Elon 3, Wake Forest 2
ELON, N.C. -- Joey Tomko knocked the first homer of his Elon career and Phoenix pitching allowed just five hits as the maroon and gold defeated Wake Forest 3-2 at Latham Park on Wednesday night. The loss was just the second mid-week defeat for the Demon Deacons this season.
David Whitehead (3-3) went six strong innings, allowing just one run on three hits and striking out two to get the win. Jordan Darnell (2.0 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 K) and Andrew MacDonald (0.1 IP, 1 K) bridged the gap to closer Nate Young who recorded the final two outs for his seventh save of the year.
Ryan Kinsella led off the bottom of the second with a single up the middle to extend his hitting streak to 10 games, matching a career-high. Tomko then drove a 3-2 pitch from Tim Cooney over the tall wall in left to make it a 2-0 game in favor of the Phoenix (27-21).
Kinsella and Tomko had back-to-back singles to begin the fourth to put runners on the corners for Casey Jones who lifted a sacrifice fly to center as Elon built a 3-0 lead.
Wake Forest (27-20) got on the board in the sixth when Conor Keniry singled home Evan Stephens from second. The Deacs clawed closer with an unearned run in the eighth. Stephens singled and had his stay extended on the bases thanks to a throwing error before scoring on a Mac Williamson single.
Cooney, Wake's normal Friday night starter, gave up all three runs on six hits in five innings to fall to 5-5.
Elon will get back to Southern Conference action when it hosts Western Carolina in a pivotal three-game series beginning on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m.
The Citadel 5, North Florida 1
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Bo Thompson collected a pair of base hits and drove in three runs as The Citadel defeated North Florida 5-1 in non-conference action Wednesday afternoon at Riley Park. The Bulldogs improve to 20-26 on the season and travel to face Davidson this weekend in Southern Conference play.
Thompson posted RBI base hits in both the third and fifth innings to lead the Bulldogs' offense. Calvin Orth matched a career-high with three hits as The Citadel out-hit the Ospreys 12-6. Logan Cribb picked up the win to even his record at 2-2 on the season, tossing two frames of no-hit ball.
Ryan Roberson had a pair of hits for North Florida, while Osprey starter Spencer Herrmann took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits in 2.2 innings.
After a scoreless pair of innings to open the game, the Bulldogs plated three in the third for a 3-0 lead. Back-to-back one-out singles by Nick Orvin and Mason Davis gave The Citadel a pair of runners with Justin Mackert at the plate. On a double steal attempt, Davis was caught stealing at second, but Mackert drew a walk a few pitches later to put runners at the corners with two away. Joe Jackson walked on four pitches to load the bases and Bo Thompson came through with a two-run single to left for a 2-0 lead. Calvin Orth followed with a RBI single through the right side for a three-run cushion.
The Bulldogs added a pair of runs in the fifth for a 5-0 lead. Mackert singled up the middle to lead off the frame and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jackson. Mackert stole third, his 18th swipe of the season, and scored on a RBI single to left by Thompson. With Thompson running on the first pitch, Orth perfectly executed the hit-and-run with a single to right to put runners on the corners. One out later, Stokes ripped a RBI single up the middle to bring home Thompson for a 5-0 lead.
North Florida broke up the shutout bid in the top of the sixth, loading the bases with no outs, but only manufacturing a single run. Andrew Karmeris grounded into a double play that brought in Joe Wielbruda, cutting the Bulldogs' lead to 5-1.
Friday's first pitch against Davidson is set for 6 p.m., while Sunday's doubleheader is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
Furman 11, Gardner-Webb 7
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Will Miller homered, drove in four runs, and stole three bases to propel Furman past Gardner-Webb, 11-7, in Wednesday evening baseball action at Latham Stadium.
Miller, who reached base four times and scored twice, belted his team leading ninth home run, a three-run shot in the fifth inning, to break open a close game, and his three steals keyed the Paladins to a school record 11 stolen bases for the game, breaking the previous standard of nine set last year against Western Carolina. The senior centerfielder also notched an assist, the 23rd of his career.
The win improved Furman to 20-24 on the campaign and completed the Paladins' season sweep of Gardner-Webb, which had its five-game winning streak snapped in falling to 25-21 on the year.
Hunter Burton singled, doubled, cracked a two-run triple, his Southern Conference leading and Furman season record tying sixth of the year, and swiped three bases. Will Owens also had three hits, scored three runs, and swiped three bases, and Taylor Johnson continued his recent upswing at the plate with a 3-for-5, two-RBI performance, giving him seven hits in the last two games.
The Paladins overcame a 3-0 deficit, tying the game at 3-3 in the third on a Johnson two-run single and RBI grounder by Alex Abrams.
Furman took the lead an inning later after Will Owens singled and then stole second and third before coming home on Miller's single to left field off Gardner-Webb reliever Brandon Boling.
The Paladins blew the game open in the fifth, combining three hits with an error to score five runs. Burton's triple off the fence in right center field plated Owens and Chris Ohmstede. After a Will Muzika walk, Miller drilled the first pitch he saw from the Bulldogs' Matt Liedberg over the left field fence for a three-run clout that made it a 9-3 game.
The Paladins tacked on single runs in the sixth and seventh.
Gardner-Webb, which banged out 12 hits in the contest, was paced offensively by Brad Collins' 3-for-5 performance.
Furman finished with 11 hits.
The win was credited to Stephen Gary (1-0), who allowed only one hit in two innings of scoreless relief.
Boling (0-1) was charged with the loss after surrendering Furman's go-ahead run in the fourth. He was tagged for three hits and walked three in an inning of work.
Furman returns to Southern Conference play on Friday when it opens a three-game home series against Wofford at 7:30 p.m. at Latham Stadium. Saturday's game is set for 1:00 p.m., and Sunday's finale is a 2:00 p.m. start.
Georgia Southern 2, Charleston Southern 1
STATESBORO, Ga. - After picking up just two wins on a seven-game road trip, returning to J.I. Clements Stadium was just what the Georgia Southern Baseball team needed. The Eagles were 10-3 at home since March 4th coming into the game but had not played in Statesboro since April 15th. Scooter Williams (Detroit, Mich.) provided a walk-off single in the 9th inning to secure their 16th home victory in a 2-1 win over the Charleston Southern Buccaneers.
Georgia Southern (25-21) tallied eight hits but left 9 runners on base. Starting with a solid outing from Sam Howard (Cartersville, Ga.), who gave the Eagles four scoreless innings, the pitching staff held Charleston Southern (16-28) to seven hits and stranded 9 runners.
Hunter Thomas (John's Creek, Ga.) scored the game-winning run on Williams' two-out single through the left side of the infield. Thomas walked with one-out and stole second base during Eric Phillips' (Carrollton, Ga.) at-bat. The freshman scored from second base sliding in head first ahead of the throw from Walt Quattlebaum.
Williams' third hit of the game gave Jarret Leverett (Eatonton, Ga.) his third win of the season. Leverett (3-1) did not allow a hit over two scoreless frames and struck out a pair of batters. Earlier in the game Williams picked up his 9th consecutive hit, but his streak ended five hits shy of tying the NCAA record after he grounded out to the pitcher in the fifth inning.
The hit in the 9th inning was the only one allowed by Corey Deighan in
1.2 innings. Deighan (4-2) took the loss after allowing his one walk to score the final run. The senior right-hander struck out three batters, including two in the eighth inning.
The Buccaneers left five runners in scoring position before finally breaking through in the seventh inning, tying the game at 1-1. A lead off single by Blake Hunt came around to score on a wild pitch from Kyle Rowe (Valdosta, Ga.). A sacrifice bunt by Harrison Wilkins moved pinch-runner Ben Qualkinbush into scoring position before a ground out to the pitcher allowed him to reach third base.
Georgia Southern took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on a two-out single from Brent Pugh (Atlanta, Ga.). Pugh dropped a ball into left field to score T.D. Davis (Evans, Ga.), who led off the inning with a single to right field. Pugh finished the day with just the one hit but also walked twice and flew out to the warning track to lead off the 9th inning.
Before scoring the run, the Eagles came up scoreless with two runners on base in both the first and second innings. Phillips', who took sole possession of second place on GSU's career hits list, tripled to lead off the game and Williams followed with a bunt single; but both were left on base after starter Kevin Buran retired the next three hitters with a pair of strikeouts. Buran found himself in a similar jam in the next frame but coaxed a double play from Zac Lenns (Hilton Head Island, S.C.) to end the threat.
Georgia Southern remains at home this weekend and will host Samford in a three-game Southern Conference series. First pitch for Friday's series opener 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.
No. 3 South Carolina 2, Davidson 1
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Davidson suffered its second one-run loss to a nationally ranked team this season, as No. 3 South Carolina defeated the Wildcats, 2-1, in non-conference baseball action before 7,177 fans Wednesday night in Carolina Stadium.
South Carolina (34-11) scored unanswered runs in the third and fourth innings, while five pitchers held Davidson (16-26) to a run on five hits. RHP Matt Price earned his sixth save of the season after getting the final four outs.
Sophomore left fielder Forrest Brandt went 2-for-4 for the Wildcats, while seniors Drew Gadaire, James Cerbie and Seth Freeman each had a hit. Freshman designated hitter Ryan Lowe drove in the Wildcats lone run with a groundout in the third inning. Gadaire's hit was the 237th of his career, tying him for third all-time at Davidson with Rick Bender '93.
The Gamecocks tied the game in the bottom of the third inning and went ahead, 2-1, in the fourth. Right fielder Tanner English (2-for-3, BB) reached base on a bunt single and scored from third later in the third on a sacrifice fly to center by centerfielder Evan Marzilli (1-for-2). First baseman Kyle Martin (1-for-4) drove in the go-ahead run with a double to right field in the fourth.
Davidson took the first lead of the game in second inning. Cerbie drilled the first pitch of the frame down the left field line into the corner for a double and then took third on a wild pitch. Lowe then drove him home on a groundout to second base.
Senior RHP Brian Russell pitched well for Davidson in his first start in over a month, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks with two strikeouts in 5.2 innings. Junior RHP Bryan DaCanal and sophomore RHP Danny Mooney did not allow a hit in the final 3.1 innings.
RHP Forrest Koumas (2-2) earned the win after throwing a scoreless fifth inning.
The Wildcats will return home Friday to begin a three-game series with The Citadel. First pitch on Friday has been moved up to 5 p.m., and the teams will play a doubleheader Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. to allow The Citadel seniors to attend graduation ceremonies Saturday.
East Tennessee State 7, Appalachian State 4
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - East Tennessee's three-run seventh inning proved to be the difference in Appalachian State University baseball's 7-4 loss to the Bucs on Wednesday evening at Thomas Stadium.
Appalachian (32-10) trailed 3-2 going into the seventh but knotted the game at 3-3 on Hector Crespo's (Miami, Fla./Florida Christian) solo home run to lead off the frame. However, East Tennessee State (20-24) answered with a leadoff walk and four-straight singles in the bottom of the stanza to retake a 6-3 advantage.
The teams swapped single runs in the eighth and the Mountaineers couldn't make it any closer in the ninth. The loss snapped Appalachian's seven-game winning streak but extended its skid versus ETSU to three-straight defeats.
Trey Holmes (Rockwell, N.C./East Rowan) went 4-for-4 with a triple, RBI and run scored to lead the Apps' 12-hit attack. Preston Troutman (Rockwell, N.C./East Rowan) also had a triple among his three hits and true freshman Brandon Burris (Concord, N.C./Mount Pleasant) went 2-for-5 with two doubles to raise his batting average to .403.
Although Appalachian banged out 12 hits, it left nine runners on base and had another thrown out at the plate to end an inning. Of the nine ASU runners left on base, four were stranded at third base.
Ryne Frankoff (Apex, N.C./Apex), one of seven pitchers used by the Mountaineers, issued the leadoff walk in the seventh to suffer his first loss of the season.
Clinton Freeman and Dylan Pratt had three hits apiece to pace ETSU.
First-place and 28th-ranked Appalachian returns to action on Friday when it begins a three-game Southern Conference series versus UNC Greensboro. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at ASU's Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.