College of Charleston 10, Samford 5

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - The diamond Cougars exploded for a six-run fourth inning to put away Samford and win Sunday's rubber game by a score of 10-5, taking the series 2-1 over the Bulldogs.

The victory helped the Cougars improve to 25-12 on the season and 14-7 in SoCon, while it snapped a streak of two weekend series losses for College of Charleston. Samford fell to 21-15 and 10-8 in SoCon play.

Despite surrendering three runs in the top of the first inning, the Cougars tied the game with three runs in the bottom of the first and another six runs in the fourth inning to put the game away. It marked the second time in the series that CofC had answered an opening Samford salvo with a response in the bottom of the inning.

CofC starter Matt Pegler (6-2) settled down after the first inning and got into a groove, holding the Bulldogs off the scoreboard until a solo home run in the sixth frame. Pegler earned the win after pitching 6.0 innings, allowing just four hits and two earned runs. Kyle Owings and David Peterson each came on in relief, with Owings allowing a solo home run in the eighth inning and Peterson threw a perfect ninth frame.

Offensively, Daniel Aldrich led the way with another multi-hit game, going 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs. He finished the weekend with an impressive .538 batting average, scoring five runs and tallying four RBI. Marty Gantt landed two hits, one for an RBI, while also scoring two runs. Gantt boosted his season run total to 43, which leads the Southern Conference.

Bradley Goodson closed out his strong weekend with two runs and an RBI, as he finished the series with a team-best .556 average. Jimmy Holton tallied two hits and scored a run and drove in one, while Brandon Glazer and Dre Watts each registered two RBIs.

Samford starter Kyle Putkonen (2-5) was tagged for six runs, five earned, in just 3.0 innings pitched. He also walked four batters and threw two wild pitches. Outfielder Brandon Miller hit two solo home runs for Samford, his league-leading 13th and 14th long balls of the season. C.K. Irby also tallied two RBIs for the Bulldogs.

Samford amassed three runs in the first inning after Brad Moss walked and Phillip Ervin doubled to left. After a walk to Saxon Butler, Pegler struck out Brandon Miller with the bases loaded and one out, but a passed ball against C.K. Irby allowed Moss to score and the runners to advance. Irby took advantage with a two-out single to put Samford ahead 3-0.

College of Charleston responded in the bottom of the first, as walks to Gantt and Goodson put runners on for Aldrich who loaded the bases with a single. Rob Harding walked in a run and Watts drove in Goodson with a fielder's choice groundout. Glazer kept the inning going with a two-out single to score Aldrich and tie the game three apiece.

After both pitchers seemed to settle in, the Cougars jumped on Samford in the fourth inning for six runs on four hits and an error. Gunnar Heidt led off the inning by reaching first on an error by the shortstop and Holton laid down a stellar bunt that found the hole for a hit. A wild pitch advanced the runners for Gantt who singled in Heidt to give the Cougars the lead. Two batters later with the bases loaded, Goodson was hit by a pitch to score a run and then Aldrich singled to score two more. Watts and Glazer drove in two more runs and the Cougars led, 9-3.

The Bulldogs got one run back on a solo home run from Miller in the sixth, but the Cougars responded with an RBI single from Holton in the seventh. Miller homered again in the eighth inning, but the game was already out of reach.

College of Charleston will hit the road on Tuesday for a game at South Carolina. Game time is slated for 6 p.m. and it will be telecast on SportSouth and aired live on ESPN 910 AM.

 

Georgia Southern 7, No. 27 Appalachian State 6

STATESBORO, Ga. - After dropping the series opener and scoring just one run in the 5-1 loss, the Georgia Southern Baseball team rallied to take the three-game series from #27 Appalachian State with a 7-6 win on Sunday. The Eagles' offense provided a big lift with 20 runs and 26 hits in the final two games of the series.

Will Middour (Atlanta, Ga.) retired the side in order with a pair of strikeouts to open the game for Georgia Southern (22-16, 10-8), and Chase Griffin (Leesburg, Ga.) struck for three runs in the first inning on a long home run to give the Eagles the early lead. The freshman tallied his 10th home run of the season off the batter's eye in center field and drove in a lead off walk of Scooter Williams (Detroit, Mich.) and a base hit by Michael Burruss (Marietta, Ga.).

Georgia Southern kept scoring and broke open a 4-2 game with a three-run seventh inning off of reliever David Port. Tyler Avera (Baxley, Ga.) provided the big hit with a two-RBI double down into the right field corner. T.D. Davis (Evans, Ga.) started the two-out rally with a base hit, and Stryker Brown (Dalton, Ga.) followed in the next at-bat with a RBI single.

Appalachian State (25-9, 10-5) was determined to not let the Eagles run away with the series and rallied from the five-run deficit to come within a run of tying the game in the ninth inning. Kyle Rowe (Valdosta, Ga.) faced 12 batters in the final two innings and gave up four runs on five hits.

Daniel Kassouf provided the big blow in the eighth inning with a three-run home run. Rowe retired four-straight batters following the big fly, including the first two in the ninth inning, before allowing three-straight hits and a run on Tyler Zupcic's double.

The Eagles got a good start from Middour, who was perfect his first time through the order, but he lasted just four innings. Will Callaway tallied the first hit for Appalachian State in the fourth inning on a bouncing ball through the right side of the infield, snapping a streak of 11-straight batters retired. Middour struggled after allowing the first hit of the game and gave up two runs on back-to-back doubles to Daniel Kassouf and Tyler Tewell.

Drew Johnson (Peachtree City, Ga.) pitched two scoreless innings in relief of the right-hander. Johnson (1-1) worked around Middour's lead off walk and stranded the runner at second base with a pair of fly outs. The junior left-hander did not allow a hit and picked up his first win of his career.

Rob Marcello (1-3) made the start for the Mountaineers and settled down after allowing the first inning runs. He kept the Eagles off the board for the next four innings and struck out Williams to strand two runners in scoring position in the fourth inning. The left-hander was pulled after allowing a lead off single to Brown and gave up his fourth run of the game after Brent Pugh (Atlanta, Ga.) tallied a RBI single to left field.

The Eagles are on the road for the rest of April and will start a seven-game road trip at Florida on Tuesday.

All baseball games this season can be heard on the Boomer 103.7 FM and inside J.I. Clements 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.

 

Davidson 5, Wofford 4

DAVIDSON, N.C. - A four-run fifth inning and a bases loaded walk in the seventh proved to the difference as Davidson earned a three-game series sweep over Wofford with a 5-4 win Sunday in Southern Conference baseball action at Wilson Field.

Davidson (14-19, 6-12 SoCon) pounded out 14 hits but stranded 14 on the bases, allowing Wofford (14-22, 3-12 SoCon) to stay in the game. Six different Wildcats had two hits each.

Senior Michael Zeblo (2-for-3, 2 BB) came in from shortstop to pitch the ninth inning and he held the Terriers scoreless to earn his second save of the season.

The Terriers had a 2-0 lead entering the bottom of the fifth inning when Davidson scored four runs. With runners on the corners and one out, junior third baseman Andrew Barna (2-for-5) hit a single through the left side to score senior right fielder Jake Berman from third base. Barna then advanced to third and senior centerfielder Drew Gadaire (2-for-2, 2 BB, HBP) scored the tying run from second base on a double hit by senior second baseman James Cerbie (2-for-5). Zeblo singled to left field to score Barna and move Cerbie to third, and then freshman designated hitter David Daniels (2-for-4, BB) doubled down the left field line to score Cerbie.

After a scoreless sixth inning, Wofford catcher David Roney (1-for-2) led the seventh off with a double and he scored on a single up the middle by designated hitter Taylor Rozier (1-for-3). Davidson made it a 5-3 game though in the bottom half of the inning when sophomore catcher Daniel Gerow drew a walk with one out after Cerbie, Zeblo and Daniels had hit consecutive base hits to load the bases.

Wofford RHP Eric Eck was able to retire the last two batters and leave the bases loaded.

The Terriers added an unearned run in the top of the eighth inning and the ‘Cats left the bases loaded again in the bottom half of the frame, but Zeblo did not allow a run in the ninth inning to secure Davidson's third straight one-run win over Wofford. The Terriers had swept Davidson in three one-run games in Spartanburg, S.C. last season.

Senior RHP Brian Russell (4-4) earned the win entering the game with one out to go in the fourth inning, and working 2.1 innings. Sophomore RHP Danny Mooney started and allowed two runs on four hits and two walks with one strikeout.

Second baseman Josh Hyman led Wofford at the plate going 2-for-4 with an RBI. LHP Cash Collins (3-5) took the loss, allowing four runs on 10 hits and three walks while striking out seven.

The three-game SoCon series sweep was Davidson's first since 2009 when it swept UNCG at home.

Davidson will play its next four games on the road, traveling to Duke Tuesday and then beginning a three-game Southern Conference series Friday at UNCG.

 

The Citadel 8, UNCG 7

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Johnathan Stokes' RBI single to left with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth capped of a wild six-run final frame and gave The Citadel a 8-7 victory and a series sweep over visiting UNC Greensboro Sunday afternoon at Riley Park. The Bulldogs improve to 16-21 on the season and 7-8 in the Southern Conference.

Trailing 7-2 after eighth complete, UNCG's Dylan Hathcock quickly retired Calvin Orth and Stokes to put the Spartans within one out of a victory. The Bulldogs had other plans however, using four hits, two errors and three walks to complete the improbable comeback. Ryne Hardwick started the rally with a double down the left-field line and Nick Orvin put runners at the corners with an infield single. Mason Davis lined a double down the left-field line to plate Hardwick and put a pair of runners in scoring position with the Bulldogs down 7-3.

Brennen James replaced Hathcock on the mound for UNCG and promptly walked Justin Mackert to load the bases. Joe Jackson reached on an error by Lloyd Enzor at first, allowing Orvin to score from third with the first of five unearned runs in the frame. Back-to-back bases-loaded walks by Grant Richards and Drew DeKerlegand pushed across two more runs to cut the deficit to 7-6, and forcing UNCG to replace James with Zach Furl. Orth came to the plate for the second time in the frame and reached on a fielding error by shortstop Kris Richards that allowed Jackson to score with the tying run. With the outfield pulled in, Stokes roped a 1-1 pitch over the head of Zach Leach in left and allowed pinch-runner Hayden Hendry to score from third as the Citadel bench raced out to mob the freshman shortstop.

Bryce Hines (1-3) was the lucky winner for the Bulldogs, allowing one hit and walking two in the ninth with one strikeout. Starter Logan Cribb went 4.2 frames and gave up three runs on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts. Orvin led the offense with three hits on the afternoon. The sweep was the first of a SoCon opponent since the Bulldogs took all three from Appalachian State on March 4-5, 2011.

James (1-2) suffered the loss for UNCG, allowing three unearned runs on three walks without recording an out against the four batters he faced. Spartans starter Max Povse scattered four hits and two runs over 5.2 innings with four strikeouts, walking three.

UNCG took a 1-0 lead in the fourth as Richards and Trevor Edwards led off the frame with back-to-back walks off Cribb. One out later, Thomas Troelstrup lined the first pitch from Cribb through the left side for a RBI single to give the Spartans the early lead.

The Spartans increased that lead to 3-0 in the fifth with a pair of runs. Cole Harrison opened the frame with a single to left and was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Leach. A single to left by Bobby Martin moved Harrison to third and Martin went to second on the throw, giving the Spartans a pair of runners in scoring position. Richards knocked a sacrifice fly to deep center to score Harrison with the first run and after Edwards was intentionally walked, Enzor lined a RBIs single to right to plate Martin for the 3-0 lead.

The Bulldogs got a run back in the bottom of the fifth, cutting the deficit to 3-1. Bailey Rush and Hughston Armstrong posted back-to-back walks with one out and Nick Orvin's RBI single to right center plated Rush.

UNCG plated two more runs in the sixth for a 5-1 lead. Tino Leite knocked a one-out double down the left-field line and with two away, Leach and Martin knocked back-to-back RBI singles off reliever Ross White to give the Spartans a four-run advantage. After the Bulldogs scored a single run in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Orth, UNCG plated two more runs for a 7-2 lead in the eighth on a wild pitch by reliever Ryan Hines and a RBI groundout by Enzor before the eventful ninth frame.

The Bulldogs return to action with a non-conference game at Winthrop in Rock Hill on Tuesday evening. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.

 

Western Carolina 11, Furman 5

Cullowhee, N.C. - Sophomore Adam Martin finished 4-for-5 at the plate while junior Tyler White was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle on Sunday afternoon as Western Carolina completed the three-game Southern Conference series sweep with an 11-5 victory at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.

With the Paladins back within a run at 4-3 following a three-spot by the visitors in the top of the fourth inning, the Catamounts responded with seven-straight runs over the next three frames to take the commanding lead. WCU matched Furman's three-run fourth, adding three in the fifth and a solo run in the sixth inning.

All told, Western Carolina (25-11, 10-5 SoCon) scored all 11 runs between the second and sixth innings on Sunday afternoon.

Junior left-hander Adam Curtis (4-0) tossed three and a third innings of relief to score the victory for the Catamounts which moved into a four-way tie for first-place atop the SoCon standings. The Arden, N.C., native surrendered just one unearned run on two hits, pitching around a pair of walks with four strikeouts to remain perfect on the season.

Freshman hurler Jeremy Null factored in a no-decision after working through three and two-thirds in the start, fanning three against a pair of walks. Null allowed three runs, only two of which were earned. Following Curtis' work, relievers Hunter Brister and Tyler Powell combined to throw the final two innings with Powell surrendering one run on just one hit for the Catamounts.

Martin belted his team-leading sixth home run of the season for WCU's lone run in the sixth inning, adding a trio of singles for his career-high four base hits, while White legged out his team-best 12th double of the year.

Three additional Catamounts recorded multi-hit games in the winning effort. Senior Ross Heffley tripled as a part of a 2-for-5, two RBI day, while sophomores Cody Jones and Julian Ridings both finished 2-for-5 with one run driven in.

WCU broke the scoreless deadlock in the home half of the second inning. With two aboard and only one out, Dykota Spiess singled through the right side to plate Jacob Hoyle from third base for the 1-0 lead. Ridings delivered a two-out single through to right field to bring home Martin and a 2-0 advantage through two innings.

In the third, White belted a first-pitch fast ball over the "Purple Monster" in left field for a two-run home run, scoring Jones in the process to double the lead to 4-0.

Furman (17-20, 7-11 SoCon) answered in the top of fourth inning, capitalizing on four hits and a Catamount error. Taylor Johnson homered down the right field line to start the frame and put the Paladins on the board, 4-1. With Will Miller aboard, catcher Paul Nitto reached on an infield throwing error to first that allowed Miller to score before Nitto was caught between second and third base for the second out of the inning. A pair of hit batsmen and a single by Chris Ohmstede loaded the bases before Will Owens registered an infield single to third to plate the third run, 4-3, and chasing WCU starter Null.

Curtis came in from the pen and struck out right fielder Jake Jones to halt the Paladin rally.

WCU responded with a three-run bottom of the frame to answer as Heffley delivered an RBI single off the first baseman to score Aaron Attaway who singled to left center to open the inning. White's double to right field put runners at second and third with one out. Heffley later scored on a wild pitch with White coming home on an RBI single up the middle by Martin for the four-run, 7-3, lead.

The Catamounts continued to swing the heavy bats in the fifth as Jones scored Ridings from third on an RBI single to left field ahead of Heffley who tripled down the right field line and later scored on a balk.

Trailing 11-3, Furman scratched the scoreboard for solo runs in the top of the eighth and ninth innings as a pair of lead-off singles and a throwing error by the pitcher while trying to initiate a double-play scored the Paladin run in the eighth. In the ninth, Muzika singled home a run to provide the final tally.

Muzika led Furman with a 3-for-5 outing at the plate with five other Paladin hitters combining for the remaining five hits.

Furman starter Tyler Wood (3-6) took the loss, allowing seven earned runs on 11 hits in three and a third innings of work. Stephen Gary gave up three runs on four hits in an inning and two-thirds out of the bullpen with Matt Solter, Anthony Buonopane and Elliott Warford tossing the final three innings of one-run, one-hit relief, striking out four.

Western Carolina is scheduled to have a pair of mid-week games beginning on Tuesday at Gardner-Webb before returning home to host mountain-rival, UNC Asheville, in Cullowhee on Wednesday evening.

 

Elon 6, Towson 2

ELON, N.C. -- Thanks to a quartet of freshmen and strong pitching, the Elon Phoenix claimed a series win over the visiting Towson Tigers with a 6-2 victory in Sunday's rubber match from Latham Park. The victory upped Elon's record to 21-17 overall while Towson dropped to 18-18.

The four freshmen in the starting lineup - Quinn Bower, Tyler McVicar, Casey Jones and Blaine Bower - combined to go 7-for-14 with five runs scored and five RBI. On the mound, Spencer Medick (1-2) won for the first time in an Elon uniform as he scattered four hits over six innings and allowed just two unearned runs.

Elon took a 2-0 lead in the last of the second on a Jones sacrifice fly and a #Quinn Bower# single.

After Towson made it a 2-1 game on a fourth-inning sac fly, Elon gained some breathing room with a four-run fifth. With one out, McVicar reached on an infield single before moving to third thanks to walks to #Jake Luce# and Jones. Blaine Bower's single to right scored McVicar to make it a 3-1 game before Eric Serra was hit by a pitch for force in Luce. Quinn Bower lined a ball that deflected off the glove of leaping third baseman Zach Fisher for a double down the left field line to plate the last two runs of the inning.

Towson scored its second run on a sac fly in the sixth.

Elon pitching faced more than four batters in an inning just once on the day and that came when five Tiger hitters batted in the second. The Phoenix bullpen retired the final eight hitters of the game.

The Phoenix will remain at home for a Wednesday night match-up with longtime rival High Point. First pitch at Latham Park is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.