Georgia Southern 3, No. 29 Georgia 2

STATESBORO, Ga. - Sophomore left-hander Sam Howard threw a career-high seven innings and Georgia Southern struck for two runs in the first inning to win 3-2 and even the series against the No. 29 Georgia Bulldogs.

Georgia Southern (1-1) picked up its first win of the year in front of the third-largest crowd in J.I. Clements Stadium history. The 3,098 in attendance moved the weekend attendance total up to 6,201, breaking the previous three-game series record of 6,049 set at the Holiday Inn Eagle Invitational in 2009.

Howard (1-0), making his first career weekend start, limited Georgia (1-1) to five hits and one unearned run while striking out a career-best seven batters. Howard worked around two leadoff singles and a leadoff double and struck out five batters from the fourth to the sixth innings.

Kyle Rowe (S, 1) followed a scoreless frame by Chris Myers and recorded two first-pitch outs before allowing a first-pitch home run to Daniel Nichols. Rowe bounced back after the solo shot to coax a fly out from Brett DeLoach to seal the one-run win.

Scooter Williams and T.D. Davis combined for four of the Eagles' five hits, while Ben Morgan scored two runs and walked twice. Nelson Ward added two more hits and walked once for the Bulldogs, while Daniel Nichols recorded two hits and drove in a run.

The Eagles struck for two runs in the bottom of the first and took an early lead for a second straight day. Williams led off with a double and stole third base before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Chase Griffin. Davis followed with a RBI double to score Morgan, who reached on an infield error.

After Georgia got a run back on an error by second baseman Brent Pugh in the second inning, Georgia Southern struck for what proved to be the game-winning run in the third inning. Morgan led off the frame with a walk and stole second base before moving to third on a Davis single. Appearing in his first game since June 4, 2011, pinch-hitter Arthur Owens drove in Morgan with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Georgia Southern will send freshman left-hander Jason Richman to the mound Sunday, while Georgia will counter with Luke Crumley. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m.

 

Wofford 9, Niagara 1 (5 inn.) (game one)
Game two canceled

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Saturday afternoon, the Wofford baseball team was scheduled to play a doubleheader against Niagara but snow caused the first game to be called after five innings and the second game was canceled. A grand slam home run by Eric Brenk in the third inning propelled Wofford to the victory.

Wofford begins the season 2-0, while Niagara is 0-2. For the Terriers, Josh Hyman had three hits and two RBIs. The Purple Eagles had four players with one hit each and the team left 11 runners on base.

The Purple Eagles got on the board in the top of the first inning with an RBI single by Christian Vangeison for a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the second, James Plaisted hit a single with two outs. He stole second and third and came home on an infield single by Stephen Cantrell to tie the game at 1-1.

Niagara loaded the bases after three walks in the top of the third, but a strikeout ended the scoring chance. Wofford loaded the bags in the bottom of the third on three straight singles. With two outs, Brenk blasted an awesome shot over the left field fence to give the Terriers a 5-1 lead.

In the top of the fourth, Niagara loaded the bases again but a groundout left all three stranded. Wofford had runners at second and third when a single by Alec Paradowski drove in one run. A triple by Josh added two more runs for an 8-1 lead. Hyman scored when Matt Ramsay reached on an error to make it 9-1 after four innings. The Purple Eagles left two on base in the top of the fifth. The game was called due to snow in the bottom of the fifth.

Wofford starter Jesse Morris (1-0) went three innings and gave up one run with five strikeouts. Josh Simpson threw two innings with one hit allowed and one strikeout.

Niagara starter Jim Fort (0-1) worked three innings with six runs allowed on seven hits with two strikeouts. Sean Quinlan was on the mound for an inning and allowed three runs on three hits with two strikeouts.

Wofford will host UNC Asheville on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. and travel to East Tennessee State on Tuesday afternoon for the first road contest of the season.

 

Samford 13, Youngstown State 0

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford baseball team pounded out 16 hits on its way to a 13-0 win over Youngstown State on Saturday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

Tommy Corbin led Samford at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Phillip Ervin hit his third home run of the weekend, going 2-for-5 with an RBI. Christiaan Durdaller also homered for Samford, going 1-for-3 at the plate. Drew McWhorter went 3-for-4 for the Bulldogs, while C.K. Irby went 2-for-4 with two RBI and Frankie Navarrete went 2-for-3.

Alex Milazzo (1-0), making his Samford debut, earned the win on the mound for the Bulldogs. Milazzo pitched six innings, allowing no runs on four hits and striking out four batters. Parker Curry and Cole Limbaugh combined to pitch the final three innings, allowing one hit each.

Youngstown State was led at the plate by Drew Dosch, who went 2-for-4. Robert Switka (0-1) took the loss on the mound for the Penguins. Switka pitched 3 1/3 innings, giving up five runs on six hits.

Samford put its first two runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning. Corbin doubled to right field to drive in Irby and Caleb Bryson for a 2-0 Samford lead.

The Bulldogs took control of the game with six runs in the fourth inning and three in the fifth. In the fourth inning, Irby drove in two runs, while Corbin, Brandon Haarer and Zeth Stone drove in a run each for the Bulldogs. Youngstown State committed six of its eight errors in the game in the fourth inning. In the fifth inning, Durdaller hit a two-run homer, and Haarer drove in another run for an 11-0 Samford lead.

The Bulldogs also added a run in the sixth inning and another in the seventh to make the final score 13-0. Jared Watson, who had pinch run for McWhorter, scored on another YSU error for the run in the sixth inning. In the seventh inning, Ervin hit a solo home run to left field for the game’s final run.

With the win, Samford improved to 3-0 on the young season. Youngstown State dropped to 0-3 with the loss.

The same two teams will wrap up the four-game series with a game Sunday at 1 p.m. Central at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

 

Boston College 7, Elon 6

ELON, N.C. – The Elon Phoenix baseball team saw the Boston College Eagles rally for five runs in the top of the eighth inning as the Maroon and Gold dropped a 7-6 decision to its ACC foe on Saturday afternoon.

After falling behind 2-0, the Phoenix (1-1) got on the board in the fourth inning when Alex Swim singled home Sebastian Gomez, who had led off the inning with a walk and stolen base.

Elon grabbed a 3-2 lead two innings later, when, with Blaine Bower and Gomez aboard, Swim tripled to left-center.  The Phoenix tacked on another run as Swim scored on a Ryan Kinsella sac fly.  The lead stretched to 6-2 in the seventh on a Gomez RBI single and a RBI groundout by Swim.

The Eagles (1-1) struck back in the eighth, plating five runs on three hits.  The inning began with an Elon error that allowed Joe Cronin to reach base.  After a single off the bat of Matt McGovern put runners on the corners, Tom Bourdon singled home Cronin.  A fielder's choice with the bases loaded scored the second run of the frame and left runners on the corners.  Following a strikeout, a wild pitch scored a run to make it 6-5.  Geoffrey Murphy's triple to right-center tied the game at 6 and a passed ball then let Murphy come in with the go-ahead tally.

Gomez began the last of the ninth with a single and headed to second on a sacrifice bunt before Tyler Hinchliffe retired the next two hitters to end the game.

For the second straight day, Gomez banged out three hits as he finished the day 3-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI.  Swim drove in four runs during his 2-for-4 performance.  Antonio Alvarez also added a two-hit day at the plate for the Phoenix.

Boston College was led by a two-RBI day from Travis Ferrick.

Spencer Medick (0-1) took the loss for Elon after giving up five runs (two earned) on three hits in 1 2/3 innings out of the pen. Starter Kyle Webb struck out six in six innings and was charged with two runs on six hits.

BC's Andrew Chin (1-0) tossed 1 1/3 shutout innings, allowing one hit, to pick up the victory. Hinchliffe earned his first save of the year with another 1 1/3 scoreless frames.

Elon is scheduled to conclude the Country Inn and Suites Elon Invitational with a 3 p.m. game against VCU on Sunday.

 

Xavier 6, College of Charleston 5

CHARLESTON, S.C. – College of Charleston scored four runs in the seventh inning to tie the game, but Xavier scored the game-winning run in the top of the ninth inning to win the second game of the series, 6-5.

College of Charleston (1-1) nearly won in dramatic fashion for the second straight day, but Xavier’s (1-1) Vinny Nittoli pushed a single through the left side that scored the game-winning run with two outs in the ninth inning.

The Cougars’ Michael Hanzlik (1-1) allowed the loss just a day after earning his first career win in a Cougar uniform. Xavier’s Scott Klever (1-0) earned the win for the Musketeers, despite allowing three runs on five hits in the seventh and eighth innings. Alex Vice (1) came to earn the save, working around a two-out double from Jimmy Holton by striking out the side.

Senior starter Jake Zokan tallied a career-high eight strikeouts in the no-decision, pitching 4 1/3 innings and giving up four runs, two earned, on seven hits.

The Musketeers tallied 12 hits in the game, including three from Nittoli and Brian Bruening. The teams battled cold wind and steady rain throughout most of the contest as Charleston committed three errors.

Xavier jumped out to a 5-1 lead with a three-run fifth inning, capped by a single by Patrick Paligraf and a throwing error that allowed two runs to score.

The Cougars came roaring back in the seventh inning, loading the bases with none out for Bradley Goodson. The senior scored the first run with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Brandon Murray. Ryan Welke kept the run going with an RBI single, and Cody Martin tied the game with a two-out, two-RBI hit to center field.

Senior Drew Freie picked up his fifth strikeout in relief in the eighth inning and Hanzlik came in to record the third out. However, College of Charleston went down in order in the bottom of the eighth, setting up Xavier’s ninth-inning rally.

The Cougars put two on in the top of the ninth with a walk and hit batter, and Xavier nearly took the lead on a single from Bruening, but Cougar right-fielder Brandon Glazer gunned down pinch-runner Michael Moore to preserve the tie game. The Cougars nearly turned a double play to get out of the inning, but Derek Hasenbeck beat the throw to first, setting up Nittoli’s game-winning single with two outs.

College of Charleston and Xavier will play the rubber game of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Patriots Point. CofC freshman Nathan Helvey will go against Xavier’s Tyler Koors.

 

Western Carolina 15, Washington State 10

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina’s offense scored in bunches as the Catamounts used four multi-run innings and scored six unearned runs on seven Washington State errors to outscore the Cougars 15-10 on a snowy Saturday afternoon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.

Up 2-1 entering the bottom of the fourth, the Catamounts scored six runs on three errors to blow the game open. Second baseman Bradley Strong got the scoring started in the inning with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly. Aaron Attaway followed with a two-run double and Tyler White knocked in Attaway with a single to center. Two consecutive wild pitches brought in Julian Ridings for another Catamount run and the third error of the inning scored White.

Going into the top of the fifth, starting Catamount pitcher Jordan Smith had only given up one run, but with an 8-2 lead, Smith gave up an RBI fielder’s choice by Austin Pernell and a three-run HR by Michael Monda to bring the Cougars within two. The fifth would be the last inning of work for Smith, who gave up five earned runs on four strikeouts and four walks.

From there, the Catamounts used six pitchers to fend off the Cougars. In the top of the sixth, senior RHP Taylor Sandefur entered the game with the bases loaded and the Cougars threatening with light snow beginning to fall at Hennon Stadium. Sandefur quickly got ahead in the count, 1-2, before causing pinch hitter Patrick McGrath to fly out to left field to get out of the inning unscathed.

In the WCU half of the sixth, the Purple and Gold tacked on four more runs, three of them coming from a hard-hit two-run home run over the center field fence by White, who finished the game with three RBI. Jacob Hoyle, who entered the game in the bottom of the fourth to take the DH spot, hit a double to the left-center gap to score Austin Neary. Hoyle went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI in his limited action. Dykota Spiess added another run for the Catamounts with his single to right field, which scored Hoyle.

With the need to get runs on the board quickly, Washington State did not go away. With the bases loaded with freshman LHP Alex Barr on the mound, Cougar left fielder Ben Roberts ripped a line-drive home run down the right field line to make the score 12-9. 

WSU again threatened in the top of the eighth with two runners on and two outs before WCU closer Preston Hatcher was brought in. Hatcher immediately struck out DH Yale Rosen on five pitches to end the potential rally.

The Catamounts added three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. Another WSU error put Neary on base with an out. Jones hit a single through the left side of the infield with a 1-2 count to put two runners on. After a WSU pitching change, Hoyle again came up big for the Catamounts, hitting a single to right field to score Neary and put Jones on third. A wild pitch then scored Jones and put Hoyle on second. Freshman catcher Danny Bermudez then hit a shot up the middle – his first hit of the day – to score Hoyle from second and bring the WCU run total to three for the inning heading to the ninth.

Though down 15-9 in the final stanza, the Cougars were not done. The first batter Hatcher faced was WSU’s Adam Nelubowich, who promptly hit a towering home run over the right field fence.  As the snow began to come down more heavily, Hatcher went to work, picking up consecutive strikesouts and getting pinch hitter J.J. Robinson to ground out to end the game.

In the first two games of the season, the Catamount offense has put up 23 total runs while putting up a team batting average of .293.

The final game of the 2013 opening series will begin Sunday at 2 p.m. (moved from noon) Western Carolina will throw LHP Morgan McKinney on Sunday against Washington State’s Scott Simon (2012 Stats: 4.09 ERA, 2-3). McKinney had a team-high six wins in 2012 and is the 2013 recipient of the Leggett No.7 Legacy.

 

The Citadel 10, Kansas State 8

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Bo Thompson slammed a mammoth three-run homer to cap a six-run third inning, helping The Citadel build an early 8-1 lead, and the Bulldogs withstood a late Kansas State rally for a 10-8 victory in day two of the Homewood Suites Tournament presented by Charleston Crab House.

The Citadel is 2-0 on the young season and has scored 19 runs while banging out 28 hits in wins over George Mason and the Wildcats. The Bulldogs will look to sweep their first of two home tournaments this season on Sunday when they face High Point at 1:30 p.m.

In the earlier game on Saturday, High Point defeated George Mason 8-6. The Panthers are 1-1 in the tournament while the Patriots are 0-2.

The victory enabled The Citadel to even the all-time series with Kansas State at one win apiece. In the only previous meeting, the Wildcats edged the Bulldogs 2-1 on Feb. 21, 2010, at Riley Park.

After leading by as many as seven runs early in the game, The Citadel saw Kansas State (1-1) reach closer Skylar Hunter for three hits and two runs in the ninth to pull within two. But Hunter responded by fanning Tanner Witt with the tying runs in scoring position to finally secure the victory.

Tyler Griffin hit a solo homer to left in the second, and Kansas State tied it with an unearned run off of Citadel starter James Reeves in the top of the third. In the bottom of the frame, the first seven Bulldogs reached base and the second of two Kansas State errors in the inning allowed Johnathan Stokes to score to break the tie.

Joe Jackson lined a two-run single to center before Thompson easily cleared the fence in left center to give the Bulldogs a 7-1 advantage. Jackson had two hits on the day and is 6-for-10 with seven RBI through the first two games of the season.

Mason Davis and Drew DeKerlegand had back-to-back triples to open the bottom of the fourth to make it 8-1, and later in the inning Thompson took advantage of a surprised Wildcat defense to swipe his second career base after drawing a walk. Stokes added a steal of home in the fifth, sprinting to the plate as Davis scampered back to first to get out of a rundown.

Reeves worked the first five innings, allowing six hits and three runs (two earned) with four strikeouts and no walks to earn the victory. Five relief pitchers followed Reeves to the hill with Brett Tompkins touched up in the sixth for three hits and three runs, only one of which was earned, to bring the Wildcats within 9-6.

Zach Sherrill pitched 12/3 innings of two-hit shutout ball, and Kevin Connell and David Rivera combined for a scoreless eighth. Kansas State starter Joe Flattery did not retire any of the seven batters he faced in the third and was tagged with the loss.

After seeing its lead trimmed to three, The Citadel added an important insurance run in the seventh when Stokes scored on an infield grounder by Davis.

Hughston Armstrong continued his hot weekend by going 3-for-3 to give him five hits in six official at bats. Griffin also had three hits, including a triple, and DeKerlegand joined Jackson with two base knocks.

 

Davidson 6, George Washington 5 (7 inn.)

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Snow made Wilson Field unplayable Saturday afternoon with Davidson leading George Washington, 6-5, in the top of the seventh inning, and by rule it was determined to be an official game, giving the Wildcats their second straight victory.

Freshman designated hitter Lee Miller paced Davidson (2-0) by going 2-for-3 with his first career home run and three RBI.

After George Washington (0-2) scored runs in the first and fourth innings, an RBI double by Davidson junior catcher Daniel Gerow (2-for-3) and a two-run home run by Miller put the Wildcats ahead 3-2.

An RBI double by Miller and a two-run double by junior right fielder Nathan Becker gave Davidson a 6-2 advantage following the sixth inning. The Colonials scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning and had one runner on base with two outs when the snow and lightning forced the stoppage of play.

Sophomore RHP Ryan Lowe (1-0) worked six innings in his first career start, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four. LHP Max Kaplow (0-1) took the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits and a walk while striking out five.

The two teams are scheduled to conclude the three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m.

 

Furman vs. Northwestern (canceled)

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Furman’s Saturday baseball game against Northwestern at Fluor Field in the First Pitch Invitational has been canceled due to snow and wet field conditions.

The contest was suspended at 1:41 p.m. with one out in the top of the fifth inning and Northwestern leading 4-2.  After a one-hour, 41-minute delay and with the air temperature sinking to the low 30s, game and Greenville Drive officials deemed the field unplayable and the game was canceled.  It will not be made up.

The day’s second contest pitting Michigan State against Miami of Ohio was also canceled.

Sunday’s schedule remains intact, with Michigan State set to face Northwestern at 11 a.m. followed by Furman versus Miami (Ohio) at 4 p.m.

 

Appalachian State vs. NC State (postponed)

RALEIGH, N.C. – Saturday's baseball game between Appalachian State University and No. 8 NC State has been postponed due to heavy snow in the Raleigh-Durham area.

The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday at noon at NC State's Doak Field.

 

UNCG vs. Army (canceled)

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Due to wintry weather in the Triad, the UNCG baseball game scheduled for Saturday against Army has been canceled.

The two teams will conclude their series Sunday afternoon with a 1 p.m. first pitch at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. Please note Sunday's start has been pushed back one hour due to this weekend's weather. Saturday's canceled game will not be made up.