Appalachian State 8, Butler 5

BOONE, N.C. – Sophomores Alex Leach and Brandon Burris each had two doubles and a home run to lead Appalachian State to an 8-5 victory over Butler on Sunday afternoon at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.

With the victory, Appalachian State (4-1) bested Butler (2-4) in the clubs’ three-game weekend series, two games to one.

Nine of the Mountaineers’ 10 hits went for extra bases in Sunday’s series-clinching victory. In addition to Leach and Burris both going 3-for-4 with two doubles and a homer, Josh Zumbrook doubled twice and Jaylin Davis also doubled to pace the 10-hit attack.

Highlighted by Leach’s solo homer in the third, Appalachian jumped out to a 3-0 lead after three innings. However, Butler exploded for five runs in the top of the fourth to take a 5-3 advantage.

The Mountaineers cut the two-run deficit in half in the fifth and regained the lead with four runs in the seventh. Zumbrook led off the decisive seventh frame with a double down the left-field line, and two pitches later, Burris launched the first home run of his career to left-center field, a two-run shot that put the Mountaineers ahead for good at 6-5.

Later in the seventh, Leach doubled to drive in William Head and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Will Callaway that stretched Appalachian State’s advantage to 8-5.

From there, senior relief pitchers Tyler Moore and Rob Marcello kept the Bulldogs off the board the rest of the way to nail down the win for starter Sam Agnew-Wieland. Agnew-Wieland allowed five runs on seven hits over seven innings but didn’t surrender any runs and allowed just three hits outside of Butler’s five-run fourth. The right-hander struck out seven to move to 2-0 on the young season.

Marcello struck out two batters and did not allow a hit in the ninth for his second save.

Jimmy Risi and Lucas Calderon led Butler with two hits apiece.

Appalachian State begins a 10-game road trip on Tuesday with a nonconference tilt at High Point. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.

 

Davidson 9, Lafayette 3
Georgetown 8, Davidson 4

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Home runs from Lee Miller and Andrew Barna, as well as strong pitching, led the Wildcats to their second straight victory over Lafayette, 9-3, in nonconference baseball action at Wilson Field on Sunday. In the day’s second contest, the Georgetown bullpen held Davidson scoreless over the final six innings as the Hoya hitters were able to erase a three-run deficit and take an 8-4 victory.

Against Lafayette, Davidson (4-2) scored all it needed after three innings on Miller and Barna’s home runs, as RHP Danny Mooney (1-1) and the Wildcat bullpen held Lafayette to five hits. In the first inning, with shortstop Michael Zeblo (1-for-3, 2 walks) on base after hitting a double and two outs, Barna homered for a 2-0 advantage. Facing two outs in the third inning, left fielder Forrest Brandt walked and Barna reached on a throwing error, allowing the freshman Miller to drive home all three with his third home run in just his fifth-ever game.

Barna went 2-for-4 with two RBI and three runs, while Miller went 1-for-3 with three RBI, a run and a walk.

Lafayette (0-3) got on the board in the top of the fourth inning, also on a home run. Kevin Casey (1-for-3) singled to left field and scored on a homer by first baseman Brad Hopek (2-for-2, 2 walks) to cut the deficit to three at 5-2.

Barna singled to right center in the bottom of the sixth then stole second before catcher Daniel Gerow (1-for-4) doubled to right center, scoring Barna. Gerow then made it home on an RBI single by first baseman Ryan Lowe (2-for-4) to restore the five-run advantage, 7-2.

An RBI single by Andrew Ruck (1-for-4) in the top of the eighth inning brought the Leopards within four, but that was as close as they would come, as freshman centerfielder Andrew Pope made his first career hit an RBI triple to the left gap. Classmate Sam Foy drove him home with a double for the final margin.

In five innings of work, Mooney allowed two runs on three hits and a walk while striking out seven. RHP Bryan DaCanal allowed a run in 2 2/3 innings of relief on two hits and a walk with one strikeout. RHPs Jip Richards and Zeblo held the Leopards scoreless to end the game. Starting LHP Michael Massa (0-1) took the decision for Lafayette, allowing five runs (two earned) on four hits and four walks with three strikeouts.

Against the Hoyas, Davidson led 4-1 after the third inning, but Georgetown (2-2) scored a run each in the fourth and fifth innings, and then scored three runs in the seventh inning for a 6-4 lead. Pinch-hitter Nick Collins entered the game with two outs and the bases loaded in the seventh and hit a single to left center to drive in two runs. Back-to-back walks resulted in another Hoya run. Georgetown added a run each in the eighth and ninth innings for the final margin.

All of Davidson’s scoring took place in the third inning. An error allowed Zeblo to reach base following an Andrew Pope walk, and Forrest Brandt was then able to drive Pope home with a single up the middle. Zeblo scored on a failed pickoff attempt of Brandt, and Brandt scored on a wild pitch after a double by Barna. Barna advanced to third on the wild pitch, and Miller hit a sacrifice fly to drive him home.

Brandt, Barna and right fielder Nathan Becker all went 2-for-4 to lead Davidson at the plate.

Second baseman Danny Poplawski led Georgetown offensively, reaching base in all five plate appearances by going 4-for-4 and getting hit by a pitch, while also tallying one RBI and two runs. Catcher Eric Webber and centerfielder Justin Leeson both went 3-for-6, with Webber driving in one run, as the Hoyas pounded out 18 hits to Davidson’s eight.

RHP Will Brown (1-0) earned the win, allowing just one hit and striking out one in 1 2/3 innings of work. He was one of four Hoya relievers to hold Davidson scoreless. RHP Charles Steinman (1) was another, as he was perfect in the final two innings and struck out three for the save.

RHP Michael Goldberg (0-1) took the loss after allowing three runs on two hits and a hit batter in a third of an inning. LHP Rob Bain started for the Wildcats, allowing three runs (two earned) on 10 hits and no walks, while striking out three.

Davidson returns to action Tuesday, hosting USC Upstate at 6 p.m. at Wilson Field.

 

Elon 4, Kansas State 3
Elon 9, Coastal Carolina 8

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Elon Phoenix baseball team rallied from a 3-1 deficit to claim a 4-3 victory over the Kansas State Wildcats on Sunday morning and then held off a furious comeback attempt by the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers that evening to claim an 8-7 victory. The Phoenix concluded the Caravelle Resort Tournament with a 2-1 mark over the weekend and improved to 4-3 on the season.

Ryan Kinsella homered and drove in three and Joey Tomko delivered a RBI single as Elon rallied for the 4-3 victory over the Kansas State Wildcats.

Trailing 3-2 entering the last of the eighth inning, the Phoenix (4-3) put together a two-out rally that began with a Casey Jones single through the right side of the infield. Alex Swim followed with a single that put runners on the corners before Kinsella picked up his third RBI of the game as his single to left drove home pinch-runner Chris Bresnahan to even the score at 3. Tomko then bounced a single up the middle and Swim raced home from second to give the Maroon and Gold a 4-3 lead.

K-State (3-3) never threatened in the top of the ninth as Nate Young struck out two of the three hitters he faced in the frame to claim his second save in as many chances.

The Wildcats took a 2-0 lead in the fourth, scoring on an RBI groundout and an RBI single off the bat of Damion Lovato.

Elon answered with a single run in the last of the fourth, as Jones, who had led the inning off with a double, scored on Kinsella's sacrifice fly.

An unearned run in the top of the seventh let K-State regain a two-run edge before Kinsella led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo homer to right, his second of the year.

Andrew MacDonald (1-0) was the winning pitcher as he tossed 1 1/3 shutout innings out of the pen. MacDonald did not allow a base-runner before giving way to Young. Starter Kyle Webb was charged with all three runs (two earned) and gave up eight hits while striking out three.

Reliever Gerardo Esquivel (0-1) took the loss. Elon got three hits and two runs off of him in his two-thirds of an inning.

Kinsella finished the day 2-for-3 with a run scored and three RBI while both Jones and Danny Lynch posted two-hit games for the Phoenix.

In the second game of the day, the Phoenix trailed 2-0 heading to the third inning but got things going with a Quinn Bower infield single. With one away and runners on first and second, Swim singled up the middle to plate Bower to make it 2-1. Kinsella then put the Phoenix in front for good with a three-run shot to left-center - his second homer of the day and third of the season.

Elon increased its lead to 6-2 in the fourth on a two-run single by Bower. The Phoenix then scored single runs in the sixth and the seventh to up its edge to 8-2.

Coastal Carolina (3-4) began its rally in the last of the ninth. Things began with a walk and a single, and an error on the single put the runners at second and third. With one away, Josh Powell doubled down the left-field line to cut Elon's lead to 8-4. Nick Oberg followed with another double and it was 8-5. A grounder to second with runners on the corners could have been a double play, but the ball was thrown away at second and the sixth Chanticleer run came in to score.

After a walk loaded the bases, Coastal pulled within one on a sacrifice fly. CCU loaded the bases again with a walk before Young struck out Connor Owings to end the game and secure the Phoenix victory.

David Whitehead (1-1) picked up the win after he gave up two runs on three hits in seven innings. He struck out four. Young's save was his third on the year and second of the day.

Coastal's Alex Cunningham (0-1) took the loss after he was charged with six runs on five hits in just 3 1/3 frames.

Bower finished the day 3-for-4 with a run and two RBI while Swim was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and one RBI.

Elon will be back in action on Tuesday as the Maroon and Gold begins an eight-game homestand by hosting Liberty at 4 p.m.

 

Middle Tennessee State 4, College of Charleston 3

AUBURN, Ala. – College of Charleston scored three runs in the sixth inning to pull to within one run, but ultimately could not overcome Middle Tennessee State, falling by a score of 4-3.

The loss was the third straight for Charleston (3-4), while Middle Tennessee State (5-2) went 3-0 on the weekend with wins over Auburn, Indiana State and the Cougars.

Blue Raider starter Zac Curtis (1-1) picked up the win for MTSU, pitching a shutout into the sixth inning before giving up two hits and getting pulled. He ended up being responsible for all three CofC runs in the inning.

Charleston freshman Nathan Helvey (1-1) suffered the first loss of his career, pitching into the fourth inning and allowing three runs on five hits. After reliever Drew Freie gave up a run in the fifth, the CofC bullpen settled in with Michael Hanzlik and Dre Watts combining for three innings pitched, three strikeouts and just three hits allowed.

Ryan Ford tallied three hits with a run and an RBI for MTSU, and Johnny Thomas hit an RBI triple and scored a run.

Brandon Murray hit the only extra-base knock for the Cougars, coming in the three-run sixth inning, and he came around to score. Freshman Alex Pastorius tallied an RBI with his first career hit and classmate Blake Butler also tallied an RBI.

The Blue Raiders scored their first run in the second inning with a double steal with runners on first and third. MTSU struck again in the third when Thomas’ triple off the wall in right field scored Ford. Thomas then came home to score on a wild pitch to put Middle Tennessee State up 3-0.

The Sun Belt Conference representatives then added to the lead in the fifth inning with a leadoff double from Dain McNabb and an RBI single from Ford.

The Cougars struck back in the bottom of the sixth inning with three runs on four hits. Bradley Goodson led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a ground-rule double from Murray. Pastorius knocked in Goodson with a base hit to left, and Murray came home to score on a failed pickoff attempt that went wide of the first baseman.

The Cougars loaded the bases with two outs and threatened to tie or take the lead, but leadoff batter Gunnar Heidt struck out swinging, one of four strikeouts on the day for the shortstop.

The Cougars put a leadoff runner on in the bottom of the ninth inning, but Heidt struck out with a bunt foul and Goodson and Murray couldn’t get the ball out of the infield.

Sunday’s loss marks the first time since March 2011 that the Cougars were swept in a weekend series.

College of Charleston’s baseball game at Jacksonville, originally scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, has been moved to Wednesday due to weather forecasts. The game will still begin at 4 p.m.

 

Georgia Southern 12, Indiana 7
Indiana 11, Georgia Southern 5

STATESBORO, Ga. – The Georgia Southern baseball team split a two-game, weather-shortened series with Indiana. Georgia Southern (4-2) picked up a 12-7 win in game one of the series, while Indiana (3-2) won game two 11-5 on Sunday.

The Eagles tallied 20 hits over the two games and scored 17 runs. Chase Griffin snapped out of an early-season slump to post a team-best five hits in the series. Kyle Streicher, T.D. Davis and Scooter Williams all recorded three hits and a double. Michael Basil and Chris Sujka led the Hoosiers with four hits each.

GSU was finally able to complete Friday's series opener, which was delayed to Saturday due to fog and to Sunday due to rain, on Sunday morning.

The Eagles jumped ahead 5-0 Friday night behind a strong outing from starter Justin Hess, who allowed one run over 3 1/3 innings, before heavy fog forced the game to be suspended.

A Griffin single plated a leadoff double from Williams to score the game's first run in the first inning. Georgia Southern added four more runs in the second inning off of four hits and two Indiana errors. Davis plated two runs with a double, and Williams and Griffin added RBI singles to push the Eagles ahead 5-0.

After Indiana scored two runs in the fourth inning, GSU responded with seven runs over the fifth and sixth innings. Ben Morgan, Griffin and Davis launched three consecutive home runs in the sixth inning, the first time the Eagles have done that since a 17-7 win over Jacksonville on April 30, 2008; and Davis added a two-run homer in the fifth to put Georgia Southern ahead 12-4.

Sam Howard (2-0), who earned the win after 4 1/3 innings of relief, allowed two of his three runs in the eighth inning as the Hoosiers scored on Casey Smith’s RBI single and Trace Knoblauch’s bases-loaded walk.

Three straight batters reached in the ninth inning for Indiana, and three runs scored on a wild pitch, a Smith single and a Dustin DeMuth sacrifice fly. Josh Stevenson recorded the final three outs in the game after allowing the Smith single.

Joey DeNato (0-1), who did not return to the mound on Saturday, took the loss after allowing five runs – two earned – on six hits. He pitched just two innings but threw 42 pitches.

Indiana scored three runs in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth to pick up an 11-5 win in game two on Sunday.

Georgia Southern was held to six hits by the Hoosiers' pitching staff. Kyle Hart threw four innings and allowed three runs – two earned – on two hits while walking four. Scott Effross (1-0) got the win in relief after allowing one earned run over 4 2/3 innings.

Freshman Jason Richman (1-1) was tagged with his first loss after giving up six runs on eight hits over 4 2/3 innings. Matt McCall threw three innings in his Eagle debut but allowed three runs on four hits.

Georgia Southern tied the game at 3-3 in the third inning after Morgan plated a leadoff walk, and Zac Lenns drove in the junior third baseman two batters later with a single.

Indiana added three runs in the fifth inning on a Smith double, Chad Clark’s bases-loaded hit by pitch and a Sujka RBI single. The Hoosiers took an 8-3 lead in the top of the sixth inning after scoring on solo home runs by Kyle Schwarber and Scott Donley.

The Eagles got a run back in the bottom half of the frame, scoring an unearned run on a Stryker Brown single. The run, however, would be the last for GSU until the ninth inning.

After the Hoosiers scored twice in the eighth inning and once in the ninth inning, Williams drove in a one-out triple in the bottom of the ninth. Two batters later and with two outs, reliever Luke Harrison recorded the final out with a ground ball to shortstop.

Georgia Southern remains at home and will face Georgia Tech in a pair of mid-week games Tuesday and Wednesday. Both games are 6 p.m. first pitches.

 

Samford 6, Purdue 3
No. 5 Mississippi State 8, Samford 1

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Samford baseball team plated three runs in the top of the eighth inning to pull away for a 6-3 win over Purdue in the Diamond Classic, hosted by Mississippi State, Sunday afternoon at Dudy Noble Field before dropping its final contest 8-1 to the fifth-ranked Bulldogs.

The win was the 250th career win for Samford head coach Casey Dunn. Dunn, now in his ninth season with the program, is the all-time winningest coach in program history.

For Samford (5-4) in the win, Drew McWhorter went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Tommy Corbin drove in two runs in a 1-for-3 performance. Brandon Powell, C.K. Irby and Frankie Navarrete also drove in a run each for Samford.

Samford pitcher Alex Milazzo (2-0) earned the win, pitching seven innings, giving up three runs on five hits and striking out seven batters. Arthur Strauss pitched the final inning, retiring the Boilermakers in order to pick up his second save of the season.

Sean McHugh went 1-for-4 with an RBI to lead Purdue at the plate. Mike Lutz (0-1) took the loss on the mound for the Boilermakers (3-5), pitching 1 1/3 innings in relief, allowing two runs on two hits.

Samford jumped on top early with three runs in the top of the second inning. McWhorter doubled to left-center field to drive in Christiaan Durdaller for the game’s first run. Navarrete later singled to drive in McWhorter for a 2-0 Samford lead. Austin Allison plated the inning’s final run on a sacrifice fly by Corbin to give Samford a 3-0 lead.

Purdue tied the score with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jack Amaro scored the Boilermakers’ first run on a wild pitch. Kyle Johnson scored the second run of the inning on an infield single by McHugh. The game-tying run was scored when Brandon Krieg came home on a wild pitch to make the score 3-3.

Samford answered with three runs in the top of the eighth inning to take a 6-3 lead. Damon Waller, who pinch ran for McWhorter, scored the inning’s first run when Powell walked with the bases loaded. Corbin then walked, bringing Allison home. Navarrete later scored on a sacrifice fly by Irby for a three-run Samford lead.

Samford managed just three hits in the loss to Mississippi State (9-0). Phillip Ervin hit a solo home run to account for Samford’s only run of the contest. Zeth Stone and Will Davis added one hit each for Samford.

Patrick McGavin (0-2) took the loss on the mound for Samford. He pitched 3 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on five hits. Sean Handlan, Cole Limbaugh, Charles Terry and Ervin also saw time on the mound for Samford.

Mississippi State was led at the plate by Alex Detz, who went 3-for-4 with three RBI. Derrick Armstrong drove in two runs, going 1-for-1 at the plate. Adam Frazier went 2-for-3 with an RBI for MSU. Will Cox earned the win on the mound, pitching seven innings, giving up one run on two hits and striking out seven batters.

The game was scoreless for the first three and a half innings until Mississippi State plated three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Detz singled up the middle to drive in DeMarcus Henderson for the first run of the game. Nick Ammirati later doubled to left field to drive in Armstrong for a 2-0 MSU lead. Frazier then tripled to drive in Ammirati to make the score 3-0.

Mississippi State added four runs in the fifth inning to push its lead to 7-0. Detz drove in the first two runs in the inning with a double. Armstrong then singled to drive in two more runs to give MSU a seven-run lead.

MSU pushed its lead to 8-0 with a run in the sixth inning. Daryl Norris singled up the middle to drive in C.T. Bradford for the sixth-inning run.

Samford got on the scoreboard with a run in the seventh inning. With one out in the inning, Ervin homered to left field to make the score 8-1. The home run was Ervin’s fourth of the season.

Samford will return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 26, when the Bulldogs travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide. The game is scheduled for a 6:05 p.m. Central start from Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

 

North Florida 4, The Citadel 3

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For the third time in as many days, North Florida staged a late rally to take the rubber game of a three-game series with a 4-3 victory over The Citadel on Sunday in Jacksonville.

Tyler Marincov lined a single through a drawn-in infield with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth off of Skylar Hunter to cap a comeback from a 3-0 deficit. The Ospreys scored twice in the seventh and two more in the ninth to spoil an outstanding performance by freshman starter Austin Mason.

The Bulldogs dropped to 4-3 heading into a busy week with five games in five days beginning at home on Tuesday against UNC Asheville at 4 p.m. North Florida is 5-2 and has won three of five games against The Citadel the past two seasons.

Mason took a one-hit shutout into the seventh when Donnie Dewees lined a two-run homer just inside the right-field foul pole to get the Ospreys within 3-2. A single and walk followed before Zach Sherrill escaped further damage by striking out Drew Weeks with the bases loaded.

David Rivera allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth before Hunter took over in the ninth. Alex Bacon led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice and scored the tying run on a base hit to right off the bat of Corey Bass.

With Bass running, Kyle Brooks lifted a fly ball toward the line in right that appeared to be set up for an inning-ending double play. But Tyler Griffin misplayed the ball and it fell in for a two-base error that put the winning run just 90 feet away. After an intentional walk to Weeks, Marincov delivered his game-winning hit.

Mason had his second straight solid performance for the Bulldogs but again settled for a no-decision. After giving up three hits and one run in six innings in his collegiate debut against High Point last Sunday, Mason allowed only one single and two walks through the first six frames against the Ospreys, retiring seven in a row heading into the seventh before North Florida began its comeback.

In the series opener on Friday, North Florida also overcame a 3-0 deficit in the final three innings before losing 6-3 in 11. In the second game, the Ospreys scored four in the seventh and one in the eighth to come back from 8-4 down to win 9-8.

The Citadel didn't pound the ball on Sunday against North Florida starter Nate Allbritton but still put two runs on the board in the third to break a scoreless tie. Mason Davis and Brett Bullard singled, and Joe Jackson followed with an infield hit to second to plate Davis for his Southern Conference-leading 12th RBI of the season.

One out later, Griffin hustled out what would have been a double-play grounder to short to bring Bullard across for a 2-0 lead. Griffin had eight RBI in the three-game series, including five on Saturday when he slammed three home runs.

The Bulldogs added another run in the fifth, again with Davis and Bullard setting the table. The top two batters in The Citadel lineup walked and Jackson laid down a perfect bunt down the third base line for a single. Griffin just missed another home run when he drove Bacon to the fence in left center but settled for a sacrifice fly that made it 3-0.

Davis stole two bases in the game, giving the speedy second baseman six in as many attempts so far this season. The Bulldogs remained perfect in 11 stolen-base tries over the first seven games of the year.

Michael Renner was the winning pitcher for the Ospreys, working the final 3 1/3 innings and allowing only one hit and no runs with three strikeouts.

After taking on UNC Asheville on Tuesday, The Citadel plays at Charleston Southern on Wednesday at 2 p.m. before hosting the Charleston Crab House Shootout presented by Homewood Suites next weekend at Riley Park. Pittsburgh, VCU and UNC Asheville are the other participating teams.

 

Wofford 3, Pittsburgh 2
Pittsburgh 19, Wofford 8

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Saturday afternoon, the Wofford baseball team split a doubleheader with Pittsburgh at Russell C. King Field. In the first game, the Terriers scored the winning run on a safety bunt by James Plaisted for a 3-2 win. Pittsburgh scored seven runs in the first and ninth innings of the second game on the way to a 19-8 victory.

Wofford is now 4-3, while Pittsburgh is 5-1 on the season. For the Terriers, Plaisted, Josh Hyman and Seth Neely each had three hits on the day. Eric Hess had five hits and Steven Shelinsky had five RBIs for the Panthers.

In the top of the fourth of the first game, Pittsburgh led off with a double and a hit by A.J. Lardo drove in the run. A single by Bennette Hill added a run for a 2-0 lead.

Wofford had a double by Hyman and a single by Neely in the bottom of the fourth. A groundout by Matthew Ramsay scored Hyman to make it a 2-1 game. The Panthers left two on base in the top of the fifth. Matthew Kaskow and Clark Wise both reached on errors in the bottom of the fifth, tying the game at two.

In the bottom of the sixth, Ramsay doubled and beat a throw to third on a fielder’s choice by Eric Brenk. Plaisted came in as a pinch hitter and put down a safety bunt to score Ramsay for a 3-2 lead. The Panthers were retired in order by Eric Eck in the top of the seventh to secure the win.

Wofford starter Jesse Morris (2-0) went six innings and allowed two runs on 10 hits with one strikeout. Eck had his second save of the season by not allowing a runner in the seventh with one strikeout.

Pittsburgh starter Matt Wotherspoon (1-1) threw the complete six innings and gave up three runs on six hits with three strikeouts.

In game two, the Panthers jumped out early in the first inning with seven runs on five hits, including a home run by Shelinsky. Wofford got one run back in the bottom of the first when Hyman singled and scored on a double from Neely.

Pittsburgh added two runs in the top of the second on a two-run homer by Shelinsky for a 9-1 lead. In the bottom of the third, Kaskow was hit by a pitch. A double by Hyman scored Kaskow and Hyman moved to third on the throw home. Neely added a single to score Hyman but reached third on an error, and Wofford cut the lead to 9-3.

In the top of the fourth, the Panthers added a run on an RBI single to take a 10-3 lead. In the bottom of the fifth, Wofford loaded the bases with two walks and a hit by pitch. A single through the left side by Brenk scored two runs. A double to left center by Plaisted added two more runs. Stephen Cantrell added a single to score Plaisted to make it a 10-8 game. Wofford left the bases loaded to end the fifth inning.

The Panthers added a run on an RBI double by Hess to take an 11-8 lead in the top of the sixth. Wofford had two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh but were unable to score. Another RBI single from Hess in the top of the eighth made it a 12-8 contest. Pittsburgh scored seven runs in the top of the ninth inning, including a three run homer by Evan Oswald, to make it a 19-8 contest. Wofford left one runner on base in the bottom of the ninth.

Wofford starter Dominick Del Monte (0-1) gave up five runs on three hits. Tanner Hawley worked two innings and allowed four runs on five hits with one strikeout. DooJoon Park threw 3 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on two hits with two strikeouts. Connell Anderson went 1 1/3 innings and gave up two hits with a strikeout. Matthew Milburn retired the one batter he faced. Josh Simpson worked an inning with one run allowed on two hits. Will Stillman went two-thirds of an inning and gave up six runs on two hits, while Bradley Evsich allowed one run on one hit in a third of an inning.

Pittsburgh starter Rhys Aldenhoven went 4 2/3 innings and allowed six runs on six hits with three strikeouts. Jeff Kelly allowed two runs on three hits. J.R. Leonardi (1-0) went 3 1/3 innings and did not allow a run on two hits and had four strikeouts. Joe Harvey had two strikeouts in the ninth inning.

On Wednesday, Wofford will face Presbyterian College in Forest City, N.C. at 6 p.m.

 

Cincinnati 7, Western Carolina 6 (10 inn.)

GREENVILLE, S.C. – For the second time in the past two days, Western Carolina used late-inning heroics to force extra innings during the First Pitch Invitational held at Fluor Field. Yet, for the second-straight game, the Catamounts were unable to complete the comeback as a two-out, bases-loaded hit batsman drove in the game-winning run as Cincinnati held off WCU, 7-6, on Sunday afternoon.

The loss was the third straight for the Catamounts and the second one-run game that ended in extra innings.

Entering the top of the ninth inning trailing by a run, the Catamounts were able to rally, knotting the game at 6 to eventually force the extra frame. Junior Julian Ridings opened with a single to center field before advancing to third by stealing second and then taking third on a wild pitch. Senior Tyler White came through with his second RBI of the game, singling to right center to score the tying run.

Even after pushing across the game-tying run, the Catamounts had work to do to get the game into the 10th inning. A two-out single by Ian Happ gave the Bearcats new life to end the game in regulation. In a carbon copy of the top of the frame, Happ swiped second before taking third on a wild pitch. However, Catamount closer Preston Hatcher was able to strike out Cincinnati’s Justin Glass looking to end the threat.

After WCU was sat down in order in the top of the 10th, the Bearcats pulled more two-out magic to get the victory. Western Carolina secured the first two outs on a fly ball to center and a pick-off from first after a walk. A second free pass put Matt Williams aboard ahead of Jeff Murray, who singled to put runners at the corners with two away. Playing the percentages, WCU intentionally walked Bearcat catcher Woody Wallace to load the bases only to see nine-hole hitter Colin Hawk plunked by a pitch, driving in the game-winning run.

Hatcher (0-2) again took the extra-innings loss as the eighth different Catamount hurler to throw in Sunday’s game. The Atlanta, Ga., native worked 2 1/3 innings in relief, striking out three against three walks while allowing two hits and the one run on the HBP.

Cincinnati reliever Bryan Chenoweth (1-0) picked up the victory out of the bullpen, tossing the final inning and a third of hitless, scoreless relief with two strikeouts.

For a third straight day, Western Carolina (3-4) jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the first inning Sunday afternoon. Ridings singled to open the first frame and was later driven home on the RBI single to right field by team RBI-leader White. Jacob Hoyle then singled through the right side to give WCU a two-run advantage with Adam Martin lifting a sacrifice fly to center plate a third run.

However, the lead was short-lived as Cincinnati answered with a three-spot of its own in the bottom of the inning. The Bearcats took advantage of three hits, including a two-RBI double by Devin Wenzel. The designated home team added a go-ahead run in the bottom of the second to lead 4-3 after two complete.

In the top of the third, WCU plated the equalizer as Hoyle walked and later scored on an infield RBI groundout by Cody Jones, making it 4-4 through three innings. Cincinnati (1-5) loaded the bases with no outs and scored two runs on a pair of infield groundouts to pull ahead, 6-4, in the fifth inning.

WCU got one of the markers back in the sixth as Dale Urquhart Jr., drew a one-out walk and eventually came home on one of the four Bearcat errors, clawing back to within a run, 6-5, and setting up the game-tying ninth and finale in the 10th.

White was one of three Catamounts to post a multi-hit game as both he and Hoyle finished 2-for-4, with Ridings also collecting two hits. White drove in two runs for WCU in the loss.

Senior Jon Nadale earned the start but was chased after the three-run, three-hit first inning. Freshman Alex Barr tossed a career-long three innings, allowing two runs on three hits while fanning two. Hunter Brister and Tyler Powell both tossed an inning and a third ahead of Hatcher.

Western Carolina returns to the friendly confines of Childress Field / Hennon Stadium for a two-game, midweek nonconference set against Longwood. First pitch on both Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons is scheduled for 4 p.m.