Samford 5, Davidson 3
DAVIDSON, N.C. - Saxon Butler's two-run home run in the fifth inning gave Samford a lead it would not relinquish as the Bulldogs defeated Davidson, 5-3, in Southern Conference baseball action Saturday afternoon at Wilson Field.
Butler's shot just over the right field fence came when Samford (28-16, 15-8 SoCon) trailed Davidson (16-24, 7-16 SoCon) 3-2.
All six Davidson hits were extra-base hits hit by the top three batters in the lineup. Senior right fielder Jake Berman had a leadoff double in the first inning and a two-out, two-run home run in the second inning. Sophomore Forrest Brandt had two doubles, one of which drove in Berman in the first inning. Senior centerfielder Drew Gadaire also had two doubles.
Senior catcher Seth Freeman was on base for Berman's blast over the left field fence after drawing a walk earlier in the inning.
Samford led the game off with four consecutive singles, with Butler (2-for-4, 3 RBI) and centerfielder Philip Ervin (2-for-4, RBI) driving in a run each. Second baseman Zeth Stone went 4-for-5 for the day, hitting an RBI-double in the ninth inning to give the Bulldogs an insurance run.
Samford held Davidson scoreless over the final seven innings. RHP Josh Martin (8-1) went 6.1 innings, allowing the three runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out seven. RHP Lex Rutledge earned the save, striking out five and surrendering just one hit in 2.2 innings.
Senior RHP Ryan Overcash (3-7) was one out shy of his third consecutive complete game. He allowed five runs on 12 hits and a walk and struck out three in 8.2 innings. Sophomore RHP Danny Mooney struck out the lone batter he faced to end the top of the ninth inning.
Davidson will look to deny a Samford sweep Sunday in the series finale at Wilson Field. Freshman RHP Clark Beeker (4.56, 2-2) is slated to throw the first pitch for the Wildcats at 1 p.m., and will face Samford RHP Kyle Putkonen.
Georgia Southern 5, The Citadel 2
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Georgia Southern starter Justin Hess struck out seven over six innings as the Eagles dealt The Citadel a 5-2 defeat in Southern Conference action Saturday night at Riley Park. The Bulldogs fall to 18-25 on the season and 8-12 in the league. The two teams will play the rubber match of the series Sunday afternoon with a 1:00 p.m. first pitch.
Kevin Connell suffered the loss for the Bulldogs, allowing two runs - one earned - on seven hits in four innings. Drew DeKerlegand collected two hits to lead the Bulldogs offensively.
Hess was the beneficiary of 13 Georgia Southern hits, picking up the win by scattering seven hits over six innings and allowing only one run. Jarret Leverett tossed the final three innings for his fourth save, allowing only one hit and striking out two. Five Eagles collected two hits apiece on the evening.
The Citadel tallied the game's first run in the bottom of the opening frame. Nick Orvin opened the inning with a double down the left-field line on the first pitch from Hess. Mason Davis dropped a sacrifice bunt to move Orvin to third and Justin Mackert plated the Bulldogs center-fielder with a RBI single to left center for a 1-0 lead.
Georgia Southern (24-20, 11-9) scored twice in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead. Chase Griffin led off the frame with a single and stole second before taking third on a wild pitch by Connell. T.D. Davis followed with a RBI single up the middle to bring in Griffin with the tying run. A two-out single to right by Zac Lenns put runners on the corners for the Eagles and Davis scored the go-ahead run when Connell's pickoff attempt to first sailed past Bo Thompson for an error on Connell and an unearned run.
The Eagles tacked on three more insurance runs late with a single run in the sixth and two in the eighth for a 5-1 lead. Davis roped a one-out double down the right-field line and Ben Morgan singled to center, advancing Davis to third. Lenns laid down a sacrifice bunt on the safety squeeze, moving Morgan to second and plating Davis with the third Georgia Southern run. Stryker Brown plated Morgan in the eighth with a safety squeeze bunt and Eric Phillips followed with a RBI double to right center for the four-run advantage.
Thompson cut the Bulldogs' deficit to 5-2 in the bottom of the eighth with a solo home run to left, his third round-tripper of the season, but that was as close as the Bulldogs would get on the evening.
Sunday's first pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. and the final game of the series can be heard on Sports Radio 1450 AM with Danny Reed handling the play-by-play.
Appalachian State 3, Wofford 2
Appalachian State 7, Wofford 6
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Wofford baseball team on lost both games of a doubleheader against Appalachian State by one run on Saturday at Russell C. King Field. In the opening game, the Mountaineers won 3-2 after scoring an unearned run in the top of the sixth inning. In the second game, Wofford had a 6-4 lead after seven innings, but Appalachian State scored two runs in the eighth and one in the ninth for a 7-6 win.
Wofford is 17-25 overall and 5-15 in the Southern Conference. Appalachian State is 31-9 overall and 15-5 in conference play. In the first game, Wofford outhit Appalachian State five to four, but left nine runners on base. In the second contest, The Mountaineers had a 14 to six advantage in hits.
In the first game, the Mountaineers led off the second inning with back-to-back singles. A two-out single by Preston Troutman scored both runners to take a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the second, Eric Brenk walked and stole second base. A two-out double by James Plaisted scored Brenk to make it a 2-1 game after two innings.
Wofford left the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth after three walks. In the bottom of the fifth, Matthew Kaskow singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. A single to right center by Mac Doyle scored Kaskow to tie the game at two. The Mountaineers regained the lead when Will Callaway reached third on an error and scored on a ground out by Daniel Kassouf for a 3-2 score in the top of the sixth inning.
The Terriers left one on base in the bottom of the sixth and the Mountaineers stranded one in the top of the seventh. In the bottom of the eighth, Wofford left two runners on base. After Appalachian State was retired in order in the top of the ninth, the Terriers led off with a walk. A walk to James Foster with one out gave Wofford two on base, but a double play ended the game.
Wofford starter Brandon Yarusi (4-5) threw eight innings with three runs allowed on four hits. He tied a career-high with nine strikeouts while not walking a batter. J.D. Osborne went the ninth and retired the side with one strikeout.
Appalachian State starter Ryan Arrowood (8-0) went seven innings and gave up two runs on four hits with seven strikeouts. David Port worked two-thirds of an inning and gave up one hit. Will Helms intentionally walked the one batter he faced. Nathan Hyatt threw the final 1.1 innings and earned his ninth save of the season.
In the second game, Appalachian State had two hits in the top of the first inning but left two runners stranded. The Mountaineers had runners at second and third when a two-out single by Daniel Kassouf scored one for a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning.
In the bottom of the fourth, James Foster reached second on an error. A double to the right field wall by Josh Hyman scored Foster to tie the game at one and a sacrifice fly by Konstantine Diamaduros gave Wofford a 2-1 advantage.
The Mountaineers had runners on the corners in the top of the sixth and tied the game on an RBI single from Trey Holmes. In the top of the seventh, a double down the left line by Daniel Kassouf scored two runners to give the Mountaineers a 4-2 lead. In the bottom of the seventh, Eric Brenk singled and then a double to the left center fence by David Roney drove in Brenk for a 4-3 score. A single to left center by James Plaisted scored Roney to tie the game at four. The Terriers loaded the bases with two walks issued to Matthew Kaskow and James Foster. A single by Josh Hyman along with a throwing error allowed two runs to score as the Terriers took a 6-4 lead at the end of seven innings.
Appalachian State opened the top of the eighth with two walks. A throwing error on a bunt put down by Hector Crespo scored one run, while a sacrifice fly by Tyler Zupcic added a run to tie the game at six. Wofford was retired in order in the bottom of the eighth.
With two outs in the top of the ninth, Trey Holmes hit a double. A single to left field by Preston Troutman scored Holmes to give the Mountaineers a 7-6 lead. Wofford had a runner reach on a walk, but two strikeouts ended the game.
Wofford starter Pete Noordsy threw 5.1 innings and gave up two hits on nine hits with six strikeouts. J.D. Osborne went two-thirds of an inning without allowing a hit. Alex Wilson threw an inning and gave up four runs on three hits. Eric Eck (3-2) worked two innings and gave up one run on two hits with four strikeouts.
Appalachian State starter Seth Grant went 6.2 innings and gave up four runs on five hits along with six strikeouts. Will Helms walked the lone batter he faced. Tyler Moore allowed one hit in a third of an inning. David Port (2-0) retired the side in order in the eighth. Nathan Hyatt recorded his tenth save by recorded two strikeouts in the ninth inning.
The Terriers will conclude the three-game home series with Appalachian State on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
Elon 10, UNCG 2
ELON, N.C. -- Dylan Clark tossed seven strong innings and Alex Swim recorded the 200th hit of his career to lead the Elon Phoenix to a 10-2 Southern Conference baseball victory over visiting UNCG on Saturday night. Elon improved to 25-20 overall and 15-8 in league play while securing its 11th consecutive home SoCon series win. The Spartans dropped to 21-20, 6-14.
Clark surrendered two runs, one earned, on five hits in seven innings to up his record to 8-3 on the season. He is now tied for the SoCon lead in wins. David Whitehead came on and tossed two scoreless and hitless frames to finish it off.
The Phoenix scored in six of its eight at bats, beginning with a two-run first. With Swim on first after a fielder's choice, Sebastian Gomez roped a RBI double to left-center to score the game's first run. He would later score from third on a Tyler McVicar sacrifice fly.
Elon put together a two-out rally in the second. Quinn Bower got it started with a walk before Garrett Kosterhomered for the second straight day, this one clearing the scoreboard in center for his 11th of the year, as the Phoenix built a 4-0 edge. Swim followed with a single to center for hit number 200.
UNCG plated its first run on a Lloyd Enzor sac fly in the third and added an unearned marker in the fifth on a RBI single from Zach Leach.
After single runs in the third, fifth and sixth, the maroon and gold had the bases loaded with two outs in the sixth when Swim ripped a double over the third base bag to clear the bases and make it a 10-2 game.
Dylan Hathcock (3-4) took the loss as he gave up four runs on six hits in just two innings of work for the Spartans.
Elon matched its season-high with five stolen bases - one each from Gomez, Blaine Bower and Casey Jones and two by Eric Serra.
The Phoenix will look to complete the sweep when the two teams meet at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon at Latham Park. Following the game, Elon players and coaches will shave their heads in an effort to raise money for the St. Baldrick's Foundation for pediatric cancer research. For more information, or to make a donation visit www.stbaldricks.org/events/elon.
Western Carolina 7, College of Charleston 6
Cullowhee, N.C. - Behind the solid start of redshirt junior left-hander Morgan McKinney, Western Carolina evened its three-game Southern Conference series with the College of Charleston on Saturday afternoon, holding on for a one-run, 7-6, victory at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
The Catamounts led 7-1 entering the top of the ninth inning before surrendering five runs that allowed the Cougars to claw back within one. However, closer Preston Hatcher was able to recover to shut the door and earn his eighth save of the season in the victory - the second, one-run game of the series.
The series rubber match is scheduled for Sunday afternoon with first pitch at 1:00 pm. The game will be broadcast on the Catamount Sports Network with live streaming audio (free) and streaming video through Catamount All-Access (subscription) available on CatamountSports.com.
McKinney (6-2) pitched into the ninth inning before a hit batsman and a walk were followed by the only error by WCU in the win to chase him from the mound. When the Gainesville, Fla., native left the game, he had only surrendered two runs on just three hits to the Cougars with the second marker touching home on the ninth inning throwing miscue. McKinney finished with eight innings and four runs allowed, walking four with three strikeouts.
Following a two-out walk issued to Marty Gantt in the top of the second inning, McKinney and the Catamounts retired 13-consecutive Cougar hitters until Brandon Glazer led off the top of the seventh with a single to right field. The very next batter in Gunnar Heidt bounced into a double-play that erased Glazer and helped provide the fifth of six-straight, three-up and three-down innings for Charleston.
Senior reliever Darron Dotson allowed both inherited runners to score on a pinch hit double by Cody Martin that pulled Charleston back with three runs, 7-4, before Hatcher was summoned from the bullpen. Despite surrendering a two-run, pinch hit home run to Tyler Jackson, Hatcher managed to get Drew Watts to bounce out to short before striking out Gantt to end the game, finishing with an inning of work.
Western Carolina (27-16, 11-9 SoCon) had three players at the top of their order combine for nine of their series-high 14 hits in the victory. Middle infielders Aaron Attaway and Ross Heffley both finished 3-for-4 while Tyler White was 3-for-5 on the afternoon. Attaway scored twice and drove in one while White posted an RBI single as a part of WCU's four-run seventh inning.
Heffley moved to within one hit of tying - and two hits shy of breaking - the school's career hits record currently held by Barrett Shaft (2005-08). The senior from Snellville, Ga., has five hits on the weekend - and 335 career base knocks - to stand one shy of Shaft at 336, which would also move into fourth-place in the SoCon record books.
All told, Western Carolina out-hit the Cougars, 14-to-5.
The College of Charleston (30-13, 18-8) took the early 1-0 lead as Brandon Murray scored from second on an RBI single through the right side by Rob Harding. In the home half of the frame, Attaway raced home from third with the tying run on a double-play turned by the middle of the Cougar infield.
WCU took the lead for good in the third inning with the second of seven-straight runs. Freshman Connor Andrus, who earned the start behind the plate, doubled to left center before coming home on a sacrifice fly to deep right by Attaway to lead, 2-1.
In the fourth inning, Adam Martin was plunked for the second time in the game and was moved around on a sacrifice bunt by Julian Ridings before Bryant Notebook drove him home. Noteboom, who was amidst an 0-for-19 slump at the time of his second at-bat of the game, drove the third pitch of his at bat to left centerfield and handed the Catamounts a 3-1 margin.
Western Carolina pushed across four runs in the seventh inning as Attaway singled to open the frame before advancing to third by stealing second and taking advantage of a wild pitch. White then deposited a 1-2 pitch into right field to give the Catamounts a 4-1 lead. A single by Cody Jones and an infield bunt base hit by Ridings loaded the bases for pinch hitter Dykota Spiess who laced a two-out double off the fence in left to score all three base runners for a 7-1 lead after seven complete.
The Cougars pushed across the five-spot in the top of the ninth before WCU was able to close the game.
CofC recorded five hits scattered amongst five different batters with Friday's hero - Daniel Aldrich - finishing 0-for-2 with a pair of walks. Murray scored two runs after recording a base hit and a HBP to reach twice. Cody Martin drove in two on his pinch hit double while Jackson posted a pair of RBI on his pinch hit home run in the ninth.
Cougar starting pitcher Josh Renfro (6-4) took the loss after giving up three runs on five hits with a walk in four innings of action. Midweek starter, Ryan West, was called upon for middle relief where he worked three innings but was tagged for four runs on seven hits, fanning three. Dre Watts tossed the final frame of two-hit, scoreless relief posting the fourth strikeout by CofC pitching on the afternoon.
Game three is scheduled for 1:00 pm on Sunday afternoon.