College of Charleston 11, UNCG 6
GREENSBORO, N.C. - College of Charleston's Brandon Murray and Brandon Glazer went a combined 5-for-9 with seven RBI as College of Charleston delivered the knockout blow to UNCG's postseason hopes, 11-6, in Southern Conference action on Thursday evening at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
With the loss and coupled with Furman's 12-1 win over Davidson, the Spartans failed to make the postseason for the second time in three years. With the victory, Furman clinched the eighth seed and knocked both UNCG and Davidson out of postseason contention.
College of Charleston (36-17, 20-8 SoCon) kept its hopes alive for the number-one seed in the upcoming Southern Conference Baseball Tournament by scoring at least two runs in every inning between the fourth and the seventh.
UNCG (24-26, 9-19 SoCon) dropped its ninth straight series opener in conference play as all four of its pitchers were tagged with at least two runs.
The Cougars wasted no time as they jumped all over UNCG starter Max Povse (2-6) for back-to-back-to-back hits to start the game. Murray collected his first of three RBI by delivering an RBI single to center field to put the Cougars on the scoreboard. Two batters later, Rob Harding gathered an RBI via groundout to make it a 2-0 game after a half-inning of play.
UNCG would plate an unearned run in the bottom-half of the third inning after Eric Kalbfleisch motored home on a throwing error to cut the deficit in half, 2-1.
College of Charleston responded with a bang as it plated a pair of runs in each of the next three innings. In the fourth, Gunnar Heidt caused havoc as he stole two bases after walking and scored on a throwing error to make it 3-1 in Charleston's favor. Leadoff hitter Marty Gantt continued his impressive season with as a run scored on his fielder's choice to extend the lead to three, 4-1.
In the fifth inning, Glazer crushed the third pitch he saw from UNCG's Jonathan Jones for a two-run homer to make it a 6-1 game.
UNCG would plate a run in the bottom-half of the frame thanks to an RBI single from Lloyd Enzor to shrink the lead to 6-2.
However, the Cougars put the game away with five unanswered runs over the next two innings. In the sixth inning, Murray continued to tear up Spartan pitching as he roped a two-run double to right center, but was hosed at third trying to stretch it into a triple. In the top of the seventh, Glazer struck again, this time with a two-run double to left, and would eventually score on a wild pitch to conclude the scoring for the Cougars.
UNCG wouldn't go down easily as it plated four runs in the bottom of the ninth. With the bases juiced and two outs, Christian Wolfe clobbered a three-run bases-clearing triple and scored on a passed ball later in the inning to make it 11-6.
The Cougars' Christian Powell (9-3) would get the win as he labored through five innings of work on 89 pitches as he scattered seven hits and allowed two runs (one earned) and struck out three batters. Relievers' Nick Osterman and Derrick Smith were flawless as they didn't allow a base runner in three innings of work.
Povse was tagged with the loss as the freshman allowed four runs (all earned) and walked four batters in three innings of work.
All but one starter scored a run for the Cougars as Murray led the team with three hits and Gantt and Glazer chipped in with two apiece.
Senior's Bobby Martin and Kris Richards enjoyed multi-hit performances as both went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Both teams left six runners on base as UNCG's pitching staff walked six batters compared to a pair of strikeouts.
The Spartans will look to even up the series on Friday at 6 p.m. at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Elon 18, The Citadel 5
ELON, N.C. -- With the game tied at five heading to the bottom of the seventh, the Elon Phoenix erupted to score 13 runs over its next two at bats to claim an 18-5 Southern Conference baseball victory over The Citadel on Thursday night. Elon (30-24, 19-10 SoCon) has now won 30 or more games in 13 consecutive seasons and has secured at least the third seed in the upcoming SoCon Tournament.
After The Citadel (24-30, 13-16) had evened the score at five with RBI singles from Justin Mackert and Bo Thompson in the top of the seventh, the Phoenix responded with three runs to take an 8-5 lead. With one out and Blaine Bower on first, Chris Bresnahan dropped a single down the right field line to put runners on the corners. Eric Serra followed by bouncing one through the right side of the infield to drive home the go-ahead tally. A failed pickoff at first allowed Bresnahan to score from third and Serra would later score on a single off the bat of Alex Swim.
The maroon and gold put up 10 runs in the eighth inning to put the game out of reach. Elon received nine of its 14 walks in the bottom of the eighth, including five with the bags full. In the frame, Elon had just two hits - a two-run single from Quinn Bower and a RBI single by Casey Jones.
The Bulldogs took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second as both Tyler Griffin and Bailey Rush picked up RBI.
Elon answered with two in its half of the inning as Bresnahan was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Serra drove in one on a fielder's choice. The Phoenix took a 4-2 lead after three thanks to a two-RBI double from Ryan Kinsella and added its fifth run on a Swim single in the fourth.
Thompson's sixth inning single drove in a run to make it 5-3.
Jordan Darnell (2-2) earned the win with 2.1 scoreless innings out of the pen. He allowed two hits and struck out two. Starter David Whitehead gave up three runs on four hits in 5.1 innings.
James Reeves (6-4) was charged with the loss after surrendering three runs on two hits in an inning of relief.
All nine Elon starters had at least one RBI and eight of the nine had at least one hit as the Phoenix tallied its highest run total of the season.
The Phoenix will look to complete the series sweep as it closes out the 2012 regular season against The Citadel at 1:30 p.m. on Friday at Latham Park.
Furman 12, Davidson 1
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Taylor Johnson homered and drove in four runs to power Furman to a 12-1 victory over Davidson in the opening game of a Southern Conference baseball series at Latham Stadium Thursday evening.
With the win and UNC Greensboro's 11-6 loss to the College of Charleston on Thursday, Furman (24-29, 11-17 SoCon) clinches the No. 8 seed in next week's Southern Conference Tournament (May 23-27) at Fluor Field. The Paladins will play the No. 1 seed (TBD) next Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.
Johnson, a junior from Greer, doubled and scored in both the third and fifth innings, singled in the seventh, and belted his fifth home run of the season, a three-run job in the eighth inning, to highlight a 4-for-5 performance.
Will Muzika, making his first career start in left field and first start since injuring his elbow against The Citadel last Friday, also hit a three-run home run, scored three times, and stole two bases as part of 15-hit attack by the Paladins.
Freshman Jarrod Rickman drove the first pitch he saw from Davidson starting pitcher Henry Sisson over the left center field fence to give Furman a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
After the Wildcats tied it with a run in the third, Rickman struck again in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single to center that drove in Will Owens, who had drawn a one out walk and advanced to second on a balk. Two batters later Johnson laced the first of his two doubles down the left field line, and Muzika followed with a three-run blast to left center field that staked the Paladins to a 5-1 lead.
Muzika's two-run double in the fifth made it 6-1, and the Paladin junior raced home from third on Hunter Burton's high hop single off the plate to give Furman a 7-1 lead.
The Paladins added a run in the seventh and four more in the eighth on an RBI single by Will Miller and Johnson's towering three-run blast that landed well up on the hill beyond the left field fence.
The ample run support backed up a strong outing by Paladin starting and winning pitcher Bobby Lyne (6-5), who allowed a run on eight hits in six innings of work. He walked one and struck out seven.
Freshman Matt Solter allowed only one hit and struck out five over the final three innings to record his first career save.
Sisson (4-3) was charged with the loss after getting roughed up for seven runs on 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked four and fanned three.
Furman will honor its eight-member 2012 senior class in ceremonies prior to Thursday's doubleheader, which begins at 1:00 p.m.
Samford 4, No. 24 Oklahoma 2
NORMAN, Okla.-The Samford baseball team earned a 4-2 win in the first game of a three-game series at No. 24 Oklahoma Thursday night at L. Dale Mitchell Park.
Josh Martin earned the win for Samford, pitching 5.0 innings, giving up two runs on six hits. With the win, Martin improves to 11-1 on the season, tying the school record for wins in a single season. Martin tied the record set by Josh Ehmke, who posted an 11-2 record in 2006.
Michael Gunter pitched 3.0 innings in relief of Martin, allowing no runs on two hits. Tyler Vanderheiden pitched the final inning to pick up his first save of the season.
"We had three guys really pitch great tonight," Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. "You hate for guys to go out there and have a great outing and not give them some runs, but thankfully we gave them enough runs tonight. Josh, Michael and Vandy were all phenomenal tonight."
For Samford at the plate, Saxon Butler hit a solo home run in a 1-for-4 performance. The homer was his 12th of the season, ranking second on the team. Christiaan Durdaller also homered, going 1-for-3 at the plate. Phillip Ervin and Tyler Filliben also drove in a run each for Samford.
For Oklahoma at the plate, Max White and Caleb Bushyhead went 2-for-4 each. Cody Reine and Jack Mayfield drove in a run each for the Sooners. Jordan John (8-6) pitched 6.0 innings, giving up three runs on five hits to take the loss for Oklahoma.
Samford jumped on top first with a run in the top of the first inning. With two outs in the inning, Butler hit a solo home run to left-center field to give the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead.
Oklahoma tied the score with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. White walked to lead off the inning. After moving to second base on a sacrifice bunt, White scored on a double by Mayfield to tie the score at 1-1.
The Bulldogs came back with a run in the top of the fifth inning. C.K. Irby led the inning off with a single through the right side of the infield. With one out in the inning, Irby moved to third base on a single by Tommy Corbin. Irby then scored when Filliben reached base on a fielder's choice for a 2-1 Samford lead.
Oklahoma tied the game again with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Garrett Carey doubled with one out in the inning. Carey later scored on sacrifice fly by Reine to make the score 2-2.
Samford took the lead again with a run in the top of the sixth inning. Brad Moss singled and went to second base on a Sooner error to start the inning. Moss then went to third base on a passed ball and later scored on a single by Ervin to give Samford a 3-2 lead.
The Bulldogs added another run in the top of the ninth inning. With two outs in the inning, Durdaller hit a solo home run to left field to make the score 4-2.
With the win, Samford improves to 35-19 on the season, setting a new school record for regular-season wins. The overall school record for wins is 37, set last season. Oklahoma falls to 33-21 with the loss.
The same two teams will continue their three-game series with a game Friday night at 6:30 p.m. The game can be heard locally on WVSU-FM 91.1, or worldwide on the internet at www.samford.edu/wvsu. Fans can also follow the game online via GameTracker at www.samfordsports.com.
WCU Leads Appalachian, 5-0, in Rain-Halted Game One
Catamounts score five runs in fourth before weather-related delays halted the game
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina scored five runs in a weather-lengthened fourth inning to take a 5-0 lead before the second of two weather-related delays forced the suspension of play on Thursday evening in the top of the seventh inning of game one at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
WCU starting pitcher Jordan Smith retired the first nine batters en route to throwing five innings of no-hit baseball before the first weather delay of the evening, lasting an hour and 37 minutes. Appalachian State picked up its first hit in the top of the sixth when play resumed. There was one more scoreless inning before lightning and rain would ultimately postpone the conclusion of game one until Friday.
Both WCU starter Smith and ASU starting pitcher Ryan Arrowood are the pitchers of record when play resumes at 4:00 pm in the top of the seventh inning. Game two will follow 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first game and will feature left-handed hurler Morgan McKinney for the Catamounts (3.79 ERA, 6-3) going up against ASU's RHP Seth Grant (2.82 ERA, 6-2).
Audio coverage for tomorrow's game can be found at GoASU.com with live video streaming through Catamount All-Access (subscription) online at CatamountSports.com.