Georgia Southern 8, UNCG 3
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern Baseball team snapped a four-game losing streak and won their first Southern Conference game of the season in the home opener against UNCG. Behind another solid start from Chris Beck (Jefferson, Ga.), the Eagles bounced back from a sweep at Elon with an 8-3 win on Friday night.
Beck (2-2) pitched into the eighth inning for Georgia Southern (8-10, 1-3) and allowed the offense to mount an 8-2 lead before surrendering another run. The junior pitcher tossed 7.2 innings, struck out a season-high 9 batters and worked around 9 hits. He avoided the big inning and scattered the three runs he allowed over three separate frames.
Both teams tallied 10 hits each, but UNCG (10-7, 1-3) stranded 10 base runners in their first road game of the season. Tyler Hollstegge (2-1) recovered from a shaky start, in which he walked two of the first three batters he faced, but was tagged with the loss after allowing four runs - two earned - on five hits in 2.1 innings.
Three Eagles posted multi-hit games including Scooter Williams (Detroit, Mich.), who reached 10 games on his hitting streak. Casey Kicklighter (Jesup, Ga.) snapped out of a 1-for-16 funk with two doubles and drove in Eric Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.), who walked to lead off the seventh, for his first RBI since March 4th. Phillips walked twice but his 18-game hitting streak came to an end after going 0-for-2.
The series opener between the two teams was delayed by two hours and 20 minutes due to lightning strikes in the area. After the delay, Kris Richards jumped on the second pitch he saw and gave UNCG a 1-0 lead with a solo homer over the left field wall. Beck retired six-straight batters and worked around a pair of singles in the third inning to hold the Spartans to just one run over the the first three frames.
Georgia Southern responded with three runs on one hit, two walks and an error. Michael Burruss (Marietta, Ga.) plated a lead off walk of Williams with a double into the right field corner. Stryker Brown (Dalton, Ga.), who went two-for-three with two RBIs at the plate, drove in another run with a sacrifice fly to left.
The Eagles added a single run in the third inning on a single from Brown and tacked on two more runs in the sixth and seventh innings to take a six-run lead. The bottom of the order set the table for a Williams' two-RBI double in the sixth inning. Clint Clark (Newnan, Ga.) drew a full count two-out walk after the first two batters were quickly retired. Brent Pugh (Atlanta, Ga.) punched a ball through the right side to move Clark to second and hustled on Williams' double to get around the tag at home plate for the second run.
UNCG, trailing by three runs going into the fifth inning, cut the lead to two runs with an unearned run. A booted ball by Brown, while trying to field Kirs Richards' single, allowed Christian Wolfe to score from second base. Wolfe doubled to lead off the frame, but Beck got two quick outs and worked around a walk to exit the inning.
After facing just one over the minimum in the next two frames, Beck walked the lead off batter in the eighth inning. Trevor Edwards would eventually come around to score on a two-out single from T.J. Spina to cut the lead to the final score of 8-3. Kyle Rowe (Valdosta, Ga.) worked a perfect ninth inning and struck out two batters to close the book on the Spartans.
The three-game series continues tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and concludes on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Josh Stevenson (Social Circle, Ga.) (0-0, 7.88) takes the mound for his first start of the year and will face Corey Taylor (2-1, 1.77) in game two.
All games can be heard on Boomer 103.7 FM and inside the stadium on 88.1 FM. Audio for all games is also available on the web and subscription video is available for all home games at GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com/Eaglevision.
Furman 3, Samford 2
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-The Samford baseball team dropped a 3-2 decision to Furman in the first game of a three-game Southern Conference series Friday evening at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
With the loss, Samford falls to 11-7 overall and 2-2 in Southern Conference play. Furman improves to 11-8 overall and 1-3 in league play.
For Samford at the plate, Saxon Butler, Tommy Corbin and Austin Allison had two hits each. Zeth Stone and Brandon Miller drove in a run each in the loss for the Bulldogs.
Kyle Putkonen (0-3) pitched 7.1 innings, giving up three runs, only two earned, on seven hits to take the loss on the mound for Samford. Putkonen struck out six batters, while allowing two walks.
For Furman at the plate, Chris Ohmstede went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Will Owens and Taylor Johnson each went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Paladins.
Furman's Bobby Lyne (3-2) pitched 7.0 innings, allowing no runs on six hits and striking out five batters to earn the win on the mound for the Paladins. Elliott Warford pitched the final inning, giving up one run on two hits to earn his fifth save of the season.
Furman jumped on top first with a run in the top of the third inning. Owens doubled down the left-field line to get things started for the Paladins. After advancing to third base on a fly out, Owens scored when Will Muzika reached base on a fielder's choice for a 1-0 Furman lead.
The Paladins added a run in the top of the fourth inning to push their lead to 2-0. Johnson doubled down the right-field line to lead off the inning. Ohmstede later singled to drive in Johnson to give Furman a two-run lead.
Furman plated another run in the top of the eighth inning to make the score 3-0. Alex Abrams singled with one out in the inning to start the rally. Abrams later scored when Ohmstede reached base on an infield single for Furman's third run of the game.
Samford came back with a run in the eighth inning to cut the Furman lead to 3-1. Allison reached base on an error and Stone walked to start the rally. With one out in the inning, Stone advanced to second base and Allison to third on a wild pitch. Butler was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Allison then scored when Miller grounded out for Samford's first run of the game.
The Bulldogs added another run in the ninth inning, but they could get no closer as they eventually fell to Furman, 3-2. With one out in the ninth inning, Corbin singled up the middle to get things started. Kevin Putkonen then reached base on a fielder's choice and Corbin advanced to second base on a Furman error.
Allison then singled to load the bases. Corbin scored from third base when Stone flew out to center field to make the score 3-2. Moss then walked to load the bases with two outs, but the Bulldogs were unable to bring the game-tying run to the plate.
The teams will continue the series with a game Saturday at 2 p.m. The game can be heard locally on WVSU-FM 91.1, or worldwide on the internet at www.samford.edu/wvsu.
College of Charleston 5, Wofford 1
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Cougar senior left-hander Josh Renfro threw a complete game and set a career high with 11 strikeouts as College of Charleston defeated Wofford, 5-1, at Patriots Point.
Renfro (3-1) pitched a complete nine innings for the second time in his career as he picked up his third win of the season. He is the first CofC pitcher to throw a complete game this season. Renfro allowed just four hits and one run and did not walk a batter as he struck out a career-best 11 batters.
With the win, College of Charleston (13-5, 5-2) snapped a two-game losing streak and won their fourth straight conference game. Wofford moved 8-10 on the season and 0-1 in the SoCon. Wofford's Brandon Yarusi (2-1) picked up his first loss of the season after pitching 7.2 innings and striking out eight, while allowing all five runs.
The Terriers jumped on Renfro early, tallying a run just three pitches into the game after a leadoff double by James Foster and a single from Josh Hyman. The Cougars got out of the inning with a double play as Hyman was called for interference for his slide at second base. Renfro only allowed two base runners for the rest of the game.
"I was really proud of how Josh (Renfro) responded after Wofford got that run so quickly," head coach Monte Lee said. "He pitched very well for the rest of the game and our defense did a great job behind him with no errors. Our offense was clutch tonight with some big hits in two-out situations. It was a very good conference victory."
The Cougar offense was powered by two-out RBIs from Rob Harding and Cody Martin in the first and eighth innings. Both players are now tied for the team lead with 18 RBIs.
Senior Marty Gantt went 2-of-4 with two runs to extend his reached base streak to 15 games. Bradley Goodson and Dre Watts also tallied runs as Goodson finished 2-of-4 with an RBI.
After Wofford took its 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Cougars' shortstop Goodson led off the bottom of the inning with a double to left and scored on a double from Gantt to center field. Harding singled in Gantt with two out to give the Cougars a 2-1 advantage.
College of Charleston built a 3-1 lead in the second inning when Watts doubled down the right field line in the first pitch of the frame, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Ryan Welke and scored on a two-out single from Goodson.
CofC added insurance in the eighth inning on a single from Martin to right field to score Gantt and Daniel Aldrich.
The College of Charleston will continue the conference set with Wofford on Saturday at 3 p.m. The Cougars announced a late switch on Friday, moving right-hander Christian Powell to a Sunday start and giving Matt Pegler the start on Saturday.
Appalachian State 10, The Citadel 5
BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University baseball roared back from an early 5-0 deficit to score the game's final 10 runs in a 10-5 triumph over The Citadel on Friday afternoon at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.
With the victory, Appalachian (15-3, 4-0 SoCon) remained perfect both in Southern Conference play and at home (9-0) this season. ASU also snapped a seven-game losing streak at the hands of longtime nemesis The Citadel (8-9, 1-3 SoCon).
Perhaps still feeling some of the effects from Wednesday's heartbreaking 6-4 defeat at No. 3 South Carolina, Appalachian appeared a bit listless in the early stages of Friday's ballgame. The Citadel took advantage of ASU's early doldrums and scored two runs in the first inning and three more in the third to grab a commanding 5-0 lead.
Appalachian began to chip away at the deficit - its largest of the season to date - in the bottom of the third. Daniel Kassouf (Lexington, N.C./North Davidson) opened the Mountaineers' scoring when he lined a two-out single up the middle to bring Tyler Zupcic (Charlotte, N.C./Providence) home from third and, an inning later, Trey Holmes (Rockwell, N.C./East Rowan) made it 5-2 with a two-out RBI single of his own.
The score remained 5-2 until the bottom of the sixth, when Appalachian exploded for three runs to knot the score at 5-5. Noah Holmes (Rockwell, N.C./East Rowan) kickstarted the three-run rally with a leadoff solo home run down the right-field line and Will Callaway (Greenville, S.C./Eastside) provided more two-out magic when he ripped a two-out, two-run double to left field to draw the Mountaineers even.
Preston Troutman (Rockwell, N.C./East Rowan) turned in the game's biggest hit in the seventh inning with a two-run double off the wall in right-center field that gave Appalachian its first lead of the ballgame at 7-5. Back-to-back homers from Kassouf (a two-run blast for his team-leading sixth home run of the season) and Tyler Tewell (Charlotte, N.C./Butler) upped the ASU advantage to 10-5 in the eighth.
The Citadel made it interesting in the top of the ninth when they loaded the bases for center fielder Nick Orvin, who was 4-for-4 with a home run and three RBI to that point. However, Mountaineer closer Nathan Hyatt (Brevard, N.C./Brevard) got Orvin to ground out for the final out of the ballgame. Hyatt needed just two pitches to record his seventh save of the season.
Troutman was the hero in the comeback win. The sophomore, who came into the ballgame hitting just .143 on the season, went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, including the go-ahead two-bagger in the seventh. Kassouf led ASU with three RBI and Callaway finished 3-for-4 with two RBI. Eight of ASU's nine starters contributed to the club's 14-hit outburst.
Ryan Arrowood (Rutherfordton, N.C./R-S Central) struggled early but settled in to hold the Bulldogs scoreless over his final four innings. In all, the right-handed senior allowed five runs on seven hits over seven innings but retired the final eight batters he faced to move to 4-0 on the season.
Orvin had nearly half of The Citadel's 10 hits with his 4-for-5, three-RBI, two-run performance. Bulldog reliever James Reeves (4-2) walked the only two batters he faced to suffer the loss.
The teams continue their three-game SoCon series on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Smith Stadium.
Jacksonville 5, Western Carolina 2
Jacksonville, Fla. - Jacksonville answered Western Carolina's opening two-run frame with a five-run bottom of the first inning, making it stand up the remaining eight frames behind the complete game effort of starter Chris Anderson as the Dolphins downed the Catamounts, 5-2, Friday night in nonconference action at John Sessions Stadium.
The second of the two-game series is scheduled for 6:30 pm on Saturday evening, with WCU slated to face Fairfield in a neutral field game on Sunday afternoon while in Florida.
Anderson (2-0) kept the Catamount hitters off-balance most of the night, limiting the potent WCU lineup to just five hits - its lowest hit total since tallying five in a road win over eighth-ranked Georgia back on Feb. 29. Anderson worked around three walks and two hit batsmen with nine strikeouts, keeping the Catamounts off the bases while only allowing four runners to second base over the final eight innings.
WCU sophomore RHP Jordan Smith (1-3) was saddled with the loss after allowing all five runs on seven hits with four walks and three strikeouts in five and a third innings thrown. Darron Dotson was the most effective of WCU's four relief pitchers, tossing the final inning and two-thirds, retiring all five batters he faced.
Freshman Tyler Powell walked and struck out one in a third of an inning pitched while lefties Vance Chavis and Hunter Brister faced four batters apiece in relief.
Western Carolina (13-5) opened the game well with two runs on three hits in the top of the first inning against the Dolphins. Tyler White, who led the team with a 2-for-3 showing at the plate, singled through the right side with one out with Ross Heffley drawing his team-leading 19th walk of the season to put two aboard. Freshman Jacob Hoyle added his Southern Conference-leading 29th RBI on a single right up the middle, plating White and moving Heffley to third base. The next batter, Cody Jones, singled to right field to plate Heffley and the 2-0 lead.
WCU still had two aboard in the top of the first, but a fielder's choice force play along the middle of the infield and a pop-up to third ended the inning.
Jacksonville's home half of the first got off to an auspicious start with a sharply hit ground ball that was gloved by Smith on the hill and tossed to first for an easy first out. However, the Dolphins got rolling as Alex McRae lined one through the left side where WCU shortstop Aaron Attaway was unable to make a play looking back at the early evening's setting sun that was directly off the right side of the facility.
With McRae on first, Smith got Dan Gulbransen to fly out to center and appeared to be out of the jam on what appeared to be a routine fly ball to right by JU first baseman, Adam Brett Walker II. However, the ball carried farther than Hoyle thought in right, landing near the fence in right for an RBI double, scoring McRae. Jonathan Murphy walked to put two aboard for Jimmy Appleby who then delivered an RBI single to right before shortstop Ethan Loosen rapped a two-run double off the wall in left for a 4-2 edge.
Jacksonville scored its fifth and what proved to be its final run on a single to right by catcher Matt Frank, leading 5-2 after one complete inning.
Despite the early deficit, Western Carolina had several opportunities it failed to capitalize on the remainder of the game. WCU moved a runner to second base in the third inning as White led off with a walk and moved to second on an infield ground out. However, WCU was unable to advance him any further. An infield throwing error put Dykota Spiess at second base with two outs in the fourth, but a fly ball out to left ended that threat.
In the third, White again found himself standing on second base with a one-out double down the left field line, but again the Catamounts failed to progress the Forest City, N.C., native any further.
The best threat of the night for the Catamounts came in the sixth inning as Adam Martin was struck by a one-out Anderson pitch with Luke Gragg drawing a four-pitch walk to put two aboard. However, a strikeout and a dribbler back to the mound by pinch hitter Connor Andrus thwarted any chance of a WCU rally.
Jacksonville (9-9) threatened to blow the game open in the home half of the seventh inning, loading the bases with a trio of walks issued by Catamount pitching around one strikeout in the mix. However, Dotson came in from the bullpen to get an infield pop-fly and ground ball out bounced back to the mound to end the inning.
All told, both squads stranded nine runners on the night. Jacksonville added three stolen bases with Martin gunning down one would-be base stealer in the loss.
Davidson-Elon Game Postponed; Doubleheader Saturday
DAVIDSON, N.C. - The baseball game scheduled Friday night at Wilson Field between Southern Conference foes Davidson and Elon has been postponed due to lightning. The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 12 p.m.