Georgia Southern 11, No. 29 Georgia 2

STATESBORO, Ga. – Freshman left-hander Jason Richman allowed just one run and Ben Morgan tallied a career-high four hits in Georgia Southern's 11-2 series-clinching win over the No. 29 Georgia Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon in front of 3,024 fans at J.I. Clements Stadium. The attendance was the fifth-largest in stadium history and pushed the already record-setting three-game series attendance to 9,225.

Georgia Southern (2-1) picked up its first three-game series win over Georgia (1-2) since 1986 behind a three-hit outing from Richman (1-0). The true freshman worked quickly and tossed 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball while striking out six batters in the process.

Richman started a string of 10 batters retired after allowing a solo home run to Zack Bowers in the fifth inning. Fellow freshman Evan Challenger followed with 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, and Drew Johnson added a scoreless eighth frame.

The Eagles, who have scored a first-inning run in five straight games dating back to last season, scored four times in the bottom of the first inning and added three more runs in the second inning on Morgan's first career home run. Bulldog starter Luke Crumley (0-1) lasted just two innings and suffered the loss after giving up seven runs on seven hits.

Morgan recorded four of Georgia Southern's 14 hits and tied his career high with three RBI. T.D. Davis tallied a pair of hits, including his first home run of 2013, and drove in three runs. Hunter Thomas and Kyle Streicher also finished with two hits each. Bowers tallied two of Georgia's seven hits and finished with two RBI.

Scooter Williams and Morgan led off the first inning with back-to-back base hits, and the duo scored the opening runs of the contest on a Chase Griffin sacrifice fly and a Davis double, respectively. Thomas doubled two batters later to plate Davis and scored the fourth run of the inning on a Cole Watson single.

After going ahead 8-1 on Davis' homer, the Eagles struck for three more runs in the sixth inning to push their lead to 11-1. Morgan doubled and Griffin singled with one out before a sacrifice fly by Davis drove in the first run of the inning. Arthur Owens tallied his first hit since May 19, 2011, a double down the line to score Griffin from second base. Thomas followed with his second double of the day to plate Owens.

Georgia Southern will have two days off before traveling to Gainesville, Fla., to face Florida on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. and the game can be seen on SunSports/Fox Sports Florida.

 

College of Charleston 4, Xavier 1

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – College of Charleston freshman pitcher Nathan Helvey made a quality start and led the Cougars to a 4-1 win in his first career appearance.

A native of Fort Mill, S.C., Helvey (1-0) went six innings and allowed just one run on three hits, striking out two and walking one. The win gave College of Charleston (2-1) the series win over Xavier (1-2), marking the fifth straight season that head coach Monte Lee has won the season-opening series.

Junior Brandon Murray hit a solo home run in the third inning, as he finished with two hits and two runs. Sophomore Gunnar Heidt launched two doubles in the game, the second one coming in the seventh inning and driving in Bradley Goodson for an insurance run.

The CofC bullpen allowed just two hits in three innings with Taylor Alvarez and Player Loving pitching two shutout innings in the seventh and eighth innings, and senior Dre Watts earned his second save with a two-strikeout ninth inning.

Xavier starter Tyler Koors (0-1) picked up the loss for the Musketeers, allowing three runs on five hits through the first six innings. Tres Eberhardt picked up two hits for Xavier, while Jacob Bodner drove in the visitors’ only run with an RBI double in the second inning.

CofC scored two runs in the first inning with a two-out rally helped by two errors from Xavier second baseman Bodner. Murray scored a run after Bodner dropped a pop fly, and then Tyler Jackson singled up the middle to score Brandon Glazer.

Bodner helped Xavier get one run back in the second inning, but Murray countered with a solo homer in the bottom of the third to give CofC a 3-1 lead.

Xavier threatened to tie the game in the seventh inning, loading the bases with one out against Alvarez. However, the sophomore pitcher induced leadoff hitter Mark Elwell to ground right back to him for a 1-2-3 inning-ending double play.

Heidt doubled in Goodson with two outs and two strikes in the bottom of the seventh inning to add an insurance run for the Cougar bullpen.

College of Charleston will travel up the road on Tuesday afternoon for an intra-county rivalry game against Charleston Southern. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

 

UNCG 8, Army 5

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG baseball team overcame a 3-0 deficit after four and half innings Sunday, scoring five runs in the final three innings to post an 8-5 victory over 2012 NCAA Regional participant Army at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. The Spartans emerge from opening weekend 2-0 while the Black Knights drop to 0-2.

Senior outfielder Christian Wolfe and redshirt freshman infielder Nin Marrero enjoyed productive days at the plate for the Blue and Gold as Wolfe was 3-for-4 with three RBI and Marrero hit 3-for-3 with an RBI of his own. Junior catcher Cambric Moye also provided the Spartans with two RBI while sophomore outfielder Zac MacAneney crossed home plate three times.

UNCG starter and sophomore Lee Gilliam turned in a stellar performance, throwing 4 1/3 innings, scattering two hits and striking out seven. He gave up three runs but all of them were unearned. Junior Dylan Thompson entered in the fifth and lasted 2 2/3 frames. He earned his first win of the season, giving up just one run and two hits and struck out one batter. Picking up his second save of the weekend was senior left-hander Corey Taylor, as he hurled the final two innings, allowing just one run on two hits with a strikeout.

After walking leadoff batter Daniel Cortes to begin the game, Gilliam was able to strike out the last two batters in the frame to escape any early damage. Wolfe doubled to start the bottom of the frame, but he was picked off a second, effectively killing the Spartans’ momentum.

The Black Knights struck first in the top of the third as Patrick Mescher began the inning with a single through the right side. He then stole second with one out and scored after an error by Lloyd Enzor at first. UNCG attempted to respond in its half of the third, but with runners on first and second with one out, Wolfe popped up to short and senior infielder TJ Spina flied out to right field to end the threat.

The visitors were able to stretch their lead to 3-0 thanks to a pair of Spartan errors in the top of the fifth, but the Blue and Gold fought back in the bottom half. Junior outfielder Cole Harrison was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning before MacAneney drew a walk. Marrero then laid down a perfect bunt single which loaded the bases for Moye. He came through in a big way, singling past the Army third baseman to cut the Black Knight cushion to 3-2. Wolfe then flied out to left field, allowing Marrero to score and make it a 3-3 ballgame.

The Black Knights retook the lead in the top of the sixth as two singles put Jacob Page on third with one out. Mescher then flew out to shallow left field but hit the ball long enough to let Page score on the play. The next batter, Jon Crucitti, grounded out to first base to end the inning.

Harrison reached on an error by the Army third baseman to open the bottom of the sixth but was thrown out at second on a fielder’s choice. With MacAneney at first, Marrero singled through the right side. Then with two outs and MacAneney on third after another fielder’s choice, Wolfe singled to center to tie the contest once more. Spina then followed with an RBI single that scored Moye and gave UNCG a 5-4 lead it would not relinquish.

Taylor worked around a one-out single in the top of the eighth to keep the Black Knights off the board before the Spartans plated three runs in the bottom of the inning to put the game out of reach. The Blue and Gold scored two unearned runs in the inning and also received a RBI bunt single off a successful squeeze by Marrero to make it 8-4.

Army attempted one last rally in the top of the ninth but could only manage an RBI groundout by Cortes before Taylor induced two groundouts to end the game.

UNCG returns to action Tuesday, hosting Big South member UNC Asheville. First pitch at the UNCG Baseball Stadium is slated for 4 p.m.

 

Furman 6, Miami (Ohio) 5

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Paul Nitto went 3-for-5 and drove in five runs to power Furman past Miami University, 6-5, in First Pitch Invitational baseball action Sunday afternoon at Fluor Field.

The win improves Furman to 2-0 on the season while Miami falls to 0-2.  The two teams will face each other again next Friday at 4 p.m. at Latham Stadium on Furman’s campus.

Holding a 3-2 lead, Furman loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh when Nitto, a product of Greenville’s J.L. Mann High School, lifted a pop fly into a strong wind in short left field.  Struggling to get under the ball, Redhawks shortstop Scott Slappey dove to make the play but his contact with the ground jarred the ball loose, allowed three runs to score to give Furman a 6-2 lead.

Miami made it 6-5 in the eighth on Alex Johnson’s three-run home run to deep left center field off of Paladin reliever Drake Browne.

Called on in relief of Browne, Ben Carlson yielded a single to Kevin Bower and one-out single to Slappey before striking out John Crummy and retiring Matt Packer on a fly to center field to end the threat.

Matt Solter came on the ninth for Furman and retired the Redhawks in order, striking out two, including Matt Honchel looking to end the game, to notch the save.

The Paladins grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first off Miami starting and losing pitcher Mac Thoreson (0-1), getting an RBI double from Hunter Burton and RBI grounder from Nitto that plated Burton.

The Redhawks tied it at 2-2 in the second on Crummy’s two-run single to right field.

Will Muzika led off the Furman third with a double to left field and later scored on a Nitto two-out double down the right-field line.

It remained 3-2 until the seventh, when Harrison Farmer led off with a single, Burton delivered a bunt single down the third base line, and Taylor Johnson was intentionally walked with two outs to load the bases ahead of Nitto, whose bases clearing, wind-aided single found the turf approximately 25 feet into the outfield grass behind shortstop.

Furman sophomore right-hander Jake Wolff (1-0), making only his second career start, worked five solid innings to record the win.  The Mountain Rest, S.C., product and Walhalla High graduate allowed two runs on four hits while walking one and recording one strikeout.

Furman out-hit Miami 12-10, getting three hits each from Nitto and Muzika. Burton and Farmer had two hits apiece.

Johnson, Slappey and Dan Walsh paced Miami with two hits each.

Furman returns to action on Wednesday with a 3 p.m. road contest at Gardner-Webb.

 

VCU 6, Elon 2

ELON, N.C. – Despite only recording seven hits on the day, the VCU Rams scored six runs on their way to a 6-2 decision over the Elon Phoenix on Sunday afternoon at Latham Park.

Elon starter David Whitehead was outstanding through the first two innings and struck out five of the first seven hitters he faced before a one-out single by Trevor Marino got things going for the Rams (2-0) in the third.  Following a two-out walk, Jordan Weymouth doubled to left-center to drive home both runners.

An inning later, Taylor Buran connected on a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the wall in left-center for a three-run homer, giving the Rams a 5-0 edge.

The Phoenix (1-2) got one back in the last of the fourth when Wil Leathers drove home Ryan Kinsella. 

Still trailing 5-1 in the last of the seventh, Elon threatened.  Leathers led off the frame with a double down the left field line and went to third on a groundout.  Pinch-hitter Casey Jones closed the gap to 5-2 with a line-drive single into center, but the Maroon and Gold failed to do any more damage as outs were recorded on the next two plays.

VCU tacked on an insurance run in the eighth on Vimael Machin's RBI double.

Whitehead (0-1) lasted 3 1/3 innings and gave up five runs on five hits.  Andrew MacDonald was solid out of the bullpen for the Phoenix.  He posted the longest relief outing of his career (4 2/3 innings) and gave up just one run on two hits.

The win went to Ryan Farrar (1-0), who allowed just one run on four hits in five innings on the mound.

Leathers (2-for-4) had Elon's lone multi-hit outing of the day.

Elon is scheduled to return to the diamond on Tuesday when the Phoenix pays a visit to Triad opponent North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, N.C.  First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium.

 

High Point 7, The Citadel 2

CHARLESTON, S.C. – High Point took advantage of a two-out error to score five times in the top of the eighth, and the Panthers went on to hand The Citadel a 7-2 defeat on the final day of the Homewood Suites Tournament presented by Charleston Crab House.

The loss dropped The Citadel to 2-1 and prevented the Bulldogs from opening a season with three wins for the first time since 1983. High Point won two straight after losing on Friday and is also 2-1 on the young season.

With the score tied at 1 in the top of the eighth, High Point loaded the bases with one out against Logan Cribb before Ryan Hines came in to get Brett Gemmell to foul out to third. Kevin Connell relieved Hines to face the left-handed hitting Adam Barry and induced a grounder to short, but Johnathan Stokes threw wide of Bo Thompson at first to allow the tiebreaking runs to cross the plate.

Josh Spano followed with a two-run single and a fifth run scored on a wild pitch to give the Panthers a 6-1 lead. The Bulldogs got a single from Drew DeKerlegand and a double by Thompson in the eighth but scored only once on an infield grounder by Tyler Griffin.

Freshman right-hander Austin Mason enjoyed a solid college debut on the mound for The Citadel, allowing only one run and three hits in six innings of work, but did not figure in the decision. Jared Avidon matched Mason pitch for pitch, throwing eight innings of six-hit ball with five strikeouts.

High Point took a 1-0 lead in the second when Barry doubled, went to third on a single by Spano and scored on a slow grounder in front of the plate. The Bulldogs tied it in the fourth when Thompson was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on a single by Griffin and scored on a sacrifice fly by Bailey Rush.

That proved to be The Citadel's only scoring play until the eighth. The Bulldogs had Griffin at third with one out in the fourth and got runners to second in the sixth and seventh but could not get the key two-out hits to go in front.

Brett Bullard singled and Stokes doubled to lead off the ninth against reliever Joe Goodman, but any hopes of a comeback ended when Goodman retired the final three batters.

The Citadel returns to action Wednesday at Riley Park with a 6 p.m. game against Winthrop before hitting the road for the first time this season with three games at North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., Friday through Sunday.

 

Youngstown State 6, Samford 4

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford baseball team dropped a 6-4 decision in the final game of a four-game series with Youngstown State on Sunday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

The Bulldogs won the first three games of the season-opening series, giving the Bulldogs a record of 3-1. Youngstown State falls to 1-3.

Youngstown State’s Patrick O’Brien (1-0) pitched six strong innings, allowing just one run on two hits and striking out four Samford batters to earn the win for the Penguins. Samford starting pitcher Patrick McGavin (0-1), making his debut with the Bulldogs, pitched five innings, allowing three runs, just two earned, on five hits.

For Samford at the plate, C.K. Irby went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Tommy Corbin went 2-for-4 for the Bulldogs, while Frankie Navarrete and Christiaan Durdaller drove in a run each.

Youngstown State’s Mike Accardi and Drew Dosch had two hits each to lead the Penguins at the plate. Kris Moules drove in two runs for YSU, going 1-for-4 with a double.

Youngstown State jumped on top right off the bat with a run in the top of the first inning. Devin Higgins scored the game’s first run when Moules reached base on a Samford error to give YSU a 1-0 lead.

Samford came back to tie the game with a run in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs in the inning, Phillip Ervin doubled to start the rally. After Ervin moved to third base on a balk, Irby doubled to right-center field to drive in Ervin and tie the score at 1-1.

The game remained tied until Youngstown State plated two runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 3-1 lead. Moules doubled down the left-field line to drive in Dosch for the inning’s first run. Marcus Heath then tripled to center field to drive in Moules for a two-run YSU lead.

The Penguins plated three more runs in the top of the eighth inning to push their lead to 6-1. Moules walked with one out and later scored on a Samford error for the inning’s first run. Phil Lipari then singled through the right side of the infield to drive in Kevin Hix to make the score 5-1. Josh White later scored from third base on a sacrifice fly by Padraic Williams for a five-run Youngstown State lead.

Samford came back with three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to cut the lead to 6-4, but the Bulldogs could get no closer. Durdaller doubled to drive in Corbin to make the score 6-2. Brandon Haarer then scored on a wild pitch to make the score 6-3. Durdaller then scored from third base on a groundout by Navarrete to pull Samford to within two runs.

Samford will return to action on Tuesday when the Bulldogs play host to Alabama A&M. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. Central start from Joe Lee Griffin Field.

 

Washington State 4, Western Carolina 1

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Washington State rallied from a one-run deficit with three runs in the top of the seventh inning as Nick Tanielu delivered a two-RBI double down the left field line that proved to be the game-winner as the Cougars downed Western Carolina, 4-1, Sunday afternoon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.

The Catamounts won the three-game set despite Sunday’s home loss.

WCU broke the scoreless deadlock in the fourth inning with a leadoff double to right-center field by junior Julian Ridings. A wild pitch advanced the Shelby, N.C., native further into scoring position at third ahead of team RBI leader Tyler White. The senior put the Catamounts on the board with a deep sacrifice fly to center field that allowed Ridings to trot home for the 1-0 lead.

The Catamounts worked in and out of jams much of the ball game – stranding nine Cougar runners on the afternoon. However, the home squad ran into trouble in the seventh inning as WSU’s Trace Tam Sing doubled down the left field line to lead off the frame. Catamount starter Morgan McKinney struck out Ben Roberts, but a passed ball allowed Roberts to scamper to first to put two aboard ahead of Trek Stemp, who drove in the game-tying run off the first pitch from freshman reliever Colton Davis.

Stemp finished 3-for-4 at the plate, pacing four Cougars with multi-hit games. Tanielu drove in two on a 2-for-5 showing, including the big double.

Piecing the remainder of the inning together with situational pitching, Bobby Moranda called up reliever Bryce Danielson, who struck out Jason Monda for the second out of the inning. WCU looked to get out of the frame as reliever Tyler Powell worked ahead 1-2 on Tanielu before he doubled to left, plating two runs before being thrown out at third trying to advance. Once the dust settled, though, the Cougars had all the run support they’d need, leading 3-1.

The Cougar bullpen took over, retiring the final 12 Catamounts in order after a leadoff walk. Kyle Swannack (1-0) earned the victory in relief, coming on to pitch a perfect sixth inning with a strikeout. In his debut on the mound, Monda fanned three in his inning of work with J.D. Leckenby earning the save, fanning one in the final inning of work.

Combined, four relievers out of the WSU bullpen worked the final four innings perfectly with all seven strikeouts. The Catamounts were held to just four base hits in the loss.

Washington State (1-2) added an insurance run in the eighth as  Brent Jacobs was plunked by a pitch and later scored on a failed pick-off attempt at third to provide the final tally.

McKinney (0-1) took the loss for WCU, surrendering two runs – only one of which was earned – on eight hits with six strikeouts and a walk through six innings. Davis allowed a run in his collegiate debut, as did Powell, who tossed two innings of relief with a career-high four strikeouts. Rookie Jonathan Waszak also made his first collegiate appearance, getting the final out in the top of the ninth for the Catamounts. WCU finished with 11 combined Ks.

Western Carolina (2-1) is scheduled to host Wake Forest at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.

 

Appalachian State at No. 8 NC State (canceled)

RALEIGH, N.C. – Sunday's baseball series finale between Appalachian State University and NC State has been canceled due to lingering effects from Saturday's winter storm in the Raleigh-Durham area.

Appalachian State (1-0) defeated eighth-ranked NC State (0-1), 6-3, in Friday's season opener at Doak Field. Rain and snow that fell for much of the day on Saturday washed out the final two games of what was supposed to be a three-game series.

Appalachian hosts Canisius in the Mountaineers' home opener on Monday at 3 p.m. at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium in Boone.

 

Davidson vs. George Washington (canceled)

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Cold temperatures left Wilson Field covered in snow Sunday, forcing the cancelation of the nonconference baseball series finale between Davidson and George Washington.

Davidson claimed the first two games of the series, including a contest Saturday shortened in the top of the seventh inning by “thundersnow.”

The Wildcats will next play at North Carolina Central on Wednesday at 4 p.m. and will then play four games at Wilson Field in three days starting with Georgetown on Friday at 6 p.m.

 

Wofford vs. UNC Asheville (postponed)

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Due to the snow on Saturday, the Wofford baseball game scheduled for Sunday at 4:00 p.m. against UNC Asheville has been postponed. A make-up date will be announced in the near future.

Wofford and Niagara will play on Monday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. to make up the game that was canceled due to snow on Saturday.