Elon 4, College of Charleston 2
Elon 3, College of Charleston 2 (10 inn.)
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Elon came away with two dramatic wins over the College of Charleston in a SoCon doubleheader on Sunday at Patriots Point.
Elon's Niko Fraser robbed a potentially game-winning grand slam from Dre Watts in the 8th inning of the first game, while the Phoenix Jake Luce hit a game-winning solo home run in the top of the 10th inning to win the second game.
With the 4-2 win in the first game and 3-2 victory in the second game, Elon improved to 7-4 overall and 2-1 in SoCon play. College of Charleston won the first game of the series, but Sunday's two losses put the Cougars at 7-3 overall and 1-2 in conference.
Rob Harding tallied two doubles on the day while Daniel Aldrich drove in three runs. Gunnar Heidt went 3-of-6 at the dish with one run, and Marty Gantt finished 4-of-10 for the doubleheader.
The Cougar pitching staff only allowed four earned runs while striking out 15, but the Phoenix were up to the challenge, holding CofC to just two runs in a game for the first time this season, while combining for 23 strikeouts. College of Charleston left 20 runners on base in the two games.
Game 1
The Cougars got on the board first in the afternoon game, plating a run off a single from Aldrich that scored Harding from second base.
The Phoenix were able to tie the game in the third inning after a Cougar error with two outs allowed Eric Serra to score from third.
Elon was able to take advantage of a two-out situation again in the third inning when Fraser advanced to third after a throw from Holton on a stolen base attempt went wide. Casey Jones singled in Fraser from third and kept the inning alive on a hard hit ball to short. A single from Eric Serra scored Jones who had advanced to second on a passed ball to make it 3-1. Serra stole second and advanced to third on a single by Gomez, then he came home on a double steal attempt after a throw home by Powell went wide, to make it 4-1.
The Cougars had a chance to tie the game came in the eighth inning after a single from Aldrich and walks from Brandon Murray and Brandon Glazer loaded the bases with one out. After a strikeout from Cody Martin, Watts hit a blast to right center field for a potential go-ahead grand slam, but Fraser leapt at the wall to rob the home run.
College of Charleston loaded the bases again in the ninth inning with none out. Gantt struck out swinging and Aldrich walked in a run to make the margin just 4-2. However, Murray struck out and Tyler Jackson popped out to end the game.
Dylan Clark (3-1) picked up the win for Elon, tossing 6.2 IP, with five hits but just one run allowed to go with six strikeouts. CofC's Christian Powell (2-1) earned his first loss of the season as he allowed four runs, just one earned, while striking out four and giving up seven hits in 6.2 IP. Grant McCoury was credited with the save for Elon.
Game 2
The Cougars drew blood first in the second game as well, capitalizing on hits from Heidt and Goodson to create a sacrifice fly situation for Murray. After a single from Gantt moved Goodson to third, Aldrich grounded out to first base to earn his third RBI of the day, and CofC led 2-0.
Junior Matt Pegler pitched well for College of Charleston as he allowed just one hit through the first five innings and eventually earned a no-decision.
Elon finally manufactured a run in the sixth inning when Serra was hit by a pitch and then stole second and advanced to third on a bunt from Luce. Swim scored Serra from third with a hard hit come-backer that ricocheted off Pegler to make the margin 2-1.
The Phoenix tied the game in the eighth inning with more small ball as Serra singled and advanced to second on a bunt off Watts. Luce drove him in from second with a single up the middle to make the score 2-2.
Despite a hard hit ball to the center field warning track by Aldrich in the bottom of the eighth, College of Charleston could not plate a run in the next two half-innings, sending the game to the 10th inning.
After senior closer David Peterson induced a groundout and struck out Sebastian Gomez in the top of the 10th, Luce turned on a ball to right field to hit the go-ahead home run and eventual game-winner.
The Cougars could not string together hits in the bottom of the inning and Elon won the second game, 3-2.
Andrew MacDonald (1-0) picked up the win for Elon, while Peterson earned his first loss of the season. Nate Young was credited with the save.
College of Charleston will play two mid-week games this week, starting on Tuesday, March 6, when the Cougars host Toledo at 6 p.m. at Patriots Point.
Furman 8, Toledo 5
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Ben Carlson pitched seven strong innings and Alex Abrams belted a three-run home run to power Furman to an 8-5 win over Toledo Sunday afternoon at windy Latham Stadium, completing the three-game series sweep of the Rockets.
The victory was the fourth straight for Furman (7-5) while the loss was the fourth consecutive setback for Toledo (3-6).
Carlson (1-1) was efficient in recording his second straight quality start, needing only 82 pitches to complete seven innings. The junior right-hander from nearby Mauldin allowed two runs, only one of which was earned, on five hits while striking out three. He did not walk a batter.
Carlson's effective work on the mound was backed up by solid Paladin offense highlighted by an Alex Abrams' three-run home run and three-hit performances by Taylor Johnson and Will Owens.
Johnson doubled twice, drove in two runs, and recorded a stolen base while Owens capped a brilliant week with three singles, an RBI, and two runs scored.
Paul Nitto also had two hits and scored twice for the Paladins, who racked up 11 hits in the contest.
The loss was charged to Jared Locke (0-3), who yielded Abrams' three-run opposite field round tripper in the bottom of the first that gave Furman a 3-0 lead.
Toledo got on the board in the fourth, scoring a pair of runs on two hits and a Paladin error to make it a 3-2 game.
The Paladins sent nine men to the plate in the fifth, scoring four runs on five hits. A Will Miller RBI double opened the scoring, and Nitto followed with a single through the right side to drive home Miller. Three batters and a pitching change later, Johnson delivered a two-run double down the left field line off Rockets' reliever Cody Umbright to cap the outburst and give Furman a 7-2 lead.
Toledo's best chance to get back in the game came in the eighth when they combined an error with two walks to load the bases with one out. Furman, however, avoided any damage after Paladin second baseman Will Muzika speared a sharp line drive off the bat of Jeff Cola and stepped on second base to complete the inning ending double play.
The Rockets tallied three in the ninth on a Joe Corfman two-out, three-run home run to left field off Paladin reliever Anthony Buonopane that made it 8-5. Buonopane was relieved by Elliott Warford, who retired Ben Hammer on a ground out to end the game.
Furman plays at UNC Asheville on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.
Western Carolina 8, Iona 4
Six inning doubles by pinch hitter Dale Urquhart and senior Ross Heffley scored five runs in the bottom of the six as the Catamounts wrapped up a three-game series with an 8-4 win against Iona, sweeping the Gaels on a snowy Sunday afternoon in Cullowhee.
Down 3-1 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, Head Coach Bobby Moranda gave freshman Dale Urquhart a chance to pinch hit against Iona's John Narkoski (1-1) with the bases full of Catamounts. Urquhart took advantage of the opportunity by knocking in Bryant Noteboom and Tyler White with a double that dropped between the Iona first baseman and right fielder. With the bases loaded again and two outs, Heffley this time cleared the bases with a double of his own off of the Purple Monster in left field, regaining the lead for the Catamounts.
The Gaels tried to rally in the seventh, picking up a run off a sacrifice fly by Bobby Vitulano, but it would be all the offense Iona could muster. WCU added two additional runs in the eighth off sacrifice flies by Dykota Spiess and Ross Heffley to seal the game in the Catamounts' favor.
Ross Heffley finished 2-for-4 with four RBI in game three. Urquhart - who entered in the sixth - took full advantage of his at bats going 2-for-2 with two RBI.
Freshman starting pitcher Jeremy Null earned his second win of the season going six innings while giving up three runs - all earned - and notched three strike outs on two walks. Preston Hatcher earned his fourth save of the season.
"Today reminded me of growing up in the mid-West," said Head Coach Bobby Moranda. "We had snow games growing up which is why I live in the South. These were tough conditions to play in. We fought through a lot of adversity. (John) Nargoski is the guy that beat Michigan for Iona last week and is a very good pitcher. We had big knocks by (Dale) Urquhart and (Ross) Heffley. I thought (Jeremy) Null struggled, but overcame it. The best thing that he did was to get out of a first inning, bases loaded jam. He settled in and fought through it. He gave us a chance to win while (Preston) Hatcher came in and slammed the door."
The game three win over Iona ended a week in which the Catamounts went 4-0 as WCU won all three against Iona and its midweek game against the No. 8 Georgia Bulldogs. Short stop Aaron Attaway batted .500 on the week with eight hits, including Saturday's five doubles, six RBI, nine runs, three walks and was a perfect 3-for-3 stealing bases. The other half of the middle infield, second baseman Ross Heffley, hit .357 with two doubles, a home run and eight RBI. Heffley also scored three times over the week.
The Catamounts host two mid-week games against Duke (3/6) and East Tennessee State (3/7) this week before traveling to Charleston for their first Southern Conference series of the season against The Citadel (3/9-11). Tickets are still available for the mid-week, non-conference games against Duke and ETSU.
Appalachian State 15, Rider 4
BOONE, N.C. - Noah Holmes (Rockwell, N.C./East Rowan) went 4-for-5 with two doubles and Hector Crespo (Miami, Fla./Florida Christian) had a career-high five RBI to help Appalachian State University baseball complete a four-game series sweep with a 15-4 romp over Rider on Sunday afternoon at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.
With the victory, Appalachian (9-2) extended its winning streak to seven games, its longest since winning nine-straight contests from April 6-17, 2010. ASU has also scored double-digit runs in three-consecutive games for the time since May 22-26, 2010.
Sunday's game started with a bang when Crespo drove the second pitch from Rider starter Zach Mawson over the left-field wall to give the Mountaineers a quick 1-0 lead.
The Broncs evened the score at 1-1 in the top of the third but Appalachian exploded for nine runs in the bottom of the frame to take a commanding 10-1 advantage. The Mountaineers sent 13 batters to the plate in the third and scored six of the nine runs with two outs. Will Callaway (Greenville, S.C./Eastside) and Holmes both had two-run singles before Crespo blew the game wide open with a two-out, three-run double to cap the nine-run inning.
Thanks to four Rider errors, Appalachian tacked on two runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth (all unearned) to put an exclamation point on its 53-run weekend. The Mountaineers outscored Rider (3-5), 53-15, over the four-game set while hitting .342 as a team and reaching base at a .455 clip.
Holmes, who had just two career RBI 24 hours ago, drove in two runs on Sunday to give him six RBI over the last two games. Crespo, who did not have an RBI this season coming into Sunday's game, surpassed his previous career high by two with his five RBI in the series finale.
Seven of ASU's nine starters recorded hits on Sunday and eight of the nine scored at least one run. Daniel Kassouf (Lexington, N.C./North Davidson) chipped in with two hits, Callaway drove in three run and Brandon Burris (Concord, N.C./Mount Pleasant) matched Crespo for the team lead with three runs scored.
Five Appalachian pitchers combined to limit Rider to just five hits. Starter Rob Marcello (Royal Palm Beach, Fla./Royal Palm Beach) allowed just two hits over 2.2 innings before coming out of the game with minor arm discomfort. Marcello's removal from the contest was precautionary on a day with temperatures hovering around freezing and the southpaw is expected to be at 100 percent for next weekend's Southern Conference opening series versus Davidson.
Chad Farmer (Evans, Ga./Greenbrier) (1-0) relieved Marcello and worked 2.1 hitless innings to earn his first win of the season.
Justin Thomas had two of the Broncs' five hits and drove in two of their four runs. Mawson (0-1) was tagged for 10 runs (all earned) in 2.2 innings to suffer the loss.
Appalachian continues its seven-game homestand on Wednesday when it hosts Duke (7-6) at Smith Stadium. First pitch versus the Blue Devils is set for 5:30 p.m.
Samford 4, Penn State 1
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-Samford senior pitcher Charles Basford pitched a complete game, allowing just one run to lead the Bulldog baseball team to a 4-1 win over Penn State Sunday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
Samford improves to 7-4 with the win. Penn State falls to 2-6 with the loss.
In earning the win, Basford (2-0) struck out eight batters, while allowing no walks. Basford allowed Penn State just six hits.
Samford was led at the plate by designated hitter C.K. Irby, going 4-for-4 with two RBI. Catcher Brad Moss went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
For Penn State, Steve Snyder and Sean Deegan each went 2-for-4. Deegan drove in the Nittany Lions' lone run of the game. Neal Herring (0-1) gave up three runs to take the loss for Penn State.
Penn State jumped on top first with a run in the top of the first inning. Deegan doubled to left-center field to drive in Elliot Searer, who had earlier reached base on a fielder's choice, to give the Nittany Lions an early 1-0 lead.
Samford tied the score with a run in the sixth inning. Irby singled with one out to start the rally. Moss then singled and Irby advanced to second base. With two outs in the inning, Zeth Stone doubled to drive in Irby to tie the score at 1-1.
The Bulldogs took the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Irby singled to drive in Phillip Ervin and Bandon Miller for the first two runs in the inning. Moss then reached base on a fielder's choice to drive in Christiaan Durdaller to give Samford a 4-1 lead.
For the game, the Bulldogs out-hit the Nittany Lions, 10-6.
The same two teams will wrap up the three-game series with a game Monday evening. The series finale is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start from Joe Lee Griffin Field. The game can be viewed online on the Bulldog Big Screen at www.samfordsports.com
North Florida 7, Georgia Southern 5
Georgia Southern 9, North Florida 5
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern Baseball team split a doubleheader with North Florida on Sunday and earned their first win in six tries in game two. Eric Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.) picked up five hits on the day, while Stryker Brown (Dalton, Ga.) drove in four runs on four hits.
Game One
The Georgia Southern Baseball team dropped the third game in the series and the first at home with a 7-5 loss to North Florida. The Eagles were unable to make a 5-4 fifth inning lead hold up and dropped the first game.
Both teams went to the bullpen early and both pens factored into the decision. Evan Stermer (2-0) picked up the win with a scoreless inning and a third, and Tyler Moore (S, 2) threw the final 2.1 innings for the save. Will Middour (Atlanta, Ga.) (0-1) allowed two runs on five hits in 2.2 innings and was tagged with the loss.
Georgia Southern hit in all but three innings and tallied just eight hits for the game. Phillips led the charge with three hits including a double in the fifth inning. Brown added two hits at the top of the lineup, but the bottom five spots in the order went a combined 1-for-12.
North Florida scored four runs over three innings before Georgia Southern cracked the scoreboard with five runs in the fifth inning. The Eagles batted around in the frame scoring all the five runs on three hits. Brown followed a hit batter and a walk with a triple out of reach of the diving Tyler Marincov, plating the first two runs of the inning. Michael Burruss (Marietta, Ga.) drove in the third run of the inning with a single back up the middle. An error by the third baseman with the bases loaded scored the final two runs.
UNF followed with single runs from the sixth inning on before a scoreless ninth frame to take a two-run lead. Marincov plated a lead-off double for a run in the sixth inning but slid off the bag for the second out of the inning. A lead-off single and an errant throw from third base put Ryan Roberson on second base before Alex Bacon plated the go ahead run in the seventh inning.
Game Two
The Georgia Southern Baseball team snapped a five-game losing streak with a 9-5 victory in game two of the doubleheader. The Eagles out-hit North Florida and scored multiple runs in three innings.
North Florida jumped ahead with a first inning run, but Georgia Southern struck for five unanswered runs over the third and fourth innings to take a 5-1 lead. Kyle Rowe (Valdosta, Ga.) retired seven-straight batters after working out of a jam with runners on the corners in the second inning before allowing three runs in the fifth inning. Heath Durand (Martinez, Ga.) (1-0) picked up the win in relief after a scoreless inning of work, and Taylor Burke (Statesboro, Ga.) (S, 1) closed the door with his first career save.
North Florida tied the ball game at 5-5 in the sixth inning after a lead-off walk came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Corey Bass. Georgia Southern retook the lead with a single run in the bottom of the frame. Scooter Williams (Detroit, Mich.) walked with the bases loaded to plate Morgan with one out, but Evan Stermer left them full with a strikeout of Burruss. Evan Incinelli (0-1) was tagged the loss after allowing the one run in an inning and a third.
Casey Kicklighter (Jesup, Ga.) homered with one out in the fourth inning over the wall in right field to put the Eagles up 4-1. Tyler Avera (Baxley, Ga.) picked up a two-out RBI and scored Ben Morgan (Evans, Ga.), who was hit by a pitch from third base.
The Eagles opened up a four-run advantage with three runs in the seventh inning. Three-straight hits opened the frame and scored the first run on T.D. Davis' (Evans, Ga.) double to right field. A squeeze bunt by Morgan drove in the second run from third base before Avera picked up another two-out RBI with a double.
Georgia Southern hits the road for five-straight games beginning with a mid-week contest at Charleston Southern on Tuesday.
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.
Columbia 11, The Citadel 7 (12 inn.)
The Citadel 5, Columbia 4
Charleston, S.C. - The Citadel rallied for a 5-4 victory over Columbia University in the nightcap of a doubleheader at Riley Park Sunday afternoon, after dropping the first game by an 11-7 score in 12 innings. The Bulldogs improve to 6-5 on the season and will host USC Upstate Tuesday evening at 6:00 p.m.
GAME ONE
The Bulldogs scored four runs in the first inning, but Columbia rallied to knot the game with a run in the top of the ninth and out-lasted The Citadel in extra innings for an 11-7 victory.
A pair of two-run home runs by Justin Mackert and Tyler Griffin gave the Bulldogs an early four-run cushion in the first inning. Columbia chipped away at the lead, scoring a single run in the second on a bases-loaded walk by Citadel starter Bryce Hines. The Lions added a pair of runs in the seventh on two-run double to left center by Dario Pizzano to cut the Bulldogs' lead to 4-3.
With TJ Clarkson on the mound in the ninth, Columbia got the tying run on board with a single to right by Alexander Aurrichio. A wild pitch by Clarkson allowed pinch-runner Aaron Silbar to advance to second and a RBI double to left by Nick Ferraresi sent the game to extra innings tied at 4-4.
The two clubs traded single runs in the tenth, as Columbia scored on a RBI single to left by Jon Eisen and the Bulldogs countered with a RBI triple by Nick Orvin that plated Bailey Rush, who walked to lead-off the frame. Columbia answered the bell in the 11th frame with a pair of runs. David Vandercook led off with a triple down the left-field line and scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Jordan Serena and a RBI single by Enmanuel Cabreja brought home Billy Rumpke, who walked after Vandercook's triple.
The Citadel fought back to tie the game once again with two scores in the bottom of the frame. Hayden Hendry reached on a fielding error at third and pinch-hit single by Ryne Hardwick advanced Hendry to second. Calvin Orth was hit by a pitch to load the bases and back-to-back RBI groundouts by Rush and Mason Davis knotted the game at 7-7.
Columbia used a pair of errors and one base hit in the top of the 12th to take an 11-7 lead and capture the victory in the opening game. Ferraresi opened the inning with a double down the left-field line and advanced to third on a groundout to first. Rumpke reached on a fielder's choice to third, when Ferraresi escaped a rundown and Rumpke moved to second during the action. Serena was intentionally walked to load the bases and Cabreja drew a full-count walk from Citadel reliever Ross White for the eventual game-winning run. Eisen followed with an RBI fielder's choice to second and back-to-back errors by Grant Richards and Drew DeKerlegand allowed the final two runs to score.
Zack Tax earned the win in relief for Columbia, allowing two runs on two hits in two innings of work with one strikeout. Eisen led the 15-hit effort for the Lions with three hits and three RBI. Columbia left 21 runners on base and picked up 13 walks off Bulldog pitchers.
White suffered the loss for the Bulldogs, giving up four runs, two earned, on one hit in 1-1/3 innings. Griffin had a pair of hits for The Citadel in game one.
GAME TWO
Richards' two-run double to left in the bottom of the sixth turned a 4-3 deficit into a 5-4 victory for the Bulldogs in the nightcap and clinching the series for The Citadel. Griffin led off the frame with a double down the left-field line and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Rush was hit by a pitch and both runners scored when Richards ripped a 0-1 pitch to the wall in left for the game-winning runs.
Columbia jumped on the scoreboard early, scoring a single run in the first for a 1-0 lead. Pizzano hit a two-out double to left center and Ferraresi reached on a throwing error by Rush at short that sailed past Jackson at first, allowing Pizzano to score.
The Bulldogs scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead. Jackson reached on a bunt single to third with one out and Orvin's bunt to third was thrown away by Eisen, allowing Jackson to advance to third. Mackert ripped a 3-2 pitch from Columbia starter Time Giel down the left-field line for a two-run double and a slim 2-1 lead.
The Citadel added a single run in the second for a two-run cushion. Bo Thompson led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a one-out single to right by Richards. Davis stroked a RBI single to center to plate Thompson for a 3-1 advantage.
Columbia cut its deficit to 3-2 in the third with a RBI single to left center by Rumpke and took a 4-3 lead with a pair of runs in the sixth. Eric Williams drew a one-out walk and a throwing error by DeKerlegand on a grounder by Silbar put runners at second and third. A sacrifice fly by Eisen knotted the game and a RBI single to center by Nick Crucet gave the Lions the one-run lead.
Ryan Hines picked up his first win of the season in relief for the Bulldogs, tossing 1-1/3 perfect innings with two strikeouts.
Radford 7, UNCG 3
GREENSBORO, N.C. - UNCG pulled within a run in the bottom of the seventh on a home run by Trevor Edwards, but Radford scored three in the ninth to take the series finale 7-3 and claim the weekend series on Sunday afternoon at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
It marked the first time that the Spartans have lost a weekend series since April 15-17 of last season when UNCG dropped two of three to James Madison.
Tyler Costello (1-0) picked up his first win of the year for Radford (4-7) after pitching 5 2/3 innings and giving up just one run, while scattering seven hits. UNCG's Max Povse was credited with the loss after allowing two runs in four innings of work.
The Highlanders were the first team to get on the board as Jeff Kemp delivered an RBI single to right field in the top of the third to take an early 1-0 lead.
UNCG came right back in the bottom half of the third to knot the game at one apiece. With one out, Christian Wolfe tripled to right center and after a walk and strikeout, Lloyd Enzor hit an RBI single to left field to make it 1-1.
Radford would take the lead for good in the fifth as it pushed three runs across the plate. Zach Costello doubled to lead off the inning and Brett Mollenhauer followed with a walk. After a fly out, Matt Hillsinger doubled to right center to score Costello from second to take a 2-1 lead.
Mollenhauer would then score on a wild pitch to make it 3-1 before Phil Bondi hit an RBI single to right field to give Radford a 4-1 lead it would never relinquish.
It looked as if the Spartans had an answer in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead down to 4-3, but Trevor Edwards' drive to right center was caught at the top of the wall by Zach Costello to keep the score at just 4-1.
Edwards would eventually get his redemption in the seventh inning as Nick Chapman drew a leadoff walk. Two batters later, Edwards took Keith Fritz deep to right field to make it a 4-3 game. The home run was Edwards' league-leading seventh of the season.
Radford would add three runs in the top of the ninth, two of which were unearned, to make the final score 7-3.
The Spartans will face Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Valparaiso 8, Wofford 7 (11 inn.)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - To wrap up the weekend, the Wofford baseball team was defeated 8-7 in eleven innings by Valparaiso at Russell C. King Field. The Terriers scored three runs in the first inning, but two runs by the Crusaders in the eighth tied the contest. In the eleventh, Valpo scored three runs that the Terriers were not able to match despite a two-run homer by Mac Doyle.
Wofford is 6-5 overall and Valparaiso is 4-4 overall. The Terriers were led by Mac Doyle with two home runs on the day and three RBIs. Matthew Kaskow added three hits, while Eric Brenk had two hits and two RBIs. The Crusaders were led by Chris Manning with four hits and Bobby Martin with three hits and three RBIs. Wofford left ten runners on base, including three in the bottom of the ninth.
In the bottom of the first, Wofford had Matthew Kaskow reach on an error and Mac Doyle was hit by a pitch. After a double steal, a single up the middle by Eric Brenk scored both runners. A double by David Roney scored Brenk for a 3-0 lead. The Crusaders scored in the top of the third when with runners on the corners Chris Manning hit a single to right field made it a 3-1 contest.
The Terriers loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth with a walk and two singles. A sacrifice fly by James Foster drove in one run for a 4-1 lead. In the bottom of the fifth, Mac Doyle hit a solo home run to left center to increase the lead to 5-1.
Valpo added a run in the top of the sixth when Bobby Martin hit an RBI single to left field to make it 5-2. In the top of the seventh, an RBI single by Chris Manning scored Tanner Vavra from second base to cut the advantage to 5-3.
The Crusaders had two runners in scoring position in the top of the eighth inning when a sacrifice fly by John Loeffler made it a one run game at 5-4. A single to right field by Tanner Vavra drove in a run to tie the game at five and Valpo left the bases loaded to end their half of the inning. Wofford left one on base in the bottom of the eighth.
After Valpo was retired in order in the top of the ninth, Wofford led off with a single by Matthew Pelt and Matthew Kaskow beat out a throw to first. Mac Doyle was hit by pitch to load the bases with two outs, but a diving catch in left field prevented the Terriers from plating a run.
The Crusaders and Terriers each left one runner on base in the tenth inning. In the top of the eleventh, Valpo had a single and a double to put runners in scoring position. A sacrifice fly by Elliott Martin plated a run to give the Crusaders a 6-5 lead. Two more runs scored when Bobby Martin hit a single with the bases loaded. Wofford was able to score two runs in the bottom of the eleventh with a two-run homer by Mac Doyle over the left field fence.
Wofford starter Pete Noordsy went 4.1 innings and allowed four hits and one run along with one strikeout. Ryan Traylor threw 1.1 innings and gave up a run on one hit with a strikeout. Dominick Del Monte allowed one hit and Anthony Rowland worked a third of an inning. Alex Wilson worked an inning and allowed one run on two hits with two strikeouts. Eric Eck (2-1) went the final four innings and allowed five runs on seven hits with two strikeouts.
Valpo starter Kevin Wild went six innings and allowed five runs on eight hits with three strikeouts. Sean Kennedy worked an inning and gave up one hit with two strikeouts. Jarad Miller (2-0) went three innings and did not allow a run on three hits with four strikeouts. Kevin Upp recorded the save by working the eleventh with two runs on two hits and a strikeout.
Next week the Terriers host Gardner-Webb on Wednesday at Russell C. King Field, then will play Presbyterian College at Fluor Field in Greenville on Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. Beginning Friday, Wofford will host Eastern Kentucky for a three-game series.
Presbyterian 7, Davidson 6
DAVIDSON, N.C. - With Presbyterian trailing by one in the top of the ninth inning, centerfielder Gabe Grammer hit the game-winning two-RBI double with two outs, then took the mound for the save in the bottom half, as the Blue Hose earned a 7-6 victory over Davidson in non-conference baseball action Sunday at Wilson Field.
The lead changed five times during the game, including once each in the last three innings.
Grammer went 3-for-6 for Presbyterian (3-9) in the game against Davidson (4-4) after hitting the game-winning, two-run home run in the bottom of the 14th inning earlier in the day in a neutral site contest against Ohio. The home run came with Presbyterian trailing by one, and the extra-inning contest delayed thestart time of Davidson's game by two hours.
Freshman RHP Ryan Lowe (0-1) appeared to be on his to way to his first-career save afterretiring the first two batters he faced, but third baseman Jay Lizanish (3-for-4) and shortstop Billy Motroni (2-for-5) hit back-to-back singles to set the table for Grammer's game-winning hit.
Junior third baseman Andrew Barna led Davidson at the plate, going 2-for-4, and he put the ‘Cats ahead, 6-5, in the bottom of the eighth inning with a two-RBI double to centerfield.
Presbyterian pounded out 18 hits, with four recording three-hit games. In addition to Grammer and Lizanish, first baseman Kenny Bryant went 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI, and catcher Robby Swab went 3-for-5 with three RBI and a run. An RBI- double from Bryant and an RBI-single from Swab put the Blue Hose ahead 5-4 in the seventh inning.
The ‘Cats plated an unearned run in the first inning off an RBI-double by sophomore left fielder Forrest Brandt, but the Blue Hose went ahead 4-1 with two runs in the second inning and one run in the third inning. Davidson answered with threeruns in the bottom half of the third, with Brandt hitting another RBI-double, senior second baseman James Cerbie (2-for-5) laying down a perfect bunt to score Brandt from third, and sophomore catcher Chris Dyer (1-for-4) adding a sacrifice fly.
Both teams left 13 runners on base. RHP Chad White (1-0) allowed two inherited runners to score on Barna's double, but earned three outs in the eighth inning to earn the win with one inning of work. Sophomore RHP Danny Mooney started for the Wildcats and went 5.2 innings, striking out eight and allowing three earnedruns on nine hits and one walk.
Davidson will hit the road for the first time this season, taking on No. 6 North Carolina Tuesday at 5 p.m. in Chapel Hill.