Samford 12, The Citadel 8

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Samford baseball team earned its first Southern Conference win of the season, taking a 14-8 slugfest at The Citadel on Sunday afternoon at Riley Park.

With the win, Samford improved to 10-7 overall and 1-2 in SoCon play. The Citadel dropped to 10-6 overall and 2-1 in league play.

Samford was led at the plate by Phillip Ervin, going 3-for-4 with a home run, a triple and four RBI. Tommy Corbin and Caleb Bryson had three hits and one RBI each in the win. Christiaan Durdaller went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI.

Sean Handlan (1-0) pitched three innings in relief, allowing no runs on just two hits to earn the win on the mound for Samford. Handlan struck out five batters and allowed no walks.

The Citadel was led at the plate by Joe Jackson, going 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Hughston Armstrong went 4-for-5 for The Citadel. Austin Mason (1-1) pitched three innings, allowing six runs on eight hits to take the loss on the mound for The Citadel.

Samford jumped on top first with three runs in the top of the first inning. With one out in the inning, Corbin singled up the middle. C.K. Irby then walked, moving Corbin to second base. Ervin then homered to left-center field to give Samford an early 3-0 lead. The home run was Ervin’s seventh of the season.

The Citadel plated a run in the bottom of the second inning to cut the Samford lead to 3-1. Mason Davis singled through the right side of the infield to drive in Jonathan Stokes, who had doubled earlier, for The Citadel’s first run of the game.

Samford added two runs in the top of the third inning to push its lead to 5-1. With two outs, Ervin tripled. Patrick McGavin then singled to right field to drive in Ervin for the inning’s first run. Back-to-back singled by Durdaller and Bryson loaded the bases. Drew McWhorter was then hit by a pitch to bring in McGavin for a four-run Samford lead.

Samford plated four more runs in the top of the fourth inning. Corbin, Durdaller, Bryson and McWhorter drove in a run each in the inning to give Samford a 9-1 lead.

The Citadel came back with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut the Samford lead to 9-5. Armstrong scored the first run of the inning on a Samford error. Tyler Griffin drove in two runs and Jackson drove in one to pull The Citadel to within four runs.

Samford added four more runs in the top of the fifth inning. Ervin, McGavin, Durdaller and McWhorter drove in a run each as the Bulldogs pushed their lead back to eight runs at 13-5.

The Citadel added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to make the score 13-7. Jackson hit a two-run double for the The Citadel’s sixth and seventh runs of the afternoon. The Citadel cut the Samford lead to 13-8 with a run in the sixth inning. Griffin scored from third base when Bret Hines hit a sacrifice fly.

Samford plated another run in the top of the seventh inning to make the score 14-8. With one out in the inning, Durdaller hit a solo home run to left-center field for the game’s final run.

Samford will return to action on Tuesday when the Bulldogs play host to in-state rival Jacksonville State. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start from Joe Lee Griffin Field. The Citadel will host Akron for a two-game series Tuesday and Wednesday.

 

College of Charleston 7, Elon 4

ELON, N.C. – College of Charleston scored three runs in the first and never looked back en route to a 7-4 win over Elon to take the rubber game of the series.

The top four players in the CofC lineup all had two hits and the Cougar pitching staff only gave up two hits through the first seven innings. Charleston (10-6, 2-1) has now won the past two weekend series, while Elon (7-7, 2-4) has lost its first two home SoCon weekends.

CofC starter Nathan Helvey lasted just 2 2/3 innings, walking five batters and allowing one run on two hits. Reliever Drew Freie (3-2) picked up his third win and fifth decision, pitching three shutout innings and not allowing a Phoenix hit.

Ryan West gave up two runs in the eighth and Michael Hanzlik flirted with drama in the ninth, allowing two hits and a run before inducing a game-ending double play.

David Whitehead (1-3) picked up the loss after an erratic 3 2/3-inning start, allowing five runs on four hits and walking six batters.

Junior slugger Brandon Murray hit his second homer of the season, a solo shot to right center, and finished with a 2-for-4 day. Shortstop Gunnar Heidt launched two doubles, the second one scoring Blake Butler for an insurance run in the eighth inning. Butler finished with two runs and two hits.

Junior Ben Boykin continued his stellar weekend with a triple and an RBI single, both coming with two outs in the inning.

Quinn Bower led Elon with two RBI on a single and a double. Antonio Alvarez scored two runs, walked twice and stole a base.

The Cougars scored three runs in the opening inning with a leadoff single from Butler and a double from Heidt. Boykin hit an RBI groundout and Tyler Jackson and Alex Pastorius induced bases-loaded walks to drive in two more runs.

Murray hit his solo home run in the third inning and Jimmy Holton tallied his first RBI of the year, a two-out single that scored Jackson, to give CofC a 5-0 lead.

Elon responded with a two-out RBI double from Ryan Kinsella in the bottom of the third inning, but that would be the last run scored until the eighth as both pitching staffs settled in.

A two-out single from Butler and a double from Heidt scored a run for the Cougars in the top of the eighth inning. Boykin found a hole on the left side with a hit and run on, and Heidt came around to score his second run of the game and push the CofC lead to 7-1.

Elon responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning and threatened for more in the ninth after an RBI from Chris King. With runners on first and second and just one out, Danny Lynch rolled a grounder to Butler, who turned started the double play to end the game.

College of Charleston will not play a mid-week game this week and will next face SoCon contender Western Carolina for a home series starting on Friday. Elon will play at UNCW on Tuesday 5 p.m.

 

Appalachian State 10, Furman 9 (11 inn.)

GREENVILLE, S.C. – William Head’s two-out single in the top of the 11th inning scored Alex Leach to break a tie ball game and lift Appalachian State to a 10-9 victory over Furman in Southern Conference baseball action Sunday afternoon at Latham Stadium.

The victory allowed Appalachian State (8-4, 3-3 SoCon) to avoid the three-game series sweep and halted a five-game winning streak by Furman (12-4, 4-2 SoCon).

The Mountaineers made Head’s go-ahead base hit stand up in the bottom of the 11th after Furman’s Jordan Simpson and Will Muzika delivered one-out singles. Appalachian State pitcher Clyde Tate retired Hunter Burton on a line drive into left-center field for the second out and then got Taylor Johnson on a ground ball to third base, where Head fielded it behind the bag and made an accurate throw to first base for the final out.

Head went 4-for-6 with a home run and two RBI, headlining an Appalachian State offense that totaled 17 hits and four home runs, including two by Dillon Dobson, whose three-run shot the fourth inning erased a 5-2 Furman lead.

The Paladins trailed 8-5 before rallying to tie it with a three-run eighth.  Alex Abrams’ bases-loaded, one-out single off Mountaineer closer Rob Marcello knotted it at 8-8, but after a Griffin Davis walk again loaded the bases, Marcello induced a double-play groundout off the bat of Chris Ohmsteded to get out of the inning.

Both teams put two runners on in the ninth but could not capitalize.

Appalachian State took a 2-0 lead with an unearned run in the second and solo home run Hector Crespo in the third.

Furman struck for five runs in the third against Mountaineer starting pitcher Sam Agnew-Wieland, combining an error with three hits, including a two-run home run to left field by Chris Ohmstede, to grab a 5-2 advantage.

The lead didn’t last long as Appalachian State came back with a three-run fourth against Furman starting pitcher Jake Wolff, who recorded two outs before giving up Dobson’s three-run home run to right field.

The Mountaineers then tallied single runs in the next four frames to take the 8-5 lead before Furman rallied to send it into extra innings.

The two teams combined to use 14 pitchers, including eight by Furman. Wolff was limited due to illness and was pulled after giving up four runs on five hits in just 3 2/3 innings.

Tate (1-0) allowed two hits over the final 1 2/3 innings to pick up the win for Appalachian State.

The loss was charged to Matt Solter (0-1), who yielded the game-deciding run and three hits over the final two frames.

Ohmestede’s two-run home run keyed a 3-for-6 performance at the plate for the Paladins.  Abrams went 3-for-4 with two RBI, four Paladins – Will Muzika, Burton, Davis and Simpson – had two hits apiece in Furman’s 16-hit afternoon.

Jailyn Davis matched Head’s four-hit effort by going 4-for-6, and Crespo had three hits, including a home run, in six at-bats for the Mountaineers.

Appalachian State returns to action on Tuesday when it opens a two-game mid-week series at Georgia. The series opener is set for 7 p.m. at Foley Field in Athens, Ga. Furman hosts Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

 

Georgia Southern 7, Wofford 4

STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern scored five runs in the fifth inning and held on to a three-run lead to defeat Wofford 7-4 and sweep the first Southern Conference series of the year.

Georgia Southern (9-6, 3-0) took a 6-0 lead behind a strong outing from starter Justin Hess (1-2). Hess tossed five scoreless innings to earn his 10th career win. The senior right-hander allowed just four hits and a walk a day after recording his first career save.

Wofford (7-9, 0-3) rallied back to within two runs with a four-run sixth, but Matt McCall held the Terriers scoreless for the final 1 1/3 innings to pick up his second save. Luke Leftwich (1-1) was tagged with the loss after giving up six runs on six hits. Leftwich allowed three walks and struck out five batters over 4 1/3 innings.

The Eagles finished with 10 hits and got multi-hit performances from Chase Griffin, Robbie Dodds and Arthur Owens. All three drove in two runs each, and Dodds and Brent Pugh hit home runs. Wofford had four players with two hits and finished with 12 hits. Josh Hyman plated three runs with a home run in the sixth inning.

After scoring a single run in the first inning, Georgia Southern struck for five runs in the fifth inning. Pugh led off the inning with his first career home run, and Griffin plated the second run of the inning with a single. Dodds drove in Griffin two batters later with a base hit through the left side of the infield. Owens plated the final two runs with a base hit to center field.

After the Eagles went to the bullpen to start the sixth inning, Wofford sent eight batters to the plate to score four runs. The first two batters reached base to start the inning, and Hyman drove both in with a home run. With runners on the corners, Matthew Pelt pushed a bunt down the first base line to score Matthew Ramsay from third base.

Over the final three innings, the Georgia Southern bullpen held the Terriers to one run. Before allowing a run in the eighth inning, Chris Myers worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh. Myers got a force out at home plate and a strikeout of Ramsay to end the inning.

Georgia Southern opens a five-game road swing Tuesday at Mercer before traveling to Samford for a three-game weekend series. Wofford hosts UNC Asheville on Tuesday and Presbyterian on Wednesday.

 

Western Carolina 5, Davidson 2

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Tyler White led four Catamounts with multi-hit outings on Sunday with a 3-for-4 performance, blasting his team-leading sixth home run of the season as Western Carolina claimed a 5-2 victory over the Davidson Wildcats to win its Southern Conference opening series.

White got the Catamounts on the board in the first inning with a two-run home run to left for his two RBI, later adding a pair of singles and an intentional walk. Junior Cody Jones collected two extra-base hits in a 2-for-5 showing, doubling and hitting his first home run of the season, while Austin Neary (2-for-5) and Luke Gragg (2-for-4) both had two-hit games.

On the mound, left-hander Morgan McKinney (1-1) evened his record on the season, limiting the Wildcats to just one run on three hits through six innings of work. The Gainesville, Fla., product pitched around two walks with six strikeouts in just his second start of the season.

WCU’s bullpen worked the final three innings as Tyler Powell struck out three against one base hit in two innings of work, while senior Preston Hatcher surrendered one run on a solo home run in the ninth of a non-save situation, striking out one.

After White put the Catamounts (9-7, 2-1 SoCon) on top by two after the top of the first, Davidson (6-5, 2-4 SoCon) answered with a manufactured run in the home half of the second. A leadoff single by Lee Miller followed by a walk to Andrew Barna put two aboard with nobody out in the second frame. Designated hitter Ryan Lowe sacrificed the runners into scoring position with Michael Zeblo driving home Davidson’s first run with a sacrifice fly to right field.

WCU’s lead remained at just the one run until the visitors’ half of the sixth inning. Sophomore Jacob Hoyle drew a leadoff walk before advancing to second on a groundout by Bryant Noteboom. Gragg, starting his sixth straight game, singled to center to drive Hoyle home, pushing the Catamount edge back to two, 3-1.

Solo runs in the top of the seventh and ninth innings handed WCU a 5-1 edge through eight and a half innings. Neary singled to right in the seventh to drive home Aaron Attaway to cap a two-out rally. Then in the ninth, Jones belted his first home run of the season with a one-out shot over the fence in right center field for the team’s fifth run.

Down to its final three outs, Davidson got a two-out solo home run by Barna to left to provide the final tally, 5-2.

Davidson starter Rob Bain (0-1) took the loss after allowing three runs on seven hits, walking and striking out two. Barna finished 2-for-3 with the homer, pacing the Wildcats’ offense in the series finale.

Amidst a stretch of playing eight of nine games away from home, Western Carolina returns to the friendly confines of Childress Field / Hennon Stadium for the lone home game of that span as it hosts Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday evening in Cullowhee, N.C. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. Davidson plays at South Carolina on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

 

UNCG 6, Marist 5

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Sophomore Caleb Henley worked out of a big jam in the top of the ninth inning Sunday, helping the UNCG baseball team hang on for a 6-5 victory over Marist at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. The Spartans improve to 8-5 with the win while the Red Foxes fall to 4-6.

The top of the ninth began when Zach Shank reached on an error by Spartan second baseman Nin Marrero. Mike Orefice then walked before infielder Ray Crawford botched a force play attempt, dropping the ball at third and allowing Shank to score to make the score 6-5. Henley came on with men at second and third and got Zachary Passerale to pop up on the infield. The next Marist batter put the ball in play, but first baseman Lloyd Enzor made the throw home to nail Orefice. Joey Aiola then grounded out to Henley to end the game.

Cambric Moye had one hit in the contest, but it was a big one as he lined a pitch over the left-field wall in the fifth for a three-run home run – his fourth round-tripper of the season. A total of four UNCG players recorded multiple hits while senior outfielder Christian Wolfe tallied two RBI. The Spartans pounded out multiple hits for the second straight game, touching up the Red Foxes for 12 base knocks.

A rookie picked up his first victory of his collegiate career as southpaw Adam Anderson recorded the final out in the top of the fifth inning before UNCG regained its lead in the bottom of the frame. Senior Dominique Vattuone threw three innings of solid ball, allowing one earned run, scattering two hits and striking out four.

Shank put Marist in front early as his sacrifice fly scored Steve Laurino to give the Red Foxes a 1-0 advantage in the first inning. The Spartans responded quickly as Edwards doubled to right field and Enzor brought him home with a RBI single. UNCG added a run in the bottom of the second off a RBI single from Wolfe that scored Crawford, who had tripled to right center earlier in the inning.

The Red Foxes regained control in the fifth, netting three runs on four hits to move in front 4-2. Marist would not lead for long, however, as Edwards was hit by a pitch and Enzor doubled down the right-field line to put runners on the corners. Moye took the first pitch he saw and drilled it over the left-field wall to put UNCG back ahead 5-4.

The Blue and Gold put an insurance run on the board in the bottom of the eighth. Sophomore outfielder Nick Chapman led off with a pinch-hit single before Marrero singled through the left side with one out. After a pitching change, Wolfe greeted the new Marist pitcher with a single through the right half of the infield, which plated Chapman and proved to be the winning tally.

UNCG returns to the diamond Tuesday, hosting Patriot League member Lafayette in a midweek contest at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.