Appalachian State 9, Samford 7
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-The Samford baseball team dropped the final game of its final Southern Conference series of the season, 9-7, to league-leading Appalachian State Sunday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
With the Samford loss, Appalachian State wins the series, two games to one. Samford drops to 33-19 overall and 19-11 in Southern Conference play, while ASU improves to 36-12 overall and 20-7 in league play. The 19 conference wins for Samford are the most the team has earned since joining the SoCon prior to the 2009 season.
"At the end of the day, we didn't do the small things you have to do to win a baseball game," Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. "You have to give them credit because they were able to do a little more than we did."
After falling behind, 3-1 in the first three innings, Samford came back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 4-3 lead. Saxon Butler and Phillip Ervin led the inning off with back-to-back singles to get things started. Brandon Miller then singled to left-center field to drive in Butler, and Ervin scored on an ASU error to tie the game at 3-3. Miller, who had moved to third base on the Mountaineer error, scored on a ground out by C.K. Irby to give Samford the 4-3 lead.
The Bulldogs' lead, however, did not last long as Appalachian State plated four runs in the top of the sixth inning to take the lead again at 7-4. Daniel Kassouf led the inning off with a double down the left-field line. Tyler Tewell then singled to right field, moving Kassouf to third base. Brandon Burris then singled to left field to drive in Kassouf to tie the score at 4-4.
Trey Holmes then moved Burris to second base and Tewell to third on a sacrifice bunt. Preston Troutman then reached base on a dropped fly ball, scoring Tewell to give ASU the 5-4 lead. Noah Holmes then singled to right field, driving in Troutman and Burris for a 7-4 ASU lead.
The Mountaineers added two runs in the top of the eighth inning to push their lead to 9-4. With one out in the inning, Troutman walked. With two outs in the inning, Troutman stole second base and then scored on a single by Hector Crespo. Tyler Zupcic then walked, and Crespo advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Will Callaway then singled to right field to drive in Crespo for a 9-4 Mountaineer lead.
Samford came back with three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to cut the ASU lead to 9-7. Tommy Corbin and Tyler Filliben were both hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Zeth Stone then walked to load the bases with no outs. Brad Moss then walked to bring in Corbin for Samford's first run of the inning. Butler then walked to bring in Filliben to make the score 9-6. With one out in the inning, Miller walked to score Stone to make the score 9-7. ASU relief pitcher Tyler Moore then came into pitch for the Mountaineers and got Irby to ground into a double play to end the inning.
Samford started the bottom of the ninth inning with back-to-back singles by Christiaan Durdaller and Corbin. Moore, however, struck out Filliben and got Stone to ground into a double play to end the game.
For the game, Samford was led at the plate by Corbin, going 3-for-4. Moss, Durdaller and Filliben had two hits each for the Bulldogs. Miller drove in two runs in a 1-for-3 performance. Joseph Burns (3-1) pitched 2.1 innings in relief, giving up four runs, just three earned, on four hits to take the loss on the mound for Samford.
Appalachian State was led at the plate by Crespo, Callaway and Kassouf, with two hits and an RBI each. Jeremy Dowdy had a home run and two RBI, going 1-for-3 at the plate. Jamie Nunn (5-0) pitched 2.1 innings in relief, giving up two runs on three hits to earn the win. Moore tossed the final 1.2 innings, giving up no runs on two hits to pick up his first save of the season.
Samford will play its final home game of the 2012 season on Tuesday when the Bulldogs play host to the fifth-ranked Florida Gators. The game is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start from Joe Lee Griffin Field. The game can be heard locally on WVSU-FM 91.1, or worldwide on the internet at www.samford.edu/wvsu. The game can also be viewed online on the Bulldog Big Screen at www.samfordsports.com. Fans can also follow the game online via GameTracker at www.samfordsports.com.
Georgia Southern 2, Western Carolina 1
STATESBORO, Ga. - After a three-hour rain delay, the Georgia Southern Baseball team rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Western Carolina Catamounts on Sunday afternoon. The Eagles sent their three seniors out with a win and finished the 2012 home slate with a 19-10 record.
Georgia Southern (28-24, 14-13) went scoreless through the first four innings and had to rally from an early one-run deficit. The Eagles sent seven batters to the plate in the fifth inning and came away with the winning two runs off of Western Carolina's (30-20, 14-13) Jeremy Null.
Eric Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.) drove in a lead off hit batter in Scooter Williams (Detroit, Mich.) with a sacrifice fly to start the scoring in the bottom of the fifth inning. Chase Griffin (Leesburg, Ga.) kept the inning going with an infield single and T.D. Davis (Evans, Ga.) provided the two-out RBI to drive in the winning run.
Null tossed his second-straight quality start but left in the seventh inning with a loss. Null (4-4) scattered 9 hits and allowed just the two fifth inning runs over 6.1 innings. The freshman right-hander walked only one batter and struck out three batters in his 100 pitches.
GSU starter Will Middour (Atlanta, Ga.) pitched well through three innings before allowing the run on a two-out double from Cody Jones in the fourth inning. Middour left after the inning and allowed just the one run on two hits. The sophomore right-hander walked only two batters but a two-out walk in the top of the fourth scored the game's first run.
Jarret Leverett (Eatonton, Ga.) picked up where Middour left off and tossed four scoreless innings to pick up the win. Leverett (4-1) allowed just one hit to the second batter he faced and retired the last 11 batters he faced in order.
Kyle Rowe (Valdosta, Ga.) tossed a scoreless ninth inning to close the door on any Catamount comeback attempt. Rowe (S, 5) struck out two of the three batters he faced, including Jacob Hoyle to end the game.
The Eagles will finish up the 2012 regular season on the road starting with a mid-week game at Kennesaw State Tuesday. Game time for the final non-conference game is set for 6 p.m.
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.
UNCG 8, Wofford 7
GREENSBORO, N.C. - For the second game in a row, five Spartans enjoyed a multi-hit performance as UNCG took advantage of seven Wofford errors on its way to an 8-7 victory to take the rubber match on Sunday afternoon in Southern Conference action at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
For the third consecutive game, UNCG (24-24, 9-18 SoCon) scored in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead as TJ Spina and Kris Richards pleased the home crowd as both went 3-for-5 from the plate. With the victory, the Spartans won their second conference series on the year and did it at the right time of the year. Combined with a Furman victory over The Citadel in 12 innings, UNCG is staying in the thick of things for the eighth seed for the Southern Conference Baseball Tournament that starts in 10 days. The Spartans trail Furman by one game as both teams have three conference games left.
Wofford (20-31, 7-20 SoCon) committed a season-high seven errors and found itself mathematically eliminated from postseason contention with the loss today.
UNCG plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning as Lloyd Enzor drove in Bobby Martin, who led off the game with a single, with an RBI single through the left side. Two batters later, Wofford committed its second error of the inning as a failed pickoff throw sailed into right field, which allowed Enzor to motor home and make it a 2-0 game.
The Terriers got on the board in the top of the second after Stephen Cantrell laid down a perfect bunt to plate James Plaisted to cut the deficit in half and make it 2-1 in UNCG's favor.
Martin roped an RBI single up the middle in the back-end of the third inning to extend the lead back to two, 3-1.
Wofford responded with a three-spot in the top of the fourth to take a brief 4-3 lead. David Roney clobbered an RBI triple to right field to plate Josh Hyman, who singled to lead the inning off, to make it a 3-2 game. Plaisted followed suit as he delivered an RBI double to knot the game up at three. Plaisted would score on a sacrifice fly from leadoff hitter James Foster to give the Terriers a 4-3 lead.
However, the lead was short lived as UNCG responded with two runs in the bottom half of the fourth. Christian Wolfe gathered an RBI single to score Cole Harrison and Thomas Troelstrup followed up with a sacrifice fly to give the Spartans the lead once again, 5-4.
Not to be rejected, Wofford tied the game with a single run in the top of the fifth after Mac Doyle scored on a wild pitch from UNCG reliever Corey Taylor.
The Spartans snatched the lead back in the sixth inning as Enzor delivered another RBI single through the left side to make it a 6-5 game.
Both teams would plate two runs in the eighth inning to conclude the games' scoring. In the top half, Wofford plated a run on a passed ball that scooted past UNCG's catcher to tie the game at six. Two batters later, pinch-hitter Luke Feisal gave the Terriers the lead once again as he hit an RBI single up the middle to make it a 7-6 game in Wofford's favor.
In the home half of the eighth, Spina roped an RBI double to plate Richards to tie the game at 7 apiece. Spina would eventually come around to score the games decisive run after Wofford committed its sixth error of the game to give UNCG an 8-7 lead. Tyler Hollstegge would allow a single in the top of the ninth, but buckled down for the last two outs to secure the win for the Spartans.
Hollstegge (5-6) earned a spot in the win column as went two innings and allowed two hits on 23 pitches.
The Terriers' Eric Eck (4-3) took the loss as he was touched up for two runs on three hits on 38 pitches.
All but two UNCG starters collected a hit as Enzor led the way with two RBI. Roney paced the Terrier offense as he went 3-for-4 and Plaisted scored three times. Both teams struck out five times and UNCG left 14 runners on base compared to seven by Wofford.
The Spartans return to action on Tuesday in their final nonconference game of the 2012 slate as they travel to Raleigh, N.C. to face N.C. State at 6 p.m.
Furman 8, The Citadel 6 (12 inn.)
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Back-to-back RBI singles by Taylor Johnson and Alex Abrams scored a pair of runs in the top of the 12th inning as Furman defeated The Citadel 8-6 in the Bulldogs' home finale at Riley Park Sunday afternoon in Southern Conference action. The Bulldogs wrap up the regular season with a three-game series at Elon beginning Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
With Brett Tompkins on the mound for the Bulldogs, Furman mounted a two-out rally to pull ahead in extra innings. Will Miller lined a single into left and stole second, scoring on Johnson single to left center. Johnson advanced to second on the throw home and scored when Abrams roped a 3-2 pitch into right center for the two-run Paladin advantage.
Elliott Warford earned the win for the Paladins, tossing the final five innings, allowing just a single unearned run in the ninth that knotted the game at 6-6. Warford gave up one hit, holding the Bulldogs hitless over the final three frames, striking out one with one walk. Johnson and Abrams each collected three hits for Furman, with Abrams adding three RBI. Furman starter Tyler Wood allowed eight hits over six innings, giving up one run.
Tompkins suffered the loss for the Bulldogs, allowing two runs on three hits in the one inning, striking out one. Nick Orvin and Justin Mackert recorded three hits apiece, while Bo Thompson had two hits and three RBI. Orvin's three hits give him 316 for his career, moving into third all-time. Citadel starter Logan Cribb gave up three runs on five hits over 4.2 innings with two walks and one strikeout.
Furman (23-28, 10-17 SoCon) took its first lead of the series, scoring three times in the first for a 3-0 lead. Will Owens lined a one-out double into left center and scored on a RBI single up the middle by Jarrod Rickman. After Miller flied out to right, Johnson beat out an infield single to third, beating out the throw from Bailey Rush by a step to put runners at first and second. Abrams cleared the bases with a two-run triple down the right-field line on a 1-2 pitch from Cribb to put the Paladins up 3-0.
The Paladins added a run in the sixth for a 4-0 lead. Miller led off the frame with a four pitch walk from Citadel reliever Zach Sherrill and Johnson's single to right on the hit-and-run sent Miller to third. James Reeves entered the game in relief for The Citadel and struck out Abrams, but Johnson stole second on the strikeout, putting both runners in scoring position. Chris Ohmstede dropped a bunt down the first base line and Miller scored as Ohmstede was retired at first.
The Bulldogs (24-28, 13-14) broke up Furman's shutout bid in the bottom of the sixth, scoring a single run off Wood for a 4-1 score. Mackert stroked a two-out single up the middle and advanced to second when Joe Jackson drew a five-pitch walk. Thompson lined a 3-1 pitch into right to score Mackert from second for the Bulldogs' first run.
The Citadel took a 5-4 lead with a four-run seventh inning, using five hits and batting through the order. With Ben Carlson on in relief of Wood, pinch-hitter Calvin Orth walked and Johnathan Stokes lined a single to right, sending Orth to third. Orvin singled down the left-field line to score Orth, cutting the deficit to two runs. Matt Solter came on to pitch for the Paladins and one out later, Mackert followed up with a single up the middle to plate Stokes from second for a 4-3 score. Jackson walked on five pitches to load the bases for Thompson, who lined a two-run double down the right-field line to give the Bulldogs a 5-4 advantage.
A wild ninth inning followed as Furman scored twice in the top of the frame to take a 6-5 lead before the Bulldogs knotted the game with a run in the bottom half. With Ryan Hines on the mound for The Citadel, Hunter Burton reached on an infield single and Will Muzika lined a pinch-hit double down the left-field line to put runners at the corners with no outs. Jake Jones lifted a sacrifice fly to left, deep enough to score Burton to tie the game at 5-5. A groundout to short by Owens moved Muzika to third and a RBI double by Rickman plated him for the brief 6-5 lead.
The Bulldogs sent the game into extra innings with a run in the bottom of the frame off Warford. Orvin singled through the left side, advanced to second on a throwing error during a pickoff attempt by Warford and took third on a wild pitch. After a walk to Mason Davis, Orvin scored during a double play to knot the score at 6-6.
The Bulldogs close out the regular season with a three-game Southern Conference series at Elon beginning Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
College of Charleston 11, UNC Asheville 6
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - The College of Charleston bats came alive on the final game of the series, carrying CofC to an 11-6 win over UNC Asheville on Sunday afternoon.
The Cougars hit three home runs and three doubles as all but one starter tallied a hit. The win snapped a two-game losing streak and helped the Cougars (34-17) avoid a sweep against the Bulldogs (24-25).
CofC was led by home runs from Marty Gantt, Bradley Goodson and Brandon Glazer. Goodson also hit a two-RBI double to end the game with four RBI. Gantt scored two runs on two hits, and Brandon Murray and Daniel Aldrich each hit doubles and tallied RBI and two runs. Gunnar Heidt broke out of his recent hitting slump with a 2-for-3 day, scoring three runs.
Cougar starter Matt Pegler pitched 4.1 innings, earning a no decision as he allowed nine hits and five runs, although only two were earned. Senior Kyle Owings (3-0) picked up the win with an outstanding middle relief performance, pitching 2.2 innings of no-hit ball while striking out four batters. Dre Watts pitched a perfect eighth and David Peterson finished the game in the ninth, allowing one run on three hits.
UNC Asheville starter Brian Connolly (5-4) was tagged with the loss after giving up six runs on seven hits through the first four and a third innings. In all, Asheville used seven pitchers in the game with no reliever seeing more than an inning of action.
The Cougars mounted a two-out rally in the first inning, scoring four runs on doubles by Murray and Aldrich and a single from Rob Harding. Glazer then hit a two-run homer, his third of the season, to put CofC up 4-0.
The Bulldogs answered with three runs on three hits in the top of the second inning, all unearned as the Cougars committed three fielding errors in the frame. Cody Buch and Jordan Lurie tallied RBI in the inning as 11 Bulldogs came to the plate in the inning.
Asheville took the lead in the top of the fourth inning with a leadoff single from Ian Graham followed by a double from Todd Joyner. Buch hit a sacrifice fly to score Graham and Eli Miller singled to bring Joyner home, giving UNC Asheville a 5-4 lead.
College of Charleston battled back in the fifth and sixth innings with two-run homers from Gantt and Goodson, scoring Heidt each time. Gantt's home run was his 10th of the season while Goodson's RBIs give him a team-best 42 on the year.
The Cougars put the game away in the eighth inning when Goodson roped a two-RBI double down the left field line to score Gantt and Heidt and put the Cougars up 11-5.
Asheville plated one run in the top of the ninth on an RBI groundout with the bases loaded from Patrick Koontz, but it wasn't enough as the Cougars hung on the 11-6 victory.
Before the game, the Cougar fans acknowledged the stellar careers of six seniors during Senior Day. Gantt, Harding, Nick Osterman, Owings, Peterson and Josh Renfro were all given a framed jersey and gathered as their career accomplishments were read.
The Cougars will conclude the 2012 home season on Tuesday night as CofC hosts Coastal Carolina at 6 p.m.