina 5
Cullowhee, N.C. - Freshman Adam Martin gave Western Carolina its first of two leads on Saturday afternoon with his first career grand slam home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. However, costly Catamount errors and timely hitting led San Diego State to an 11-5 victory in nonconference action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
The Aztecs scored seven-unanswered runs in the final three innings for the victory.
The final game of the nonconference series is scheduled for Sunday morning with a special 11:00 am start time. WCU is scheduled to start sophomore Preston Hatcher against Bryan Crabb for the Aztecs.
Both starting pitchers worked six and a third innings on the afternoon with SDSU's Cole Swanson (3-1) allowing five earned runs on nine hits with a pair of strikeouts and two walks. Catamount starter Jordan Smith (5-5) fanned six while allowing six runs - only three of which were earned - on seven base hits in suffering the loss.
WCU used five different relievers, three of which recording strikeouts. Andrew Blackwell was in the game the longest, tossing one full inning while allowing three runs on two hits. Aztec reliever Mike Hacadorian struck out four in two and two thirds innings of work to pick up his first save of the season.
Behind a run after the top of the fourth, WCU grabbed the lead with a bang in the bottom of the inning. With two aboard after a single from Matt Johns and Stephen Notaro reaching on a fielder's choice, sophomore Tyler White fought for a nine-pitch walk to load the bases. Martin then belted a 1-2 fast ball over the "Purple Monster" in left field for his fourth home run of the season and the first grand slam of his career.
The lead was short-lived, though, as SDSU plated three runs in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game at four apiece. After a lead-off walk to Cody Slader, an infield throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Evan Potter scooted down the right field line allowing Slader to score from first and put Potter at third. An infield single by Cody Smith allowed the second run of the frame to score with a sacrifice bunt moving Smith to second. Brandon Meredith, who finished 4-for-4, drove in one of his three with a single through the left side to knot the game.
WCU (17-23-1) reclaimed the advantage in the bottom of the fifth as Austin Schultz doubled to left center and was driven in on a RBI single to left field by Ross Heffley. Johns singled up the middle and a wild pitch put two runners in scoring position but the Catamounts were unable to add any insurance runs, leading 5-4 through five complete.
Johns led four Catamounts with multi-hit games posting a 3-for-4 outing. Schultz, Heffley and Attaway all finished 2-for-4 for WCU with Martin driving in a game-high four runs.
In the seventh, San Diego State pushed across four runs to seize control of the game. Two, one-out base hits and a walk loaded the bases for the Aztecs with WCU reliever Andrew Chilcoat getting a fly-ball out to left field for the second out. However, an infield error allowed the inning to continue while also scoring a run. The second marker touched the plate on a wild pitch with Dillon Bryant doubling home the final two runs of the inning.
The Aztecs scored twice in the eighth and once in the ninth to provide the final tally.