UNCG 8, Georgia Southern 3
GREENSBORO, N.C. - UNCG fell into an early 2-0 hole, but rattled off eight unanswered runs behind a complete-game performance from Colby Hyatt to complete the series sweep over Georgia Southern, 8-3, on Sunday afternoon at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Hyatt (7-2) picked up his Southern Conference-tying seventh win of the season for UNCG (25-17, 14-7 SoCon) as he pitched his second complete game of his career. In his nine innings of work, Hyatt allowed only three runs on 10 hits, while striking out three and allowing no walks on 137 pitches.
Georgia Southern (25-19, 13-8 SoCon) starter Joe Lower (0-1) allowed six runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Trevor Edwards had an impressive day as he went 3-4 with two RBI and Andrew Spleth added a 2-3 performance with an RBI and two runs scored. Chris Barker also added a two-run pinch-hit single for the Spartans.
Victor Roache continued his phenomenal season as he went 2-4, including his nation-best 23rd home run of the season. Eric Phillips and Shawn Payne also added a pair of hits and an RBI each.
Hyatt and the Spartans didn't get off to a good start as the Eagles put up a pair of runs in the top of the first. Scooter Williams led off the game with a single and then stole second. He would then move over to third on a groundout and score on another groundout to make it 1-0. Roache then hit a towering shot down the left field line that was just in fair territory to give Georgia Southern a two-run lead.
The Spartans were able to cut that lead in half in the bottom of the first as Ray Quinones drew a leadoff walk. He moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt before Edwards hit a two-out double to right field to make it 2-1.
UNCG was able to knot the game at two in the home half of the second as Cody Walker hit a leadoff single. After a fielder's choice by Cole Harrison put Walker out at second, Spleth hit a double down the left-field line to move Harrison to third. Harrison then scored on an infield single by Thomas Troelstrup to make the score 2-2.
The score would stay that way until UNCG broke the game open with five runs in the bottom of the sixth. Bobby Martin hit a leadoff single and advanced to third on another sacrifice bunt. Edwards then singled to center field to score Martin and give UNCG a 3-2 advantage.
It appeared as if that would be all UNCG would get as Eric Brindle hit into a fielder's choice to make it two outs in the inning. Walker and Harrison drew back-to-back walks to load the bases before Spleth followed with a six-pitch walk to score Brindle and make it 4-2.
Barker then hit his two-run pinch-hit single right back up the middle to score Walker and Harrison. Quinones would draw another walk and Martin would follow with the same to score one more run and make it 7-2.
UNCG would add one more run in the bottom of the eighth when Spleth led off with a double that was just fair down the right field line before later scoring on an RBI single by Quinones.
Georgia Southern would get a run in the top of the ninth when Payne led off with a solo home run to left center, but that would be it as UNCG would win 8-3.
The Spartans won't compete again until next weekend due to exams as they will travel down to College of Charleston for a three-game series between the two teams tied for second in the SoCon.
Elon 8, Davidson 3
ELON, N.C. -- Garrett Koster went 3-for-4 and drove in a career-best four runs as the Elon Phoenix captured its 30th victory of the season with an 8-3 win over the visiting Davidson Wildcats. Elon (30-17, 18-6 Southern Conference) has now won 30 or more games in 12 consecutive seasons.
With Forrest Brandt on first after a fielder's choice in the top of the first, Drew Gadaire hit a two-out double off the wall in left to drive in the first run for the Wildcats (18-25, 8-18).
Alex Swim and Ryan Kinsella put Elon runners on the corners with back-to-back one-out singles in the bottom of the second before Koster ripped the eighth-pitch of his at bat into the gap in right-center to drive home both runners and give the Phoenix a 2-1 lead.
Niko Fraser started the Elon third with a triple to right-center and then raced home on a passed ball to make it a 3-1 game.
After Kinsella walked on four pitches to start the Phoenix fourth, Koster crushed his fifth home run of the season over the batter's eye in center field to stretch its lead to 5-1.
In the fifth, Elon loaded the bases with one away thanks to a Sebastian Gomez single, a Neal Pritchard double and an intentional walk to Swim. Kinsella picked up an easy RBI by walking to force home Gomez with the sixth Phoenix run of the afternoon. Davidson escaped further damage when Jip Richards came on to record a strike out and a fly out to end the inning.
With Harry Austin and Fraser on second and third, Gomez bounced a one-out single through the right side of the drawn in Wildcat defense to plate both runners in the bottom of the sixth.
Coleman Barron singled to start the Davidson seventh before stealing both second and third with one out. The Wildcats made it an 8-2 game when Freeman lifted a sacrifice fly to center.
Davidson trimmed its deficit to 8-3 thanks to doubles from both Gadaire and James Cerbie in the eighth inning.
Dylan Clark (2-3) won for the second straight outing, tossing a career-long seven innings and allowing two runs on five hits. He also struck out a career-best five hitters.
Davidson's Ryan Overcash (2-5) took the loss after being charged with five runs on eight hits in four frames.
Along with Koster, Elon's offensive attack was paced by Fraser (3-for-3, two runs) and Gomez (2-for-5, one run, two RBI). Gomez ran his hitting streak to eight games with the last six contests all producing multi-hit outings for the freshman.
Four Davidson players - Freeman, Gadaire, Cerbie and Barron - all had two-hit games.
Up next for Elon is a Tuesday evening tilt at UNC Wilmington. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
College of Charleston 7, Wofford 5
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - In the final game of the weekend Southern Conference series, the Wofford baseball team was defeated 7-5 by the College of Charleston at Russell C. King Field. The Terriers had an early 4-0 lead, but the Cougars took the lead in the fourth inning. Wofford left eleven runners on base, including a combined five in the seventh and eighth innings.
Wofford is now 19-25 on the season and 6-15 in the Southern Conference. College of Charleston is 30-15 overall and 14-7 in conference play. The Terriers were led by Mac Doyle with three hits and David Roney with two RBIs. The Cougars were led by Rob Kral with three hits, including a home run.
The Terriers loaded the bases with two out in the bottom of the first. A single by David Roney to right field drove in two runs for a 2-0 lead. An infield single by Landon Bennett added a run to take a 3-0 advantage after one inning.
Wofford added a run in the bottom of the second when Mac Doyle hit an RBI double to drive in Alex Lee for a 4-0 lead. The Cougars got on the board in the top of the third with a sacrifice fly by Matt Leeds for a 4-1 game. Jose Rodriguez added a solo home run in the top of the fourth for the Cougars. An RBI single from Marty Gantt cut the lead to 4-3. A single by Rob Kral along with an error tied the game and an RBI single from Matt Leeds gave the Cougars a 5-4 lead in the middle of the fourth.
A walk and single by Clark Wise gave the Terriers runners in scoring position, but both were left on base to end the fourth inning. The Cougars added an unearned run in the top of the fifth to take a 6-4 lead. Both teams were retired in order in the sixth inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Terriers loaded the bases on singles by Mac Doyle and Josh McKinney along with a walk to David Roney. A wild pitch allowed one run to score and a walk to Landon Bennett kept the bases loaded. Wofford left the bases loaded with a 6-5 score at the end of seven.
After the College of Charleston went down in order in the top of eighth, Wofford led off the bottom of the inning with a single by Alex Lee and he moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and was one third with two outs. Mac Doyle reached on a walk, but the Terriers left two on base to end the eighth.
The College of Charleston added a solo homer by Rob Kral in the top of the ninth to take a 7-5 lead. The Terriers were retired in order in the bottom of the ninth to close out the game.
Wofford starter Tom Dolinak (3-5) threw four innings and allowed five runs on eight hits with three strikeouts. Jesse Morris went an inning and allowed one hit and one unearned run. John Cornely went the final four innings and allowed one run on one hit with three strikeouts.
College of Charleston starter Christian Powell (6-1) went six innings and allowed four runs on seven hits with six strikeouts. Kyle Owings went 1.1 innings with three hits and one run allowed and two strikeouts. Jake Zokan picked up one out. Nick Osterman recorded his second save with 1.1 innings on the mound without allowing a hit and two strikeouts.
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.
The Cougars return to action Friday in the first game of a three-game series against UNCG. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Patriots Point.
Furman 5, Samford 3
Samford 3, Furman 2
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Aaron Thompkins homered and scored a pair of runs to power Furman to a 5-3 victory over Samford in a game one of a Southern Conference doubleheader Sunday at Latham Stadium, but the Bulldogs gained the twinbill split and series win with a 3-2 game two verdict, highlighted by Tripp Swann's eighth-inning, pinch-hit RBI single.
Samford is now 27-18 overall and 14-10 in SoCon play while Furman, which snapped an eight-game losing skid with its game one victory, is 20-27 on the campaign and 10-13 in SoCon action.
In the opener the Paladins used RBI singles by Reese Wade and Alex Abrams, a run-scoring sacrifice bunt by J.B. Jenkins, and solo home run by Thompkins -- his first of the season -- off Bulldog starter Charles Basford to plate runs in the first three innings for a 4-0 lead
A two-out Furman fielding error in the Samford fifth led to three unearned runs that sliced the advantage to 4-3.
The Paladins tallied an unearned run of their own in the bottom of the inning after Thompkins reached on a dropped fly to lead off, stole second, and scored on a Paul Nitto single up the middle to make it 5-3.
Furman's preserved its lead in the sixth when Nate Smith came on for Paladin starter Daniel Stallsmiith and struck out Michael Johnson, stranding two runners.
An inning later Furman left fielder Will Owens' leaping, over-the-fence grab on Phillip Ervin's long fly ball with two outs kept it a two-run game.
The Bulldogs put two runners on in the eighth before Dylan Cole got the final two outs to again strand two base runners, and in the ninth Cole worked around a pair of one-out singles by inducing a game ending double play grounder off Ervin's bat.
Wade and Nitto joined Thompkins with two hits apiece for the Paladins, who finished with eight hits.
Led by Saxton Butler's 3-for-5 performance, Samford forged seven hits in the opener.
Stallsmith (4-2) was credited with the victory, working 5 2/3 innings and allowing four runs, none of which was earned, while walking six and recording one strikeout.
The loss was charged to Basford (4-4), who allowed five runs, one of which was unearned, on seven hits over six innings. He fanned six.
The save was Cole's ninth of the season.
In game two Swann stroked a pinch-hit RBI single through the right side of the infield to score Irvin from second base, just ahead of the throw, to break a 2-2 tie and give Samford the 3-2 win.
In the decisive eighth Paladin reliever Jay Friedman retired the first two batters he faced before Ervin walked and advanced to second on a Kevin Putkonen single. At that point Swann, pinch-hitting for Brandon Powell, survived an 0-2 Friedman offering over the outside corner by stroking a 1-2 pitch through the right side to score Ervin.
Bulldog reliever Lex Rutledge worked a perfect eighth before giving way to Andrew Jones, who retired the Paladins in order in the ninth to notch his 10th save of the season and lock up the twinbill sweep for the Bulldogs.
Samford, which trailed 2-0 after six innings, tied the game in the seventh on Tyler Filliben's bases loaded, two-run single that was preceded by a Paladin infield error on an attempted force play at second base.
Furman took a 1-0 lead in the third on Jenkins' one-out RBI triple into the right field corner.
The Paladins made it 2-0 in the fifth on a Will Owens' single to left field that plated Alex Abrams.
C.K. Irby (4-1) was credited with the victory after coming on in the sixth and tossing 1 2/3 innings of scoreless ball.
Friedman (1-2) was charged with the loss after yielding the game deciding run in the eighth.
The Bulldogs produced nine hits in game two, including two by Ervin, who scored two of Samford's three runs, and Filliben, who drove home a pair of the runs as part of a 2-for-4 performance.
Thompkins had two of Furman's six hits in the nightcap.
Furman's next game is May 10 versus Clemson at Fluor Field, with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m.
The Citadel 8, Presbyterian 2
The Citadel 5, Presbyterian 3
Charleston, S.C. - The Citadel Baseball turned seven double plays on Sunday, including five in game one, to sweep Presbyterian in a three-game non-conference set at Riley Park.
The Bulldogs, who had turned just 22 double plays all season, induced Presbyterian into nine double plays in three games over the weekend. The sweep is only the second of the season for The Citadel, who took all three games from Appalachian State on March 4-5.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs got strong pitching all weekend as the staff posted an ERA of 1.67. All three starters put in quality work, going 6.0 innings each and allowing one earned run or less. On the weekend, The Citadel outscored Presbyterian, 26-7, in three games.
The Citadel 8, Presbyterian 2 (Game One)
In game one, The Citadel (18-24) stole a season-high nine bases and turned five double plays to down Presbyterian, 8-2. The Bulldogs would strike first as Josh Pless (Boiling Springs, S.C.) led off the third inning with a double and eventually came around to score on a sac fly from Matt Simonelli (Orlando, Fla.) to make it 1-0.
Presbyterian (18-25) would take advantage of a Bulldog error to tie the game in the fourth when Mack Hite reached on an error at third, moved to second on a base hit and scored on an RBI single from Tony Micklon off Bulldog starter Austin Pritcher (Charleston, S.C.).
The Citadel would take the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth when Joe Jackson (Mauldin, S.C.) led off with his second career triple to right center. After a strikeout, Brad Felder (Bowman, S.C.) walked and looked to be caught in a run down between first and second, but stayed safe at first after Jackson took advantage of the situation and stole home to score the second run of the game. After a walk to Calvin Orth (Jacksonville, Fla.) and a double steal by Felder and Orth, Pless would bring in Felder on a sac fly to right to make it 3-1.
The Blue Hose would cut into the lead in the fifth when Nate Horton doubled, moved to second on a bunt single up the third base line and scored on an error at second base. Felder launched his fifth homer of the season and 17th of his career in the sixth to increase the Bulldogs lead to 5-2 and knock PC starter Buck Bosteller from the game. Bosteller (3-5) went 5.1 innings, allowing seven hits, five runs, four walks and struck out three in the loss.
In the seventh, the Bulldogs would strike for three off the Blue Hose bullpen as Simonelli singled, William Ladd (Winnsboro, S.C.) was hit by a pitch and Jackson walked to load the bases. After a pitching change, Justin Mackert (Cleveland, Ohio) hit a sac fly to deep in the hole at short to plate Simonelli and Orth broke open the game with a ground-rule double to right to plate Ladd and Jackson to make it 8-2.
TJ Clarkson (Coral Springs, Fla.) earned his third save of the season by pitching the final 3.0 innings without allowing a run and scattering three hits with a pair of strikeouts. Simonelli went 3-for-4 to lead the Bulldogs while Felder and Orth each added a pair of RBI. Pritcher (5-3) earned the win, going 6.0 innings, allowing seven hits, two runs (one earned) with no walks and a strikeout.
The Citadel 5, Presbyterian 3 (Game Two)
In the second game, Pless roped a game-winning two-run single into center field in the bottom of the eighth to break a tie ball game and lead The Citadel to the sweep of Presbyterian, 5-3.
"I was just looking for a good pitch to hit and was able to hit a curveball that hung over the plate and take it the other way," said Pless of his game-winning single in the eighth. "Hopefully we can built off a win like that and use it as a springboard for a big week ahead as we get back into conference play."
Mackert led off the eighth inning with a double just inside the right field line and an infield single by Felder would put runners on the corners with no outs and chase Blue Hose starter Steven Richardson from the game. Felder would steal second off new PC reliever Chandler Knox and after a shallow fly out to left by Orth, Pless was able to deliver with a single to center to score Mackert and Felder.
Bryce Hines (Hanahan, S.C) earned the win in relief to improve to 4-3 on the season as he pitched the final 2.1 innings, allowing no hits, no runs, a walk and struck out three. Richardson (4-4) took the loss, allowing 11 hits, five runs, one walk and struck out two in 7.0 innings of work.
The Citadel scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning as Nick Orvin (Moncks Corner, S.C.) and Drew DeKerlegand (Pearland, Texas) led the game off with back-to-back singles. After a groundout by Simonelli moved the runners over, Ladd hit a sac fly to right to score Orvin and Mackert then tripled to right center to bring in DeKerlegand for a quick 2-0 lead.
Justin Russell (Jacksonville, Fla.) started the game for the Bulldogs and worked out of a huge first inning jam as the Blue Hose loaded the bases with no outs on three flairs to the outfield. After a fly out to shallow left, Russell was able to get Horton to ground into one of seven double plays on the day to end the threat. PC was able to cut the lead in half in the third when they started the frame off with a pair of base hits and eventually scored when Horton's groundout scored Hite, who reached on an error at shortstop.
Russell went 6.0 innings, allowing seven hits, one unearned run, two walks and struck out three in the no-decision. The Blue Hose would get to Connor Hitchingham (Jacksonville, Fla.) and the Bulldog bullpen in the seventh inning when Hite singled and moved to third on a double by Brad Zebedis with one out. After inducing a pop up for the second out, Horton lined a base hit up the middle to score Hite and Zebedis to knot the game at 3-3.
DeKerlegand tied his career high in hits, going 3-for-4 with a run while Mackert went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs, an RBI, a triple and a double. Legare Jones (Columbia, S.C.) and Felder had two hits apiece as well. Mack went 3-for-5 with a pair of runs while Horton had all three RBI to lead the Blue Hose.
"Our guys pitched to contact all weekend and we played pretty good defense behind them and that was key today," said head coach Fred Jordan. "It was good for us to win a game like we did in the finale here today. They were able to tie it up and had us on the ropes a little bit, but our guys battled and we got a timely hit to win it when we needed to."
The Citadel continues their nine-game homestand on Wednesday when they host Winthrop at 6 p.m. 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 9
Cullowhee, N.C. - Trailing by two entering what would be the final inning, Western Carolina put the tying run at second base with nobody out, but San Diego State slammed the door, completing the three-game nonconference series sweep with an 11-9, seven-inning victory Sunday afternoon at Childress Field Hennon Stadium.
Due to travel time constraints for the Aztecs, the game was ended at the end of the seventh inning.
In the decisive bottom of the seventh, back-to-back singles by seniors Matt Johns and Stephen Notaro put runners at first and second with Phillip Treadway called upon to pinch run for Notaro. A balk called on SDSU reliever Mitch Bluman advanced both Catamounts to second and third. However, Luke Gragg, who delivered a pinch hit single in the sixth, popped up to third for the first out with Tyler White striking out swinging despite a seven-pitch at bat.
Bluman then got freshman Aaron Attaway to ground out to third on a 1-0 pitch to end the game to pick up his first save of the season.
Reliever Steven Moranda (2-2) scored the victory for SDSU after coming on in the second inning after starter Bryan Crabb issued back-to-back walks to open the bottom of the frame. Moranda walked and struck out three in five innings out of the bullpen, scattering four earned runs on six hits.
For the Catamounts, Taylor Sandefur (1-3) was tagged with the loss after starter Preston Hatcher was chased after two thirds of the first inning. Sandefur worked around four walks with five strikeouts in three and two thirds innings, giving up six runs - only one of which was earned - on six hits. Brandon Johnson was one of four to toss out of the bullpen, throwing the final two and a third with a strikeout.
San Diego State (15-29) jumped ahead in the top of the first inning, plating three runs on two hits before leaving the bases loaded for the first of two occasions on the day. Cody Smith drew a lead-off walk and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Right fielder Brandon Meredith then drove Smith home, doubling to right center on the first pitch of his at bat. With two aboard, Dillon Bryant delivered a two RBI single up the middle for the 3-0 lead, eventually chasing Hatcher.
The Catamounts answered, though, matching the three Aztec runs in the bottom of the first. Freshman Macon Smith beat out an infield bunt single with Ross Heffley singling through the right side. With two aboard, Johns lifted a two RBI double to right center to trim the deficit to one, 3-2. The next batter, Notaro, singled through the right side with Johns racing home from second to knot the game at three apiece.
Five runs for the visitors in the top of the second inning then staked the Aztecs to a lead they would never relinquish. Consecutive singles to open the inning put runners at the corners when an infield error on an attempted double-play allowed one run to score. Then, with the bases loaded following a walk, the Catamounts recorded consecutive outs on a fly ball to right and a strike out that would have ended the inning. But a bases loaded walk drove in the second run with catcher Ben Vasko driving in three on a double to left center to stretch the margin to five, 8-3.
Western Carolina chipped away with two runs in the bottom of the second as a pair of walks and an infield bunt single by Cameron Dullnig loaded the bases. Smith then drew a four-pitch walk to drive in a run with Heffley lifting a sacrifice fly to right to plate a second marker in the frame, trimming the margin to three, 8-5.
The Aztecs added single runs in the top of the fifth and sixth innings to lead 10-5 before a four-spot in the bottom of the sixth shrunk the gap. Gragg opened the rally with a single up the middle before Attaway moved him to third with a one-out single through the left side. Gragg later scampered home on a wild pitch that ricocheted off the brick back stop towards the plate making it a close play. Dullnig then drew a free pass to put two aboard for Smith who belted his first career home run - a two-out, three-run shot over the right field fence to pull WCU to within one, 10-9.
San Diego State added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Chris Wilson to set up the bottom of the inning with the Catamounts threatening but unable to score.
Johns led Western Carolina with a 3-for-4 showing at the plate with a double while Macon Smith was 2-for-3 with four RBI. Heffley likewise was 2-for-3 with an RBI while Notaro finished 2-for-4 in the loss, the fourth-straight for the Catamounts.
For the Aztecs, Cody Smith led three with multi-hit games on a 3-for-4 outing including a double, while Vasko was 2-for-2 with a walk and three RBI, and Pat Colwell finished 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.
San Diego State stranded 10 base runners on the day while WCU left five on base including the two in the seventh inning.
Western Carolina enters a week-long break for final exams before returning to Southern Conference action next weekend in Boone, N.C., against arch-rival Appalachian State. The series will get underway at Smith Stadium on Saturday, May 7 at 6 pm and will continue with 1:00 pm first pitches on Sunday, May 8 and Monday, May 9.