Western Carolina 8, No. 23 Clemson 4

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina used a seven-run fourth inning to rally past the Clemson Tigers 8-4 Wednesday evening in nonconference action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. WCU won its ninth-straight home game this season, and the 12th-consecutive dating back to the end of last season.

Junior transfer Jon Nadale (2-0) pitched four scoreless relief innings, only allowing two hits to get the win for the Catamounts. Sophomore Luke Gragg went 3-for-4, igniting the seven run inning with a pinch hit single and later driving in two runs on a second hit in the frame. Senior Ross Heffley finished 2-for-4 with two RBI on a two-run home run, his second of the season.

Trailing 4-1 after three innings, Gragg started the Catamount rally with a single to left center followed by a walk to Dykota Spiess. With two aboard, sophomore catcher Adam Martin laced a full-count double to the fence in right center, scoring both runners to close the deficit back to one, 4-3. Two batters later, Martin touched home with the game-tying run, chasing Tiger starter Daniel Gossett after three and a third innings pitched.

Reliever David Haselden (1-1), who took the loss for the Tigers, plunked Tyler White to rekindle the WCU rally with Heffley driving a full-count pitch out to left field to push the Catamounts ahead for good, 6-4.

A pair of singles by Jacob Hoyle and Cody Jones sandwiched around a ground out for the second of the inning put two on as Gragg came to the plate for a second time. The Moravian Falls, N.C., native plated the two base runners with his second hit of the frame, a single to left to provide the 8-4 margin.

WCU's pitching staff did the rest as Nadale retired 11-consecutive Tiger hitters after coming on in the top of the fourth inning. His string was halted by a single to left center by Garrett Boulware. A walk issued to Thomas Brittle put two on for Clemson when Steve Wilkerson lifted one of his three hits on the day to left field for a single. However, the WCU left fielder, Spiess, gunned Boulware down at the plate to end the inning and Tiger threat.

After the play at the dish, Clemson only had one base runner the final two innings as reliever Jeremy Sluder issued a walk in an inning of relief work. Junior Preston Hatcher shut the door in the ninth, fanning one in an inning of action out of the bullpen.

All told, Western Carolina (13-4) pitchers collectively held the heart of the Tiger's line-up - batters No. 3 through No. 7 - to just one hit on the day.

Five Catamounts posted multiple hits in the win as WCU hung 14 on the scoreboard. Classmates Gragg and Jones both had three hits while White, Heffley and Hoyle recorded two hits each. Martin drove in two on his fifth double of the season.

Despite the hitting display, the Catamounts stranded 13 runners on base in the victory.

Haselden took the loss after only recording a third of an inning in relief of freshman Daniel Gossett, who was making his first career start. Gossett threw three and a third, allowing four runs on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts. His wild pitch that allowed the game-tying run to score ended his day. Hasleden faced six batters, surrendering four earned runs on four hits with a strikeout.

The Tiger bullpen in the form of Scott Firth and Jonathan Meyer worked the final four and a third scoreless, scattering four WCU hits while issuing three walks.

Western Carolina opened the scoring in the top of the first inning as Aaron Attaway drove the first pitch of his at bat to right field ahead of White who moved runners to the corners with a single down the right field line. The rally appeared to be in jeopardy as Heffley lined into a double-play at short, but Hoyle tallied his 28th RBI of the season on a single to left center, plating Attaway and giving the Catamounts the 1-0 lead through one.

In the top half of the second, Clemson (6-8) responded as Phil Pohl singled to left center and later moved to third on an infield error. First baseman Jon McGibbon drove him home on a ground out to second, knotting the game at one after two frames.

The Tigers took advantage of three hits and three WCU errors in the top of the third to push across three runs to take the 4-1 lead in the game. Brittle started the rally with an infield bunt single, taking second on a throwing error on the putout attempt. Wilkerson then delivered a single up the middle to plate the go-ahead run. Another infield bunt single by Jason Stolz put two on when Richie Shaffer flew out to right, advancing Wilkerson to third. However, a throwing error on the relay back into the infield allowed Wilkerson to scamper home with Shaffer moving to second and later third base. Pohl then lifted a sacrifice fly to center to plate the third run of the inning.

Western Carolina travels to Jacksonville, Fla., this weekend to take on the Dolphins of Jacksonville for a two-game series before playing Fairfield on Sunday afternoon. All three games will be held at John Sessions Stadium. The Catamounts and Dolphins, who last met in the 2007 NCAA Chapel Hill Regional, will play Friday and Saturday night at 6:30 pm, while WCU plays the Stags of Fairfield at 1:00 pm on Sunday afternoon.

 

Elon 5, North Carolina A&T 4

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The Elon Phoenix baseball team battled back from an early deficit to claim a 5-4 victory over the North Carolina A&T Aggies at War Memorial Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. The win gave Elon (11-6) a sweep of the season series with A&T (6-12).

Trailing 3-2 in the top of the sixth inning, Elon rallied for three runs to take a 5-2 lead that it would never relinquish. Joey Tomko got things started with a single to left before Sebastian Gomez delivered a one-out, pinch-hit double to put two aboard. After Niko Fraser was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Alex Swim hit a two-out grounder to short that was bobbled allowing Tomko to score to make it 3-3. Garrett Koster followed with a walk on the eighth pitch of his at bat to force home Gomez with the go-ahead run. A wild pitch would then allow Fraser to race in with the final Phoenix marker.

The Phoenix fell behind 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning when Marquis Riley doubled home Andre McKoy and then scored on a Luke Tendler ground out.

Elon answered in the top of the second with two runs of its own. Koster led off with a walk and went to second on a Ryan Kinsella single. After Koster swiped third with one out, Tomko rapped the first of his three hits on the day to drive home Koster. Jake Luce's bunt single loaded the bases ahead of a walk to Chris Bresnahan that forced home Kinsella with the tying run.

A&T moved back in front, 3-2, in the last of the second on when Riley drew a bases-loaded walk.

The Aggies made it a 5-4 game in the seventh on a Riley ground out.

Andrew MacDonald (2-0) earned the win with 3.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. He struck out three and gave up just one hit. He was followed by Jordan Darnell, Ryan Pennell, Michael Elefante and Nate Young. That quartet combined to give up one unearned run on four hits in four innings. Young picked up his second save of the campaign.

Tyler Boone (2-2) was tagged with the loss after giving up three unearned runs on four hits in three frames of relief work.

Tomko (3-for-5, one run, one RBI) and Koster (2-for-2, one run, one RBI, two stolen bases) both had multi-hit outings for the Phoenix. Swim picked up a hit in his final at bat of the day to run his hitting streak to 10 games.

Elon will return to Southern Conference play this weekend as the Phoenix visits Davidson. The three-game series gets underway at 7 p.m. on Friday evening.

 

The Citadel 9, Winthrop 2

Charleston, S.C. - Justin Mackert and Bo Thompson each recorded career-highs with four hits as The Citadel rolled over Winthrop 9-2 in non-conference action Wednesday evening at Riley Park. The Bulldogs even their overall record at 9-9 and resume Southern Conference play this weekend in Boone, N.C. against Appalachian State.

Winthrop mustered the first offense in the game, scoring a single run in the second on a RBI single down the left-field line by Patrick Gamblin. From that point on, the game belongs to the Bulldogs' offense.

The Bulldogs knotted the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second. Mackert led off the frame with a single to third and Thompson followed with a single to right center, putting runners at the corners. A sacrifice fly to right by Tyler Griffin plated Mackert for The Citadel's first run.

A four-run third inning by the Bulldogs opened a 5-1 lead and put The Citadel ahead for good. Mason Davis led off the inning with a single to right center and after a fielder's choice by Nick Orvin to second and a throwing error by the Winthrop second baseman, the Bulldogs had runners at first and second with one out. Mackert ripped a RBI double down the left-field line to score Davis and Thompson followed with a two-run single to center to clear the bases. After the second out was recorded, Drew DeKerlegand hit an infield single, moving Thompson to second, and Grant Richards lined a RBI single up the middle to plate Thompson for the 5-1 lead.

The Citadel added another run in the fifth on a RBI single by Thompson that plated Mackert, who singled to open the frame.

After Winthrop scored another run in the top of the sixth, to cut The Citadel's lead to 6-2, the Bulldogs added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to close the scorebook and seal the victory. Bailey Rush opened the sixth with a pinch-hit single and was sacrificed over to second on a bunt by Davis. Joe Jackson drilled a RBI triple to right center to score Rush easily from second and a sacrifice fly to left by Orvin plated Jackson. Mackert doubled to left to put on another base runner for the Bulldogs and Thompson promptly drove him in with a RBI single up the middle, his fourth RBI of the game, matching a career-high.

Mackert scored four times on the evening, in addition to his four hits, that increased his hitting streak to 11 games. The senior has also reached base safely in all 16 games this season. James Reeves picked up the win in relief of starter TJ Clarkson. Reeves tossed two perfect innings with two strikeouts, while Clarkson allowed one run on three hits in two innings.

 

Furman 10, USC Upstate 7

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Chris Ohmstede went 3-for-4, homered, and drove in four runs to help Furman overcome a 6-0 deficit on the way to posting a 10-7 victory over USC Upstate in Wednesday evening baseball action at Latham Stadium.

The victory improved Furman to 10-8 on the season and earned the Paladins the season split with USC Upstate, which slipped to 12-3 with the loss.

Ohmstede, a freshman infielder making only his fourth collegiate start, belted a three-run round tripper in the second inning to cut the Spartans' lead to 6-3, and his RBI single in the fifth made it a 6-5 game.

Will Miller's two-run home run in the sixth, part of a 2-for-5, three-RBI performance, gave the Paladins an 8-7 lead, and Furman tacked on a insurance runs in the seventh and eighth inning to complete the comeback.

The Paladins, who out-hit the Spartans 12-9, also got three hits from Alex Abrams, and Hunter Burton went 2-for-2 and scored three runs.

Furman's bullpen helped fuel the comeback by surrendering just one run over the final seven innings.

Junior right-hander Matt Plate, seeing his first action of the spring, worked two scoreless innings, and Jacques de Gruy, Alex Abrams, Matt Solter, and Elliott Warford combined to no-hit the Spartans for four frames.

de Gruy (1-0), who pitched the sixth, was the beneficiary of Miller's go-ahead, two-run home run, earning the victory, his first as a Paladin.

Warford, meanwhile, was credited with his fourth save after working a perfect ninth.

The loss was charged to Chris Knauff (0-1), who allowed four runs on four hits and two walks in two innings.

Furman starting pitcher Jake Wolff was touched up for four runs in the first, including a three-run home run by Trey Richardson.

USC Upstate added two more in the second, combining two hits with an error, to stretch its advantage to 6-0.

The Spartans, however, saw their bats quieted considerably thereafter, as they tallied just one run on three hits the rest of the way.

Furman opens a three-game Southern Conference series at Samford on Friday. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. All three Furman-Samford games will be webcast through Stretch Audio at www.furmanpaladins.com and also available to fans in the stadium via local transmitter 105.9 FM or the nearest available frequency. Dan Scott, the "Voice of the Paladins" will deliver the play-by-play action.

 

No. 3 South Carolina 6, Appalachian State 4

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Daniel Kassouf's (Lexington, N.C./North Davidson) would-be game-tying home run was hauled in at the wall in the top of the ninth inning and No. 3 South Carolina edged Appalachian State University baseball, 6-4, on Wednesday evening at Carolina Stadium.

Behind first-inning home runs from Will Callaway (Greenville, S.C./Eastside) and Tyler Tewell (Charlotte, N.C./Butler), Appalachian (14-3) jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead but South Carolina (15-1) clawed its way back with a run in the second, two in the fourth and three in the seventh before holding on in the ninth to snap the Mountaineers' 12-game winning streak.

Tyler Zupcic (Charlotte, N.C./Providence) led off the ninth inning with a line-drive single into center field. Zupcic moved to second on a Callaway groundout to bring Kassouf, Appalachian's leader with five home runs, to the plate with one out. Kassouf crushed the first pitch from South Carolina closer Evan Beal towards left center field for what looked like it might have been a game-tying two-run homer. However, USC center fielder Evan Marzilli made a fabulous running catch at the wall for the second out of the inning then turned and fired the ball back into the infield to easily double up Zupcic at second base for a game-ending double play.

The base-running error at the end of the ballgame was one of several miscues for Appalachian in the heartbreaking loss. In addition to going nearly eight full innings without a baserunner, ASU also issued 10 walks, made three errors and extended a couple of USC innings by failing to turn what likely could have been double plays.

Despite the sloppy play, the Mountaineers more than held their own against the two-time-defending national champions. Appalachian burst out of the gates with back-to-back singles to lead off the game from Hector Crespo (Miami, Fla./Florida Christian) and Zupcic before Callaway drove a 1-0 pitch from USC starter Jordan Montgomery into the ASU bullpen in left center field to give the Mountaineers a 3-0 lead before most of the 7,278 fans in attendance had even settled into their seats. In fact, before the Gamecocks had even recorded an out, ASU became the first team besides Clemson to score more than two runs against South Carolina all season.

Two batters later, Tewell made it 4-0 with a mammoth solo shot to right. However, that would be the last baserunner the Mountaineers would have until Zupcic's leadoff single in the ninth, as four Gamecock pitchers combined to retire 23-straight ASU batters.

While South Carolina kept the Apps' bats at bay, USC slowly chipped away at the early deficit and took its first lead of the game on Marzilli's three-run double in the seventh. Marzilli was the Gamecocks' hero on the evening, finishing 2-for-5 with four RBI to go along with the game-saving defensive play in the ninth.

Zupcic had two of ASU's five hits to extend his hitting streak to 10 games, the Mountaineers' longest of the season. Callaway's homer was his first of the season while Tewell's was his second.

Tyler Webb (2-0) worked 1.2 perfect innings out of the bullpen to earn the win for USC while Chad Farmer (Evans, Ga./Greenbrier) was tagged with the loss for ASU to even his record at 1-1.

After splitting mid-week contests at Duke and South Carolina, Appalachian returns home this weekend for a three-game Southern Conference series versus perennial league power The Citadel. Game times are set for 3 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at ASU's Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.

 

Alabama 6, Samford 5

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.-The Samford baseball team surrendered five runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to squander a four-run lead in a 6-5 loss at Alabama Wednesday evening at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

Samford led, 5-1, heading to the bottom of the ninth inning. Lex Rutledge came in to pitch for the Bulldogs to start the bottom of the ninth. Brett Booth and Jon Kelton got things started for Alabama with back-to-back singles. A.J. Cole then walked to load the bases for the Crimson Tide.

Alabama's Taylor Dugas was hit by a pitch to bring in Booth for Alabama's first run of the inning. Austen Smith then walked to score Kelton to cut the Samford lead to 5-3. Gil Walker then replaced Rutledge on the mound for Samford. Jared Reaves then reached on a Samford error, bringing in Cole to make the score 5-4.

Josh Rosencrans then reached on a fielder's choice to drive in Dugas to tie the score. The game-winning run scored when Ben Moore reached on a fielder's choice to drive in pinch-runner Andrew Miller.

Rutledge (0-1) took the loss on the mound for Samford. He surrendered five runs and walked two batters without recording an out.

Phillip Ervin led Samford at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles and an RBI. C.K. Irby went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Brandon Miller also homered, his eighth of the season, in a 1-for-4 performance.

Alabama's Chazz Otwell (1-0) pitched 2.0 innings, allowing one run to earn the win. For Alabama at the plate, Dugas drove in two runs in a 1-for-3 performance. Smith, Reaves, Rosencrans and Moore also drove in a run each for the Crimson Tide.

Samford jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the top of the first inning. Zeth Stone walked to lead off the inning and then moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Brad Moss. With two outs in the inning, Miller hit a home run to right field for the first two runs of the game. After a double by Ervin, Irby then singled through the left side of the infield to drive in Ervin for a 3-0 Samford lead.

Alabama plated one unearned run in the bottom of the third inning to cut the Samford lead to 3-1. Booth reached base on a Samford error to lead off the inning. With two outs in the inning, Dugas singled to right field to drive in Booth to pull Alabama to within two runs.

Samford added a run in the top of the sixth inning to push its lead to 4-1. Ervin doubled with one out to get things started. Irby then doubled to drive in Ervin for a three-run Samford lead.

The Bulldogs plated another run in the top of the eighth inning. Ervin hit a solo home run to left field to give Samford a 5-1 lead.

Samford will return to action on Friday when the Bulldogs open a three-game Southern Conference series with Furman at Joe Lee Griffin Field. The teams will play Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.

 

Coastal Carolina 5, College of Charleston 1

CONWAY, S.C. - Coastal Carolina allowed just four hits while tallying 10 of their own to capture a 5-1 win in the in-state rivalry matchup.

With the win, the Chanticleers improved to 9-6 on the season while College of Charleston moved to 12-5.

CCU starter Javier Reynoso (2-0) was credited with the victory despite pitching only 3.2 innings due to a pitch count. CofC starter Ryan West (2-1) picked up his first loss of the season while going six innings and giving up four runs and striking out seven.

Junior Cody Martin scored the lone run for CofC, while Bradley Goodson picked up the RBI. Senior Marty Gantt extended his reached base streak to 13 games with a single in the first inning.

Coastal's Justin Creel slapped two hits and picked up two RBIs to lead the Chanticleers.

The Chanticleers put together a three-run second inning to strike first in the game. Tucker Frawley hit a lead-off single, advanced to second on a passed ball and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. After Brian Pruett was hit by a pitch, the Chanticleers put together a pair of two-out hits, the second by Justin Creel, to clear the bases and lead 3-0.

Coastal tacked on another run in the bottom of the third after a single from Alex Buccilli and a steal and a wild pitch advanced him to third. He scored on a throw to second that attempted to get Ted Blackman for the third out, but was slightly late.

West settled in after the third inning, retiring seven batters in a row and finishing with seven strikeouts for the game, just one shy of his career high.

The Cougars got one run back in the seventh inning with leadoff singles from Martin and Ryan Welke. A sacrifice fly from Goodson scored Martin from third, but that was all the Cougars could produce in the inning.

Coastal Carolina added one more run in the bottom of the eighth inning to make the final margin of 5-1.

College of Charleston will host Wofford for a conference weekend set, beginning on Friday, March 16 at 6 p.m.

 

East Tennessee State 5, Wofford 3

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - East Tennessee State scored three runs in the first two innings to get past Wofford, 5-3, Wednesday evening at Russell C. King Field.

The Buccaneers (9-6) plated two runs in the top of the first with two outs after a blast over the left field wall by Dylan Pratt. Wofford (8-9) responded in the bottom half of the inning, as a sacrifice fly to deep left field scored James Foster from third base, cutting ETSU's lead to 2-1.

ETSU tacked on another run in the top of the second when Chris Riopedre scored from third following a throwing error by David Roney in an attempt to catch Cory Betterson stealing second base. The Buccaneers padded their lead, adding runs in the top of the fifth and ninth innings to take a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth.

Wofford attempted a comeback, cutting the lead to 5-3 as David Roney hit a solo home run over the right field wall to lead off the frame. The following batter, Taylor Rozier, reached base, but the Terriers were unable to complete the rally.

Logan Rice (1-0) earned the win for ETSU, throwing 2.0 innings with no runs allowed, two hits, and one strikeout. Starter Will Carter pitched 3.0 innings, allowing two runs with two hits and three strikeouts. Kerry Doane picked up his third save of the year, hurling the last inning, allowing one run off of one hit and one strikeout.

Mason Bradley (0-1) took the loss for the Terriers, throwing 5.0 innings with three earned runs, six hits and seven strikeouts.

David Roney paced the Terriers offensively, going 3-for-4 with a solo home run. Also picking up multiple hits were James Foster (2 -for-4) and Josh Hyman (2-for-4, 1 RBI). Kerry Doane (2-for-4), Mason Hershey (2-for-4) and Matthew Scruggs (2-for-5) each led ESTU.

The Terriers return to SoCon play this weekend, traveling to College of Charleston for a three-game series. The first game of the series is slated for a 6:00 p.m. first pitch on Friday evening.