No. 30 Appalachian State 8, College of Charleston 2
BOONE, N.C. - Tyler Zupcic (Charlotte, N.C./Providence) went 3-for-3, Will Callaway (Greenville, S.C./Eastside) hit a three-run home run and Seth Grant (Etowah, N.C./West Henderson) pitched eight strong innings to lead No. 30 Appalachian State University to a convincing 8-2 victory over College of Charleston on Saturday afternoon at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.
With the win, Appalachian (24-5, 9-2 SoCon) put even more distance between itself and second-place College of Charleston (21-11, 11-6) in the Southern Conference standings and clinched just its second-ever three-game series victory over CofC. The Mountaineers go for the series sweep on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Smith Stadium.
A five-run ASU fourth inning was the difference in Saturday's ballgame. Trailing 1-0, the Mountaineers tied the game on back-to-back doubles from Tyler Tewell (Charlotte, N.C./Butler) and Jeremy Dowdy (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield) to lead off the inning and took their first lead on an RBI single by Trey Holmes (Rockwell, N.C./East Rowan). Appalachian extended its advantage to 3-1 on a two-out RBI single by Hector Crespo (Miami, Fla./Florida Christian) and capped the five-run stanza when Zupcic tripled to left center and came home on an error by CofC shortstop Bradley Goodson, who misplayed the throw from the warning track on Zupcic's team-leading fourth triple of the season.
Callaway stretched the lead to 8-1 with his two-out, three-run blast to left field in the sixth. Callaway's third homer of the season extended his hitting streak to 20 games, Appalachian's longest of the season and just seven games shy of the school record of 27, set by Rand Smith in 2009.
The eight-run outburst was more than enough for Grant (6-1), who cruised through eight innings en route to his sixth-straight win. The right-handed senior limited the Cougars to two runs (one earned) on four hits and struck out six. After a solo home run by Charleston's Tyler Jackson in the second inning, Grant did not allow another hit until the eighth and needed just 100 pitches to glide through the eight innings of work.
In addition to Zupcic, Crespo (2-for-5) and Tewell (2-for-3) also had multiple hits to help pace the Apps' 11-hit attack.
Jackson finished with two of Charleston's four hits.
Georgia Southern 7, Davidson 6
DAVIDSON, N.C. - A two-out, RBI-single by T.D. Davis in the top of the ninth inning broke a 6-6 tie and gave Georgia Southern its second come-from-behind victory over Davidson in as many days, 7-6 in Southern Conference baseball action Saturday afternoon at Wilson Field.
Davidson (11-18, 3-12 SoCon) held a 6-5 lead after the seventh inning, but catcher Chase Griffin hit a solo home run for Georgia Southern (18-15, 8-7 SoCon) to lead off the top of the eighth inning and tie the game at 6-6. Freshman RHP Ryan Lowe (1-2) was able to retire the first two batters in the top of the ninth inning, but allowed a pair of walks, and Davis' base hit plated the winning run from second base.
Sophomore left fielder Forrest Brandt went 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored for the Wildcats. Senior first baseman Calvin Sigelbaum drove in a pair of runs, going 2-for-4.
RHP Kyle Rowe (5-1) held Davidson scoreless over the final two innings to secure the victory and series sweep. Griffin paced the Eagles at the plate, reaching base in all four plate appearances on a 3-for-3 day with a walk and two RBI. Third baseman Eric Phillips (1-for-5) also drove in two runs and Davis was 2-for-4 with the game-winning RBI.
Senior right fielder Jake Berman (1-for-3) gave Davidson a 6-5 lead in the seventh inning, driving in Brandt from second base with two outs on a base hit to left field. Brandt led the inning off with a single just out of the shortstop's reach and had moved into scoring position by stealing second base with one out.
Davidson yielded the lead just once through the first half of the game. Georgia Southern starter RHP Will Middour retired the first two Wildcat batters of the game on two pitches, but walked senior centerfielder Drew Gadaire and junior third baseman Andrew Barna and allowed both to move into scoring position on a wild pitch. Berman then hit a pop fly that was dropped in center field, allowing both Gadaire and Barna to score.
The Eagles scored four runs in the top of the third inning on an RBI-single by left fielder Michael Burruss, a two-RBI double by Phillips and an RBI-single by Griffin, but the ‘Cats answered with three runs in the bottom half of the frame to retake the lead. Brandt, Gadaire and Barna led the inning off with singles, with Barna's base hit driving in Brandt from second. The Eagles replaced Middour with RHP Josh Stevenson, but with two outs and the bases loaded, a pop up by Sigelbaum landed behind the second baseman to allow Gadaire and Barna to score for a 5-4 Davidson advantage.
Georgia Southern trailed until the sixth inning when a wild pitch allowed an Eagle run to score.
Sophomore RHP Danny Mooney started for Davidson, pitching five innings and facing one batter in the sixth inning. He was charged with five runs on eight hits and struck out three.
Davidson will travel to Clinton, S.C. Tuesday to face Presbyterian College at 4 p.m., and will host a three-game SoCon series against Wofford at Wilson Field beginning Friday.
Western Carolina 4, Wofford 2
Wofford 6, Western Carolina 5
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - In a Saturday doubleheader, the Wofford baseball team split the pair of games with Western Carolina at Russell C. King Field. In the first game, the Catamounts won 4-2. Wofford held on for a 6-5 win in the second game, as the Catamounts scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning. The Terriers won the weekend series over Western Carolina for the first time since joining the Southern Conference.
Wofford is 13-19 overall and 3-9 in the Southern Conference. Western Carolina is 22-11 overall and 7-5 in conference play. The Terriers were led by the pitchers in both games, as Jesse Morris went 7.2 innings in the first game with six strikeouts and Cash Collins went 7.2 innings in the second game with nine strikeouts.
In the first game, Wofford led off the bottom of the first with a triple by James Foster and he scored on a ground out by Mac Doyle for a 1-0 lead. The Catamounts tied things up with a solo home run by Adam Martin in the top of the second.
The Catamounts took a 2-1 lead after a solo home run by Julian Ridings in the top of the third inning. In the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh innings Wofford was held to two hits while the Catamounts had only one during the four innings stretch.
In the top of the eighth, Tyler White singled with two outs. A double off the top of the left field fence by Jacob Hoyle scored White to take a 3-1 lead. Wofford opened the bottom of the eight with a single by Matthew Pelt and Matt Moore followed with a single. A walk to Matthew Kaskow loaded the bases. A ground out by James Foster scored Pelt for a 3-2 score. An intentional walk to Mac Doyle loaded the bases, but the Terriers left all three runners stranded.
Western Carolina loaded the bases in the top of the ninth on an error and two walks. A sacrifice fly by Cody Jones drove in a run, but the Catamounts left two on base with a 4-2 lead. The Terriers led off the bottom of the ninth with a single by Eric Brenk, but a strikeout and double play ended the contest.
Wofford starter Jesse Morris (2-2) worked 7.2 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits along with six strikeouts. J.D. Osborne went two-thirds of an inning with one strikeout and one unearned run allowed. Pete Noordsy pitched the final two-thirds of an inning and did not allow a hit.
Western Carolina starter Morgan McKinney (4-1) went seven innings and gave up two runs on five hits with six strikeouts. Preston Hatcher recorded his sixth save of the season by going two innings with one hit allowed and striking out two.
In the second game, Western Carolina left one runner on base in the top of the first. Wofford opened the contest with a walk to James Foster and he moved to third on a throwing error. A double by Konstantine Diamaduros scored Foster and a sacrifice fly by Eric Brenk pushed the lead to 2-0.
After the Catamounts were retired in order in the top of the second, Matt Moore led off with a triple and a sacrifice fly by Matthew Kaskow made it a 3-0 game. Singles by James Foster and Konstantine Diamaduros, along with a double by Mac Doyle, pushed the lead to 4-0. A sacrifice fly by Eric Brenk gave the Terriers a 5-0 lead after two innings.
In the top of the fourth, Cody Jones walked and after a stolen base scored on an RBI single by Jacob Hoyle to make it 5-1. Wofford added a run in the bottom of the fourth when a ground out by Mac Doyle scored Matthew Kaskow for a 6-1 game.
Neither team scored in the fifth or sixth innings, but the Terriers left two runners on base in the bottom of the sixth. In the top of the eighth, the Catamounts had two singles but both were left on base. In the top of the ninth, Western Carolina had RBI doubles by Adam Martin and Bradley Strong to make it a 6-3 game with one out. A pitch hit with two outs up the middle by Luke Gragg added two runs for a 6-5 score. With two runners on base, a fly ball to James Foster in centerfield ended the game.
Wofford starter Cash Collins (3-4) went 7.2 innings and had a career-high nine strikeouts. Collins allowed only one run on four hits. Alex Wilson went a third of an inning and did not allow a hit. Eric Eck threw the ninth and gave up four runs on five hits with one strikeout.
Western Carolina starter Jeremy Null (4-1) went only 1.1 innings and gave up three runs on four hits with two strikeouts. Adam Curtis threw 4.2 innings and allowed three runs on four hits with two strikeouts. Vance Chavis threw the final two innings without allowing a hit.
Mac Doyle had two RBIs in the second game to become the Wofford career leader in RBIs with 179. He passed Shane Kirkley (2005-08) who had 178 in his career. James Foster and Mac Doyle are now tied for second in career hits with 239 each.
Next Wednesday the Terriers will host USC Upstate at 6:00 p.m. before facing Davidson in a three-game Southern Conference series beginning on Friday night at 7:00 p.m.
Furman 5, Elon 4
Elon 3, Furman 1
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Paul Nitto doubled, homered, and drove in three runs and Ben Carlson delivered a strong performance in relief to lead Furman to a 5-4 victory over Elon in game one of Southern Conference baseball doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Latham Stadium.
In game two Elon starting pitcher Kyle Webb tossed a complete game four-hitter to help the Phoenix notch a 3-1 win and avoid the three-game series sweep at the hands of the Paladins.
The two games to one win by Furman (17-16, 7-8 SoCon), its third straight SoCon series victory, gave the Paladins their first series triumph over Elon (18-14, 11-6 SoCon) since 2004.
In Saturday's opener Elon executed a double steal of second and home in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead and made it 3-0 in the fourth on RBI singles by Quinn Bower and Jake Luce off Paladin starting pitcher Nate Smith.
The Paladins got to Phoenix starting pitcher Spencer Medick in their side of the fourth with a Nitto bases loaded, two-run double to left center field. Will Muzika tallied the frame's third run when he slid into home ahed of the tag on a fielder's choice grounder off the bat of Chris Ohmstede. Jarrod Rickman followed with an RBI single to center that plated Nitto to give Furman a 4-3 lead.
After Elon tied it with a run in the fifth, Nitto put the Paladins up 5-4 with a two-out solo home run onto the grassy bank in left field in the bottom of the frame.
Ben Carlson came on in the sixth in relief of Smith and proceeded to retire 11 consecutive Phoenix batters, including three by strikeout, before yielding a two-out single in the ninth to Jake Luce. At that point Paladin head coach Ron Smith turned the game over to freshman closer Elliott Warford, who retired Sebastian Gomez on a fly ball to end the game, clinch the series victory, and record his seventh save of the campaign.
Nitto's 2-for-3, three-RBI performance highlighted an eight-hit attack by the Paladins, who also got a pair of hits from Rickman.
Elon also finished with eight hits, with Luce, Alex Swim, and Joey Tomko collecting two hits apiece.
Smith (3-3) earned the win after working five innings and allowing four runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out six.
Medlick (0-2) was charged with the loss. He surrendered five runs, four of which were earned, on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. He walked three and fanned six.
In the series finale Webb (3-2) checked Furman's bats on four hits and pitched out of a couple of jams to earn the doubleheader split.
Webb would get all the run support he would need in the second on Quinn Bower's two-out, two-run double to right center field off Paladin starting and losing pitcher Tyler Wood (3-5).
The Phoenix made it 3-0 on an Swim sacrifice fly in the fifth and then watched Webb effectively work his way out of trouble in the bottom of the frame. After a walk, a single, and a wild pitch put runners on second and third with no outs for Furman, the junior right-hander rallied by getting Ohmstede on an infield pop, Rickman on a strikeout, and Hunter Burton on a groundout to end the inning.
The Paladins opened the sixth with a single and a walk, but saw that opportunity fizzle with a double play and groundout.
Furman finally got to Webb in the ninth. Jake Jones drew a leadoff walk and beat a fielder's choice throw at second. With two outs Nitto stroked a line drive off the left field fence to score Jones and give the Paladins runners at second and third. Webb recovered, however, by inducing Ohmsteded to hit into a game ending groundout to shortstop.
The Phoenix out-hit Furman 8-4 in game two but saw Alex Swim's 25-game hitting streak come to an end as the junior catcher went 0-for-3 with a sacfifice fly.
Nitto had two of the Paladins' four hits.
Webb walked three and struck out six en route to the win.
Wood yielded three runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings of work. He walked three and struck out four.
Furman plays Clemson on Tuesday at Fluor Field in a 7:00 p.m. game
The Citadel 5, Samford 4
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-The Citadel baseball team plated two runs in the top of the ninth inning and turned a game-ending double play to end the bottom of the ninth in claiming a 5-4 win over Samford in the final game of a three-game Southern Conference series Saturday at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
Samford, however, claims the series win, two games to one after sweeping Friday's doubleheader. Samford drops to 20-12 overall and 9-6 in SoCon play. The Citadel improves to 13-19 overall and 4-8 in league play.
"It was a good baseball game," Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. "If there was any fault, I didn't think we did a very good job early on. Josh (Martin) got out of the gates a little slow and obviously we did a horrible job at the plate early. But Josh settled in and as a whole, I thought had a great outing. Offensively, we were better towards the end. But, in this league, you can't get off to tough starts."
Samford trailed, 3-2, entering the seventh inning. The Bulldogs, however, plated a run in the seventh inning and another in the eighth to take a 4-3 lead. In the seventh inning, Christiaan Durdaller singled to left field to lead off the inning. Durdaller then moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Austin Allison. With two outs in the inning, Brad Moss singled to center field to drive in Durdaller to tie the score at 3-3.
In the eighth inning, Brandon Miller walked to start the inning. Miller then moved to third base when Phillip Ervin singled and then moved to second base on the throw. C.K. Irby then reached base on a fielder's choice with Ervin advancing to third base and Miller being thrown out at home. Ervin then scored on a sacrifice bunt by Tommy Corbin for a 4-3 Samford lead.
The Citadel then came back with two runs in the top of the ninth inning to take a 5-4 lead. Relief pitcher Lex Rutledge came on in relief of starting pitcher Josh Martin to start the ninth inning. Rutledge retired the first two batters of the inning before hitting Grant Richards with a pitch.
Irby then replaced Rutledge on the mound. Nick Orvin doubled down the left-field line to drive in Richards to tie the score at 4-4. Mason Davis then singled to center field to drive in Orvin for the eventual game-winning run.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Zeth Stone tripled to right-center field with one out. Moss then flew out to Citadel center fielder Orvin who then threw home and catcher Joe Jackson tagged Stone out to end the game in a 5-4 Citadel victory.
For the game, Samford was led at the plate by Miller, who hit his 12th home run of the season, going 1-for-3 on the day. Moss, Corbin and Allison each had one hit and one RBI for the Bulldogs.
Irby (3-1) gave up one run on two hits in a third of an inning to take the loss for Samford. Martin started the game for Samford and pitched 8.0 innings, giving up three runs, only two earned, on eight hits. Martin struck out six batters, while allowing just one walk.
For The Citadel, Bailey Rush went 3-for-3 with two RBI to lead the way at the plate. Jackson went 2-for-3 for The Citadel. Ryan Hines (3-1) pitched the final 2.1 innings, giving up one run on three hits to earn the win.
Samford will return to action on Tuesday when the Bulldogs play at Auburn. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start from Plainsman Park.
UNCG 4, Presbyterian 1
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Trailing 1-0 and being no-hit in the bottom of the sixth, UNCG's offense caught fire as it sent nine batters to the plate and hung a four-spot on the scoreboard on its way to a 4-1 victory over Presbyterian in nonconference action at UNCG Baseball Stadium on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon.
Presbyterian's Beau Dees and UNCG's Corey Taylor pitched lights out baseball through the first four innings as both pitchers carried no-hitters into the fifth inning.
Presbyterian (13-20) would draw first blood in the top of the fifth inning. Blue Hose Kenny Bryant smacked a double to left center for the first hit of the game for either team to lead off the frame. Teammate Robby Swab followed his lead by ripping an RBI double down the right field line to give the Blue Hose the 1-0 advantage. However, Taylor buckled down and retired the next three batters to leave Swab stranded at second.
Swab paced the Blue Hose offense with two hits while Edwards led UNCG with two hits.
Dees didn't allow a hit until the bottom of the sixth inning and when he did, they came in masses. UNCG (17-13) strung together five consecutive hits, four of them for extra bases.
Zach Leach continued to wear out the baseball as he smoked a triple down the right field line to start the rally. Trevor Edwards ripped a 3-1 pitch to right for an RBI double and to knot the score up at 1. The Spartans' Thomas Troelstrup followed up with an RBI double of his own to make it a 2-1 ball game in UNCG's favor. The crucial blow came off the bat of Kris Richards as the Garner, N.C., native delivered a two-run double to extend the Spartan lead to three, 4-1. Dees would stop the bleeding by getting two fly outs with a walk sandwiched in between to end the threat.
Dylan Hathcock shut down the Blue Hose offense by scattering three hits in three innings of relief to collect his second save on the year.
Taylor (3-2) picked up the win for UNCG as he dominated through six innings as he allowed one run on three hits and struck out four.
Dees (1-5) took the loss for Presbyterian as he allowed four runs on five hits through six innings on 101 pitches.
The series victory was the first series UNCG has won since sweeping Penn State, Feb. 24-26.
UNCG returns to the diamond when it travels to Durham, N.C. to play Duke at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.