Appalachian State 6, No. 8 NC State 3

RALEIGH, N.C. – Appalachian State’s baseball team torched first-team All-American Carlos Rodon for three home runs and four Appalachian State pitchers combined to limit NC State to just four hits in the Mountaineers’ 6-3 win over the No. 8-ranked Wolfpack in Friday’s season-opener at Doak Field.

Freshman Jaylin Davis and juniors Noah Holmes and Preston Troutman all homered off of Rodon to give Appalachian State a 5-0 advantage just 3 1/2 innings into the game, and pitchers Jamie Nunn, Taylor Thurber, Tyler Moore and Rob Marcello made the lead stand up in the Mountaineers’ fifth win over a nationally ranked team in the past calendar year.

Davis started the onslaught against Rodon by turning on the first pitch he faced as a collegiate batter and launching it high over the left-field wall for a two-out, three-run blast that gave Appalachian State a commanding 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Holmes and Troutman followed with solo blasts in the second and fourth innings, respectively, that stretched the advantage to 5-0 in front of a stunned NC State season-opening record crowd of 2,396.

Appalachian’s three home runs off of Rodon (0-1) in the first four innings of Friday’s contest surpassed the two that he surrendered in 114.2 innings last year, when the southpaw became the first NCAA Division I freshman to ever be named one of the three finalists for the Golden Spikes Award, which honors the United States’ top amateur baseball player.

While the Mountaineer offense was putting on its power display against Rodon, Nunn was silencing NC State’s bats. The right-handed sophomore retired the first nine Wolfpack batters that he faced and ran into his only real trouble of the day in the bottom of the fourth inning, when three Appalachian State errors contributed to a two-run rally for NC State that cut the Mountaineers’ lead to 5-2. After avoiding any further damage by inducing an inning-ending double play in the fourth, Nunn would go on to work two more innings before leaving the contest with the three-run lead still intact.

The Wolfpack also brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh and eighth innings, but Thurber sat down three straight batters to end the threat in the seventh and Moore battled back from a 3-0 count to get an inning-ending strikeout in the eighth.

There was no drama in the ninth, however, as Marcello retired the side in order to easily record his first career save. Making his first relief appearance as a Mountaineer, the senior southpaw closed out the win by getting NC State’s Bryan Adametz to swing and miss at the game’s final pitch, drawing a huge roar from the large contingent of Appalachian State fans among the record crowd at Doak Field.

In all, the four Mountaineer pitchers combined to allow just two earned runs on four hits while striking out eight and walking only three. Nunn (1-0) led the way, surrendering just one earned run on three hits and fanning five in six innings.

Offensively, Davis added a ninth-inning double to go along with his first-inning homer and was the only Mountaineer with multiple hits.

Rodon, who had never surrendered more than three earned runs in 16 previous starts at NC State, was tagged for five runs on five hits over six innings and, despite striking out eight, suffered his first collegiate loss. After going 9-0 as a freshman last season and 11-0 as a senior at nearby Holly Springs High School in 2011, Rodon suffered his first loss at any level since dropping a decision as a high school junior on May 21, 2010.

The teams resume their three-game season-opening series on Saturday with a 1 p.m. contest at Doak Field (note time change due to forecast for inclement weather later in the day.).

 

Furman 4, Michigan State 3

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Alex Abrams’ stroked a line-drive single into left center field to score Heath Burton from third base with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat Michigan State, 4-3, in the 2013 season opener for both teams Friday afternoon in the First Pitch Invitational at Fluor Field.

Abrams’ decisive hit capped a two-out, bases-empty rally for Furman, which trailed 3-2 heading into its last at bat. Michigan State reliever Jeff Kinley struck out the first two Paladins in the ninth but was pulled after issuing a full-count walk to Jake Jones. Kinley’s replacement, Justin Alleman, uncorked a wild pitch to move Jones to second and then served up an RBI triple to Burton that cleared the outstretched glove of the Spartans’ Anthony Cheky in dead center field. Abrams followed with an eight-pitch at bat before delivering an Alleman pitch into left center field to plate Burton.

The rally made a winner of Mauldin, S.C., right-hander Ben Carlson (1-0), who pitched a scoreless ninth to complete a solid performance by four Furman pitchers. Starter Nate Smith and relievers Drake Brown, Ryan Morse and Carlson combined to record 10 strikeouts with no walks. Browne’s outing, which covered 1 1/3 scoreless innings, marked his return to the mound after missing the entire 2012 season following Tommy John surgery.

Alleman (0-1) took the loss for Michigan State.

Both teams collected eight hits, with Jarrod Rickman leading the way for Furman with a 2-for-3 performance and Checky producing two hits, including a double, in four at bats for the Spartans.

Rickman’s one-out single to center in the second off of MSU starter Andrew Waszak scored Paul Nitto from third to give the Paladins a 1-0 lead. On the play, Michigan State third baseman John Martinez’s throw to second base in an attempt to retire Rickman sailed into right field, allowing Jones to sprint home from third to make it 2-0.

Michigan State answered with a three-run fifth, highlighted by catcher Joel Fisher’s towering three-run home run over the left field wall off of Smith, who had yielded a single and a hit batsman to open the frame.

The Spartans put two runners on with two outs in the seventh against Browne, who got out of inning unscathed by striking out Martinez swinging.

Kinley pitched effectively in relief of Waszak, coming on in the seventh and working 2 2/3 innings before getting pulled following his walk to Jones with two outs in the ninth.

Furman will play Northwestern at noon on Saturday at Fluor Field, with sophomore right-hander Elliott Warford (6-0, 3.61 ERA in ‘12) expected to go for the Paladins. The Wildcats knocked off Miami of Ohio, 8-1, in Friday afternoon’s opening game.

 

UNCG 7, Army 4

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG baseball team jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first inning and made it stand as the Spartans downed Army 7-4 Friday in their season opener at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. The contest marked a victorious UNCG debut for head coach Link Jarrett.

Dylan Hathcock relieved starter Max Povse in the top of the fourth inning and threw 4.1 innings to earn his first win of the season. He gave up one unearned run and struck out five before senior Corey Taylor recorded the final four outs of the contest for his second career save.

Senior outfielder Christian Wolfe served as the Spartans’ leadoff hitter and did not disappoint, going 3-for-5, while senior infielders Trevor Edwards and Llyod Enzor each delivered two RBI. As a team, UNCG came away with 13 hits while limiting Army to just five. The teams also combined to leave 20 men on base and committed six errors between them.

The Black Knights struck first in the top of the first as Daniel Cortes drew a walk and Grant Van Orden was able to move him over with a sac bunt. Mark McCants followed with a single through the middle, which plated Cortes. Povse induced a groundout and pop up to escape further damage.

The Spartans jumped all over senior All-America pitcher Chris Rowley in the bottom of the frame as four of the first five batters posted hits – including a two-run triple by sophomore designated hitter Eric Kalbfleisch. Edwards also smashed a double to right center, which scored senior outfielder Zach Leach.

With two outs in the top of the second, Cortes reached on a fielder’s choice that plated Michael Sands unearned and cut the UNCG cushion to 3-2. Army would knot the score at 3 in the top of the next inning with another unearned run. Patrick Mescher was hit by a pitch with one out and moved over on a Harold Earls single before Alex Jensen reached on an error by Edwards at third that scored Mescher.

The Black Knights threatened again in the top of the fourth, but with one out and the bases loaded, Hathcock entered and picked off Cortes at third before striking out Mescher looking to terminate the rally.

Enzor provided the deciding blow in the bottom of the fourth as junior outfielder Cole Harrison reached on an error by the shortstop before Enzor got hold of a pitch in his wheelhouse and cranked it to left center for his sixth career round-tripper. UNCG would tack on another run to move in front 6-3 in the bottom of the fifth on a sac fly foul out by junior catcher Cambric Moye, which brought home senior infielder TJ Spina.

The teams traded runs in the sixth inning to account for the final margin.

Hathcock completed his stellar day in the top of the eighth with two outs. Taylor then struck out three of the last four batters to seal UNCG’s opening-day victory.

Weather permitting, the Spartans and Black Knights will meet again Saturday at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. First pitch is tentatively scheduled for 2 p.m.

 

The Citadel 9, George Mason 1

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Joe Jackson got The Citadel off and running with a two-run homer in the first inning and drove in five runs on the day, while Austin Pritcher worked six shutout innings in a 9-1 victory over George Mason to wrap up the first day of the Homewood Suites Tournament presented by Charleston Crab House.

Kansas State downed High Point 5-1 in the opening game of the tournament. The Bulldogs will face the Wildcats of the Big 12 on Saturday at 2 p.m., a change from the original 4 p.m. start time due to the threat of inclement weather later in the day. High Point takes on George Mason at 10:30 a.m.

Jackson, beginning his junior year as The Citadel catcher, established a personal high with his five RBI and matched his career best with four hits, adding a double and two singles to round out his big day. His first-inning shot was his second career home run and gave Pritcher and the Bulldogs all the runs they would need.

The senior right-hander worked the first six innings, giving up only four hits and two walks to go along with six strikeouts. He worked around a leadoff walk to start the game and a first-and-third, nobody-out situation in the second to extend his consecutive streak of not allowing an earned run at Riley Park to 32 1/3 innings.

The Citadel added to its lead against George Mason starter Anthony Montefusco in the second, using four hits, including back-to-back RBI doubles by Mason Davis and Drew DeKerlegand and a run-scoring single by Jackson, to build a 5-0 advantage.

Davis had two hits, swiped a pair of bases and scored three times for The Citadel. Hughston Armstrong also had two hits, while DeKerlegand scored twice.

The Bulldogs tacked on a run in the fourth on Jackson's RBI double and added two more in the sixth without the benefit of a base hit. The Patriots committed three errors in the frame, and Bo Thompson had a sacrifice fly.

Pritcher, meanwhile, calmed down after allowing the leadoff batter to reach base in each of the first three innings. Right fielder Tyler Griffin kept the shutout alive when he gunned down Jordan Hill trying to score from third on a fly out in the third, and Pritcher proceeded to allow only two base runners over his final three innings.

George Mason reached relief pitcher Logan Cribb for a run in the seventh before the trio of Zach Sherrill, David Rivera and Skylar Hunter finished the combined seven-hitter to give The Citadel its second win in as many all-time meetings with George Mason.

Sophomore left hander James Reeves (6-4, 4.44 ERA in 2012) will take the mound for the Bulldogs on Saturday against Kansas State southpaw Joe Flattery (6-4, 4.37).

 

Elon 11, Marist 3

ELON, N.C. – Senior lefty Dylan Clark allowed just two runs on four hits over six innings and eight of the nine Elon starters tallied at least one hit as the Phoenix defeated Marist 11-3 in game two of the Country Inn and Suites Elon Invitational baseball tournament on Friday afternoon.

Marist (0-1) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first when Mike Orefice picked up a RBI on a ground ball in the infield and Nick McQuail put down a safety squeeze.

The Phoenix (1-0) responded with an explosive bottom half of the first inning, scoring eight runs on seven hits.  After a walk and single put runners on first and second to begin the frame, Alex Swim singled up the middle to make it a 2-1 game.  With the bases loaded with one away, Casey Jones picked up an  RBI to tie the game when he drew a four-pitch walk.  A wild pitch allowed Swim to score to make it 3-2 Phoenix.  Joey Tomko, Danny Lynch, Antonio Alvarez and Niko Fraser would all record RBI later in the inning as the lead soared to 8-2.

The score remained 8-2 until Marist pushed across a run in the top of the eighth and the Phoenix – thanks to an Alvarez RBI double, a Sebastian Gomez sacrifice fly and a Ryan Kinsella double – plated three runs of its own in the last of the eighth.

Clark (1-0) struck out three and gave up just one earned run.

Marist starter Brett Houseal (0-1) was charged with eight runs on 10 hits in six innings of work.

Gomez finished the day 3-for-4 with one run and two RBI.  Kinsella (2-for-4, two doubles, one run, one RBI), Lynch (2-for-4, one double, one run, one RBI) and Alvarez (2-for-4, one double, two runs, two RBI) all posted multi-hit outings for the Maroon and Gold.

Alec Petrone (2-for-5) and Zach Shank (2-for-5, one run) led the Red Foxes’ offense.

Elon will take on Boston College at noon on Saturday as part of the 2013 Country Inn and Suites Elon Invitational.  That game will be followed by Marist taking on VCU at 4 p.m.

 

Davidson 7, George Washington 5

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Forrest Brandt hit a grand slam in the seventh inning and a two-run double in the eighth to give Davidson the cushion it needed to defeat George Washington, 7-5, in the season-opening baseball game for both teams Friday night at Wilson Field.

Davidson (1-0) trailed George Washington (0-1), 3-1, after surrendering two runs in the top half of the seventh, but facing a full count in the bottom half, Brandt slugged a pitch from LHP Kenny O’Brien (0-1) over the left-field fence for his first career grand slam. Brandt came to the plate with the bases loaded again the next inning and singled to center to plate two crucial runs for a 7-3 advantage.

Sophomore RHP Matt Saeta (1) earned the two-inning save, surrendering a two-run home run to right fielder Brandon McCarthy (2-for-4) with two outs in the ninth before striking out the next two batters and inducing a groundout to second base to end the contest.

Many Davidson fans donned fake mustaches in honor of head coach Dick Cooke, who is guiding the Wildcats for a 23rd season. He was seriously injured in a car accident in September.

Brandt finished the game going 2-for-5 with the two clutch hits for six RBI. Leadoff batter Jack McLindon, who missed the 2012 season due to injury, reached base four times, getting hit by a pitch to lead the game off and then going 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs. He made two spectacular diving catches on line drives at second base, including an inning-ending catch in the eighth that prevented a run from scoring. Senior third baseman Andrew Barna and freshman designated hitter Lee Miller had three hits each.

Senior RHP Bryan DaCanal (1-0) earned the win by getting the final two outs of the seventh inning. RHP Clark Beeker held the Colonials to one run until encountering trouble in the seventh. He finished after 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits, while not issuing any walks and striking out two. RHP Luke Staub allowed one unearned run on six hits and a walk while striking out five in 5 2/3 innings after starting for GW.

Catcher Xavier Parkmond went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI to join McCarthy with a multi-hit game for the Colonials.

Davidson and George Washington will continue the three-game series at Wilson Field on Saturday at 2 p.m. RHP Ryan Lowe, who went 2-for-4 starting at first base, is slated to make his first career start for Davidson, while LHP Max Kaplow is scheduled to start for George Washington.

 

Wofford 6, Georgetown 5 (10)

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – In the season opener for the Wofford baseball team, a safety bunt by Eric Brenk in the 10th inning gave the Terriers a 6-5 win over Georgetown on Friday afternoon at Russell C. King Field. The Hoyas scored four runs in the seventh inning to tie the game, but Wofford was able to come away with the victory.

Wofford begins the season 1-0, while Georgetown is 0-1. For the Terriers, Alec Paradowski and Brenk each had two hits and an RBI, while Seth Neely drove in two runs. The Hoyas were led by Ryan Busch with two hits and three RBIs.

The Hoyas had singles in the first, second and third innings. Wofford had its first hit of the season on a double by Stephen Cantrell in the bottom of the third. Cantrell moved to third on a wild pitch and was driven home on a single up the middle by Clark Wise. Wise scored on a groundout by Josh Hyman to give the Terriers a 2-0 lead after three innings.

Brandon Yarusi struck out the side in the top of the fourth. After Wofford left one runner on base in the bottom of the fourth, Georgetown got on the board with a solo home run by Busch to left center. In the bottom of the fifth, singles by Paradowski and Josh Hyman gave Wofford runners at second and third. A single by Neely drove in both runners for a 4-1 lead.

A double play ended the sixth inning for the Hoyas. In the bottom of the sixth, a double down the left line by Paradowski scored Matthew Kaskow for a 5-1 lead.  In the top of the seventh, Georgetown scored four runs on only one hit due to two walks, a hit batter and an error to tie the game at 5.

In the top of the ninth with two outs, the Hoyas loaded the bases, but a groundball ended the scoring chance. Wofford was struck out in order in the bottom of the ninth and the game went to extra innings.

Georgetown loaded the bases with two outs after a double, intentional walk and a hit by pitch, but a fielder’s choice ended the scoring chance. Wofford opened the bottom of the 10th with Neely reaching second base on an error. He moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Matt Ramsay and Luke Feisal was intentionally walked. With one out, Brenk put down a safety bunt to score Neely for the victory.

Wofford starter Yarusi went six innings and gave up one run on four hits with seven strikeouts. J.D. Osborne worked 2/3 of an inning and allowed four unearned runs on one hit with three walks. Freshman Matthew Milburn (1-0) went 3 1/3 innings and allowed only one hit with two strikeouts.

Georgetown starter Jack Vander Linden went 4 2/3 innings and allowed four runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Tim Davis threw 1 1/3 innings and gave up one run on one hit with two strikeouts. Neal Dennison worked three innings with one hit and four strikeouts. Charlie Steinman (0-1) gave up one run in 1/3 of the 10th inning.

Wofford will host Niagara on Saturday afternoon for a doubleheader beginning at noon. The start time has been changed due to weather.

 

Western Carolina 8, Washington State 5

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Sophomore RHP Jeremy Null held the Washington State Cougars to just two runs in seven innings with a career-high 13 strikeouts to lead the Catamounts to their first victory of 2013, an 8-5 win on opening day at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.

Trailing 2-1 entering the bottom of the fifth, Western Carolina cranked out five runs to jump out to a 6-2 lead over the visiting Cougars. The rally began with RF Cody Jones hitting a one-out single up the middle of the infield as the next batter - Bradley Strong - came up big with the Catamounts' first extra-base hit of the season, a double that moved Jones to third. Strong's middle-infield partner Aaron Attaway sliced a single to right center, which scored Jones. Third baseman Tyler White then stepped up and hit a monster three-run HR over the left field fence on a 3-1 count to give the Catamounts the 6-2 advantage going into the sixth inning.

Null gave the Catamounts two more scoreless innings – while the Catamounts tacked on their seventh run in the bottom of the sixth off another RBI single by Attaway – before handing the baton off to Hunter Brister, who started the eighth inning for WCU. Brister put two on with a walk and single but then got WSU's Monda to fly out to left. With two outs and runners on first and second, Cougar designated hitter Yale Rosen hit a three-run home run to bring Washington State within two at 7-5.

In the bottom half of the eighth inning, WCU got an insurance run as Cody Jones scored on an error by Cougar LF Ben Roberts.

Preseason third-team All-America selection Preston Hatcher received the nod to close things out for the Catamounts as the right-handed slinger tallied a fly out, a strikeout and a groundout to seal the win for the Catamounts and earn his first save of the season.

Washington State's Rosen went 3-for-4 in the game with four RBI, breaking the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth with a single down the right field line to give the Cougars the opening advantage. First basemen Brett Jacobs also brought in a run in the fourth as his sac bunt scored Tanielu to put WSU ahead 2-0 in the fourth. The Catamounts answered to get within one in the bottom of the fourth with sophomore Jacob Hoyle scoring Austin Neary, who reached on a double.

Null – who logged a previous career-high eight strikeouts twice a season ago, including tossing eight in his collegiate debut – walked just one Cougar and was the first Catamount to throw 13 strikeouts since March 25, 2011, when Matt Benedict also fanned 13 against the Davidson Wildcats.

In 2012, only two Catamounts recorded double-digit strikeouts. Sunday afternoon's starter Morgan McKinney was the most recent with 10 on March 31, 2012 against Davidson while Saturday's starter Jordan Smith threw 11 against UNCG on March 24. As a staff, the Catamount pitchers struck out 15 (Null-13, Brister-1, Hatcher-1) topping the season-high 13 from 2012.

Western Carolina returns to the diamond for the second game of the three-game series with the Cougars as junior RHP Jordan Smith faces off against sophomore LHP Joe Pistorese. Both pitchers totaled four wins in 2012, as Smith had a 3.48 ERA compared to Pistorese's 2.44 ERA. Saturday's game is slated for a 2 p.m. first pitch.

 

College of Charleston 6, Xavier 3

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – College of Charleston scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Friday to defeat Xavier, 6-3, in the opening game of the 2013 season.

Redshirt freshman Morgan Phillips broke a 3-3 tie with a hard-hit ball off of the second baseman that bounced into center field, scoring Bradley Goodson from second. Another error from Xavier right fielder Daniel Przeniczny allowed Phillips to score, and Brandon Murray singled to center field to cap off the three-run inning.

The Cougar pitching staff combined for 13 strikeouts and just two walks, allowing only six hits and one earned run. Junior Michael Hanzlik (1-0) picked up the win for the Cougars, going 1 1/3 innings and striking out two of the four batters he faced. Senior Dre Watts (1) struck out two in the ninth inning for his first save of the season.

Charleston starter Matt Pegler pitched five innings and struck out six batters for a no-decision in his first start on Friday night. The Greenville, S.C., native scattered four hits and allowed just one unearned run.

Xavier’s Alex Westrick (0-1) was tagged with the loss as he gave up all three unearned runs in the eighth inning. Musketeers’ starter Vinny Nittoli allowed three runs on three hits through the first 4 1/3 innings. Xavier’s Mark Elwell accounted for all three Musketeer runs.

Evidence of early season jitters were apparent as the teams combined for five errors, while Xavier allowed 13 free passes.

College of Charleston got on the board first with a three-run third inning. CofC loaded the bases with one out after walks from Brandon Glazer and Ben Boykin. Tyler Jackson hit a laser right past the first baseman’s glove to score two runs. Goodson then hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Boykin and put the Cougars up, 3-0.

The Musketeers struck for one run in the fifth inning on a bunt single from Elwell that died between the mound and third base. Xavier tied the game in the top of the seventh with a two-RBI single from Elwell to right field.

Phillips’ big swing and the Xavier error in the eighth inning gave College of Charleston its second straight dramatic finish to a season opener. Last season, the Cougars used a three-run pinch-hit homer from Cody Martin in the eighth inning to defeat South Alabama. College of Charleston has now won eight straight season-opening games.

Game two of the series has been moved up an hour to 1 p.m. due to impending weather in the area. College of Charleston’s Jake Zokan is slated to pitch against Xavier’s Jon Richard.

 

Samford 5, Youngstown State 3 (game one)
Samford 17, Youngstown State 3 (game two)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford baseball team opened the 2013 season by sweeping a doubleheader with the Youngstown State Penguins on Friday evening at Joe Lee Griffin Field. Samford won the first game, 5-3, before taking the second game by a score of 17-3.

Samford jumped out to early leads in both games and the Bulldogs never trailed on their way to the doubleheader sweep.

In game one, Zeth Stone hit a three-run home run in a 1-for-3 performance. Tommy Corbin went 3-for-3 at the plate in the first game. C.K. Irby (1-0) earned the win on the mound in game one, pitching five innings and giving up two runs on three hits. Arthur Strauss earned his first save of the season, tossing one hitless inning of relief.

In the second game, the Bulldogs pounded out 18 hits, including four home runs, on their way to the 14-run win. Phillip Ervin hit two home runs, going 4-for-6 with four RBI. Freshman Frankie Navarrete also homered twice, going 2-for-6 with five RBI.  Eric Wright (1-0) earned the win in his Samford debut, tossing 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits.

For Youngstown State in game one, Drew Dosch hit a two-run home run in a 1-for-3 performance. David Saluga also drove in a run for the Penguins in game one. Blake Aquadro (0-1) took the loss for YSU, pitching three innings and giving up three runs on four hits.

In game two, the Penguins were led by Kris Moules, who went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Phil Lipari went 3-for-4 at the plate for YSU. Pat Shedlock (0-1) took the loss on the mound in game two, tossing 1 2/3 innings, giving up eight runs on seven hits.

The game was scoreless through the first two and a half innings in game one. In the bottom of the third inning, Samford jumped on top when Stone hit a three-run home run with Navarrete and Corbin on base for a 3-0 Samford lead.

Youngstown State answered with two runs in the top of the fourth inning when Dosch homered to left-center field with Mike Accardi on base to cut the Samford lead to 3-2.

Samford extended its lead to 5-2 with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Corbin singled to lead off the inning and later scored the inning’s first run on a balk. Navarrete reached base on a single and later scored on a passed ball to give Samford a three-run lead.

Youngstown State added one final run in the top of the sixth inning to make the final score 5-3. Accardi was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. He later scored on a sacrifice fly by Saluga for the game’s final run.

In game two, Samford took the early lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning, but the Bulldogs took control of the game with seven runs in the bottom of the second inning. In that seven-run second inning, Navarrete drove in two runs with a home run, and Damon Waller, Ervin, Irby, Corbin and Brandon Haarer drove in a run each to give Samford an 8-0 lead.

The Bulldogs added two runs in the third inning and one more in the fourth inning to push their lead to 11-0. In the third inning, Irby drove in both runs with a double, and Navarrete drove in the run in the fourth inning.

YSU put its first two runs on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning, but Samford answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 13-2. Samford also added two runs in the seventh inning and two more in the eighth to push its lead to 17-2. Youngstown State added one final run in the top of the ninth inning to make the final score 17-3.

The same two teams will play again Saturday at 1 p.m. Central at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

 

No. 29 Georgia 6, Georgia Southern 5

STATESBORO, Ga. – The Georgia Southern bullpen tossed six scoreless frames, but a two-out error in the third inning allowed the game-winning run to cross the plate as No. 29 Georgia won 6-5 in the 2013 season opener. The game was played in front of the largest season-opening crowd and second-largest overall, 3,103, in J.I. Clements Stadium history.

Georgia (1-0) struck for five runs in the second inning, and Nelson Ward scored the game-winner after T.D. Davis' throw sailed wide of the bag in the third inning. Freshman Sean McLaughlin picked up his first career win after the Bulldog's offense let him off the hook for a three-run first frame.

McLaughlin (1-0) allowed two earned runs on five hits over four innings while striking out four batters over the first four innings. McLaughlin was backed up by the trio of Ross Ripple, Grant Earls and Jared Walsh, who threw a combined two scoreless frames.

UGA's leadoff hitter, Ward, led all batters with four hits, while Curt Powell followed with three hits. Ben Morgan, Garren Palmer and Hunter Thomas all recorded two hits to lead the Georgia Southern (0-1) offense.

The Eagles jumped ahead 3-0 in the first inning on a two-RBI single by Chase Griffin and a base hit from Garren Palmer. Scooter Williams led off the inning with a walk and two straight singles followed.

After getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, Justin Hess (0-1) allowed a leadoff homer to Jared Walsh to start the second inning. The Bulldogs batted around in the frame and went on to score five runs on six hits. Ward, Powell, Hunter Cole and Daniel Nichols all had RBI hits in the inning.

Hess left after allowing five earned runs on eight hits over three innings. The right-hander also walked three and struck out four batters.

The Georgia Southern bullpen followed with six scoreless innings to give the Eagles a chance at a comeback. Josh Stevenson started things with a career-high 4 1/3 innings and eight strikeouts. Chris Myers followed with a scoreless 2/3 innings, while Kyle Rowe added a clean ninth frame.

GSU pulled to within a run in the fifth inning, scoring twice on a Hunter Thomas single to center. Ben Morgan led off the inning with an infield single. Two batters later, Davis singled to left field, but a misplay by Justin Bryan allowed two runners to move into scoring position before the Thomas base hit.

The Eagles will look for their first win of the season Saturday at 2:30 p.m. when they send sophmore left-hander Sam Howard to the mound. Georgia will counter with junior Patrick Boling.