Western Carolina 4, Samford 3 ( 12 inn.)

Cullowhee, N.C. - Freshman Cody Jones delivered a walk-off, RBI single through the right side of the infield in the home half of the 12th inning to score classmate Adam Martin from second base as Western Carolina rallied from a 3-0 deficit to take the Southern Conference series opener over Samford, 4-3, Friday night at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.

WCU's bullpen held the Bulldogs scoreless over the final six and two-thirds innings, limiting Samford to one base hit - a lead-off double in the seventh inning by Saxon Butler - that enabled the Catamounts to battle back offensively for the extra inning victory.

Game two of the three-game series is set for 1:00 pm on Saturday afternoon. Fans can follow all of the action with live GameTracker online atwww.CatamountSports.com.

Martin opened the third extra frame with a single to third base where he was sacrificed to second by senior Matt Johns. Samford intentionally walked Tyler White to put two aboard with one out when Jones drove an 0-1 pitch through the gap on the right side of the Samford infield with Martin rumbling home from second as right fielder Brandon Miller was unable to cleanly pick the rolling ball in right field for a play at home plate.

Senior Brandon Johnson (4-3) picked up the win in relief, tossing a season-long four innings of hitless, scoreless relief. The preseason All-SoCon reliever struck out two against a pair of walks while managing to strand three Bulldog base runners.

WCU starter Matt Benedict factored in a no-decision after tossing five and a third, allowing three runs on seven hits with a trio of strikeouts against three walks. Morgan McKinney tossed a third of an inning with Jeremy Sluder working one full frame with a walk and a strikeout. Vance Chavis walked one to set up Andrew Chilcoat who fanned two in an inning and a third of hitless, scoreless relief to extend the game for Johnson.

Samford (20-12, 8-5 SoCon) jumped out to a three-run lead through the first three frames, plating a pair of runs in the top of the first on three-consecutive base hits including RBI doubles by both Phillip Ervin and Butler. In the third inning, Miller homered over the fence in left centerfield as the Bulldogs jumped out, 3-0.

The Catamounts scratched the scoreboard for the first of its four-unanswered runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Johns drew a one-out walk and then stole both second and third base ahead of classmate Stephen Notaro who drove him in on a fielder's choice.

Two innings later, freshman Aaron Attaway drove home White to pull the Catamounts to within a run, 3-2, with Ross Heffley belting a two-out, game-tying home run to left center in the bottom of the seventh, setting up the extra inning heroics.

Heffley was joined by Martin and Cameron Dullnig with multi-hits, both tallying two base hits in the win while White was 1-for-3 with three walks including two extra-inning intentional free passes.

Samford relief pitcher Andrew Jones (0-2) took the loss, surrendering the game-winning run on four hits in three and a third innings. Jones also struck out two with two walks. Starter Lex Rutledge pitched the opening five and two thirds and was touched up for two runs on seven hits with four walks against four strikeouts in the no-decision.

The two teams combined to strand 26 base runners in the 12-inning affair as the Bulldogs left 14 on base and WCU was unable to plate a dozen runners including seven from the seventh-inning on. The Catamounts left a runner at second in the eighth inning and had runners at second and third in the 10th but were unable to score the go-ahead run. Both pitching staffs managed 20 combined strikeouts including 11 by the Bulldogs and nine by Catamount hurlers.

 

Furman 3, Appalachian State 2

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Paul Nitto delivered a bases loaded single in the bottom of the ninth inning to complete a three-run rally and give Furman a 3-2 victory over Appalachian State in the opening game of three-game Southern Conference series Friday evening at Latham Stadium.

The win was the third straight for Furman (16-15, 7-5 SoCon) and sixth SoCon triumph in the last seven league games for the Paladins.

Appalachian State (16-15, 4-9 SoCon) had its three-game league winning streak halted with the loss.

Furman, which trailed 2-0 heading into the bottom of the ninth, greeted Appalachian State closer Taylor Miller with back to back singles by Aaron Thompkins and Reese Wade. Miller then hit Furman's Will Miller to load the bases, and Alex Abrams followed with a two-run single to left center field to drive home Thompkins and pinch runner Heath Burton to tie the game at 2-2.

Miller then intentionally walked Will Muzika to again load the bases with no outs, and Nitto leveled off on a two-ball, two-strike offering from Miller into right center field to drive home Will Miller for the game winner.

Furman's ninth inning rally earned the victory for Drake Browne (1-1), who came on in the seventh to get the final out before pitching a scoreless eighth.

Miller (1-1) took the loss after allowing the three runs in the ninth on four hits. He did not record an out.

The contest proved to be a pitchers' duel with Furman's Bobby Lyne and Appalachian State's Ryan Arrowood throwing shutout ball for the first seven innings.

Arrowood, who scattered five hits and struck out nine over 6 2/3 innings, loaded the bases in the fourth with no outs before rallying to strike out the side. The junior right-hander stymied Furman again an inning later after the Paladins used an error, a double, and walk to juice the bases with one out, only to have Arrowood fan Muzika and Nitto to end the threat.

Lyne worked 7 2/3 innings before finally yielding a pair of two-out runs in the eighth. Lawrence Pardo got ASU going with a 12-pitch at bat before drawing a base on balls, halting a string of 12 consecutive batters retired by Lyne. Hector Crespo followed with a single to put runners at first and third, and Trey Holmes broke the scoreless tie with a solid single up the middle to plate pinch runner Will Callaway for a 1-0 lead. Crespo came home on a wild pitch to make it 2-0.

The Paladins, who stranded 13 runners over the first eight innings, out-hit Appalachian State 11-5 and played errorless ball.

Owens, Thompkins, Muzika, and Fondu paced Furmanwith two hits apiece.

Crespo had two of ASU's fived hits.

Saturday's game is set for 4:00 p.m.

 

The Citadel 6, College of Charleston 2

Charleston, S.C. - Matt Talley threw his second consecutive complete game and Joe Jackson tied a career high in hits and RBI to lead The Citadel past College of Charleston, 6-2, on Friday night in front of 946 fans at Riley Park.

Talley (Sumter, S.C.) went the distance for the second straight week, scattering nine hits, allowing two runs without walking a batter and struck out three. The win marks the 20th of his career as he hurled his fourth career complete game. He also picked up his 200th career strikeout when he fanned Rob Kral in the top of the sixth inning.

"We played well in all three phases of the game tonight," said Talley. "It's always nice to save your bullpen so I was just trying to go out there and keep one of the best hitting teams in the country off balance. Grant Richards really caught a great game and the defense made some outstanding plays behind me."

The win, which is the first on a Friday night since the Bulldogs blanked Appalachian State on March 4, 4-0, snaps a season-high five game skid for The Citadel (11-19, 6-10) and ended College of Charleston's (20-10, 6-4) five-game win streak.

The Cougars struck first as Rob Kral singled and came around to score when Matt Leeds sent a shallow ball into centerfield that no Bulldog could get to for a quick 1-0 lead off Talley (2-3). The Bulldogs responded in the bottom of the frame off Charleston starter David Peterson when Nick Orvin (Moncks Corner, S.C.) andDrew DeKerlegand (Pearland, Texas) led off with base hits. After a walk to Matt Simonelli (Orlando, Fla.), William Ladd (Winnsboro, S.C.) then reached on a groundout, erasing Simonelli on the play, but allowing Orvin to score to tie the game. Joe Jackson (Mauldin, S.C.) followed with an RBI single to right to score DeKerlegand to put the Bulldogs in front, 2-1.

The Citadel would take advantage of two Cougar errors in the third as Simonelli reached on a fielding error by second baseman Jesse Mesa. A single by Ladd would put runners on the corners and Jackson delivered an RBI single up the middle to plate Simonelli. Ladd would come around to score when he and Jackson advanced on a double steal and Kral's attempt to get Ladd at third sailed into left field to make it 4-1.

In the seventh, The Citadel would get a pair of insurance runs as Orvin walked and moved to second on a sac bunt by DeKerlegand. Ladd then singled up the middle as Orvin rounded third and was caught in a run down, but he evaded the tag by the Cougar infield to score as Ladd moved all the way to third on the play. Jackson then roped an RBI single, his third of the game, through the right side to make the score 6-1.

"It felt great to put an entire game together tonight," said Jackson who tied his career high in hits and RBI on the evening. "Our situational hitting was exception tonight. h\Hopefully it will get us out of the funk we have been."

College of Charleston would threaten in the ninth as Leeds led off with a single and scored on an RBI double into the corner in right by Daniel Aldrich to cut the lead to 6-2, but Talley got a pop up and a groundout to finish out the game and preserve the win for the Bulldogs.

"Talley pitched outstanding for us tonight," said Bulldogs Head Coach Fred Jordan. "He pitched both sides of the plate and really challenged the strike zone all night long. We got some timely hits and made some nice plays defensively. Hopefully we can carry it into tomorrow."

Jackson paced the Bulldogs, going 3-for-4 with three RBI while Ladd went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs and an RBI. Kral, Aldrich and Leeds all two hits apiece to lead the Cougars. Peterson (4-3) took the loss, going 7.0 innings, allowing seven hits, six runs (four earned), three walks and struck out two.

The Citadel and College of Charleston meet for game two on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Riley Park. Live audio, video and stats will be available.

 

UNCG 8, Davidson 5

DAVIDSON, N.C. - After digging out of a 5-0 hole, the Davidson Wildcats had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth, but Tyler Hollstegge got a one-pitch save as UNCG took the SoCon series opener, 8-5, Friday night at Wilson Field.

After four scoreless innings, UNCG (17-11, 9-4 SoCon) put together four two-out hits to open a 5-0 lead in the fifth. Davidson (14-15, 6-9 SoCon) clawed back with a three-run sixth to cut the Spartans' lead in half and, after adding two more in the ninth, sent the tying run to the plate.

Trailing 8-3, pinch hitter Jack McLindon and sophomore shortstop Michael Zeblo drew back-to-back, one-out walks, and senior right fielder Sam Payne plated the Wildcats' fourth run of the game with base hit to right. Freshman left fielderForrest Brandt went up the middle to drive in Zeblo and cut Greensboro's lead to 8-5. But with junior first baseman Drew Gadaire, who batted 3-for-5 to once again lead the Wildcat offense, standing in, Hollstegge took over for Jarrett Miller and induced a fielder's choice groundout with one pitch to end the Wildcat rally.

Junior LHP Chris Lamb (L, 1-4) took the loss for Davidson, allowing six runs on seven hits and striking out five in six innings. Lamb scattered two hits through four shutout innings before getting touched up on two outs in the fifth.

Senior RHP Warren Slack (W, 4-1) earned the win, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and striking out seven in 5 1/3.

Greensboro finished with 13 hits, led by Eric Brindle, who was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate. Ray Crawford (2-for-4, 2 RBI) hit a pair of solo home runs, and Chris Barker (2-for-5) and Thomas Troelstrup (2-for-5, 3 RBI) also had two hits for the Spartans.

The Wildcats had eight hits, led by Gadaire (3-for-5), Brandt (2-for-5, 2 RBI) and Payne (2-for-4, RBI).

After Lamb got two straight pop outs in the fifth, the Spartans put together four hits and two walks to open a 5-0 lead. Bobby Martin drove in Barker (double), and Andrew Spleth and Troelstrup each had two-RBI hits in the inning.

Crawford led off the sixth with his first solo home run to make it 6-0 in favor of Greensboro, but Davidson got its offense going in the bottom half, scoring three to cut the lead in half. Junior catcher Seth Freeman reached safely on an error by Troelstrup at third base and took second on as he overthrew first. Brandt drove him in with a base hit to straightaway center and moved to third as Gadaire followed with a double. Barna laced another double into right field to score a pair and chase Slack in favor of reliever Zach Furl. After Furl gave up a two-out walk to pinch hitter Will General, Greg Smith got out of the inning with a strikeout to leave two Wildcats on.

Greensboro strung together three hits for a run in the seventh and added its final run in the eighth on Crawford's second leadoff home run to right.

The Wildcats and Spartans will play game two of the series at 2 p.m. tomorrow. Senior RHP Ian Horkley (3-3, 4.01) will take the mound for Davidson against freshman LHP Brandon Browne (0-2, 5.28).

 

Elon 4, Wofford 3 (12 inn.)

ELON, N.C. -- Neal Pritchard moved into the top 10 in Elon's career hits chart in a big way on Friday night. The senior belted a two-out 10-inning homer to tie the game with the Wofford Terriers before his single in the last of the 12th inning lifted the Phoenix to a 4-3 win.

Pritchard now has 203 career hits, tied for 10th in program history with Jim Swenson (1999-2002).

With one away in the fourth, Mac Doyle drew a walk. Wofford (14-17, 2-8 Southern) put runners on the corners thanks to a Konstantine Diamaduros single to right before a bunt single by Josh McKinney got the Terriers on the board.

Elon (20-12, 10-3) evened the score in the last of the fifth as Harry Austin ripped a triple to right after Cyle Rasmus drew a two-out walk.

Clark Wise led off the Wofford sixth with an infield single and took second on a wild pitch before a ground out sent him to third. Doyle's deep fly out to center put the Terriers back on top 2-1 as Wise tagged and scored.

The Phoenix immediately tied it when Sebastian Gomez's two-out single through the left side of the infield scored Pritchard who had doubled and gone to third on a ground out.

The teams went into the 10th inning even at two before Landon Bennett sent the first pitch of the inning over the wall in left that put Wofford back in front, 3-2.

Pritchard knotted the game back up when he drilled a 1-2 pitch deep over the wall in left-center for his fourth homer of the year with two away in the last of the 10th.

After the two teams sat through a weather delay of 1:23 in the middle of the 11th followed by a scoreless bottom half of that frame, Austin led off the bottom of the 12th with an infield single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After Niko Fraser drew a walk, Pritchard lined a 2-2 pitch into center and Austin raced home with the winning run.

John Brebbia (6-0) picked up the win in relief, tossing one scoreless frame and striking out two. Starter Kyle Webb went five innings, allowing one run on three hits while Dylan Clark surrendered two runs on five hits in 4.2 innings. Mitch Conner also hurled 1.1 shutout frames.

Ryan Traylor (2-1) was charged with the loss after he gave up one run on two hits in 1.1 innings. Wofford starter Cash Collins gave up two runs on five hits in 7.1 innings.

Pritchard finished the night 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI. He had a hand in three of Elon's four runs on the night. Austin went 2-for-3 with a run, one RBI and a stolen base.

Wise (2-for-5) and McKinney (2-for-4) both had multi-hit performances for Wofford.

Elon and Wofford will square off again at 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon from Elon's Latham Park.

 

Game One of the Marshall Series Delayed Until Saturday
Eagles take early 1-0 lead in top of first inning

BECKLEY, W.Va. - Rain and lightning in the area delayed the first game of the series between Georgia Southern (18-12) and Marshall (10-17) until Saturday. Games one and two will be played tomorrow starting at 3:05 p.m. The game start was originally delayed until 7:30 p.m. Four Eagle batters went to the plate in the top of the first inning before lightning was spotted in the area. Game one will resume with a runner on second base and two outs in the top of the first inning, and game two will follow shortly after the conclusion of the first game.

Georgia Southern got off to a quick start, scoring a run off an Eric Phillips' (Carrollton, Ga.) single up the middle. Shawn Payne (Stone Mountain, Ga.) smoked the first pitch he saw from Aaron Blair down the left field line for a double. Ben Morgan (Evans, Ga.) dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move him to third base before the Phillips' hit.

The series between Georgia Southern and Marshall will resume tomorrow at 3:05 p.m. and wrap up on Sunday at noon.