Western Carolina 5, Gardner-Webb 2
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Western Carolina scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning, including three on a bases-loaded double to left-center field by junior Aaron Attaway as the Catamounts rallied past Gardner-Webb on Wednesday night in nonconference action at John Henry Moss Stadium.
The victory snapped a three-game slide for WCU as the Catamounts improved to 14-12 overall on the year. Gardner-Webb dropped to 13-11-1 overall with the loss. It was also WCU’s first win over the Runnin’ Bulldogs since 2010.
Trailing 2-1 entering the final frame, WCU pushed across four markers to take its only lead of the contest. Senior Bryant Noteboom opened the inning with a triple to left field as defensive replacement Alex Newman over-ran the tailing line drive before slipping while trying to make an adjustment. The ball rolled to the fence, with Noteboom left standing on third. Pinch-runner J.D. Long scored the game-tying run on an infield single by Luke Gragg, who delivered a hot shot to the right side of the infield that GWU’s Brad Collins was able to get a glove on, but he did not have a throw to any base.
Tied at 2, Adam Martin then doubled to left field to move runners to second and third with just one out. Gardner-Webb played the percentages by loading the bases with an intentional walk to Bradley Strong, bringing Attaway to the plate. On the eighth pitch of his at bat, the Morganton, N.C., native laced a double to left-center field, driving in three for a 5-2 edge.
WCU senior closer Preston Hatcher was summoned from the bullpen in the bottom of the ninth, with the Atlanta, Ga., product working around a walk and a single to strike out the side to claim his sixth save of the season.
Attaway led the Catamounts with three RBIs, while Gragg drove in two, including the game-tying run in the ninth and WCU’s first marker in the seventh on a pinch-hit sacrifice fly to center. Austin Neary was the only Catamount with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-4 with a double, while another hometown product, Julian Ridings, walked twice and stole his fourth base of the season.
Combined, four of WCU’s eight hits went for extra bases in the win with three doubles and a triple.
Junior southpaw Hunter Brister (3-0) scored the victory out of the bullpen for WCU, striking out three in two innings of relief work. The Pleasant Grove, Ala., native only allowed one hit in earning his third victory of the year in his 11th overall appearance.
Catamount starter Adam Curtis struck out five through six innings, surrendering two runs on five hits in the no-decision. Freshman Jonathan Waszak walked one with another runner reaching on a throwing error before Brister came on to shut the door in the seventh inning.
Hatcher moved into sole possession of sixth place in WCU’s record book with his 16th career save.
Gardner-Webb opened scoring in the third inning as Ryan Hodge led off with a single through the right side before being sacrificed to second base. A two-out triple to left field by J.J. Nazzaro plated the game’s first run as the Runnin’ Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead through three complete.
In the fifth, Hodge again reached to lead off the inning as he was hit by a full-count pitch. A one-out bunt single by Scott Johnson put runners at first and second before Hodge swiped third base to move the home squad’s runners to the corners with two out. Hodge then charged home on a hit-and-run situation with Henry Rundio who delivered an RBI single to right field to hand Gardner-Webb a 2-0 lead after the fifth inning.
Western Carolina finally got on the board in the seventh as Tyler White, who was playing just minutes away from his hometown of Forest City, N.C., reached on an infield fielding error. Neary doubled to left to put runners at second and third ahead of Gragg, who lifted a pinch-hit fly ball to center, allowing White to race home to cut the margin in half, 2-1, setting up WCU’s ninth-inning heroics.
The Catamounts threatened to tie the game in the eighth as Attaway drew a leadoff walk, stretching his consecutive streak of reaching safely to 16 straight games. He promptly stole second base before moving to third on a right-side groundout by Cody Jones. Ridings then hit one to the right side with Attaway charging home, but he was thrown out by Collins at the plate to preserve GWU’s one-run edge entering the ninth.
Tossing eight pitchers by design on the night, Gardner-Webb reliever Jeff Howell (1-2) took the loss after allowing four runs on five hits in the ninth. Howell walked and struck out one in an inning and a third. All told, the Runnin’ Bulldog pitchers struck out six batters in the loss.
Johnson finished 2-for-4 to lead six players for Gardner-Webb, with hits by Nazzaro and Rundio driving in its two runs.
Western Carolina returns home for a three-game Southern Conference series against The Citadel at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 5 p.m. with Saturday slated for a 2 p.m. start and a 1 p.m. game time on Sunday.
Wofford 12, USC Upstate 11
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford College baseball team picked up a 12-11 win over USC Upstate on Wednesday night at Harley Park. The Terriers scored two runs in the top of the seventh to take the lead and did not allow a hit in the final three innings for the victory.
Wofford is now 12-14 on the season and USC Upstate is 13-10 overall. The Terriers were led by Alec Paradowski and Seth Neely with three hits each, while Matthew Kaskow had four RBIs. The Spartans were led by Brandon Patterson with three RBIs.
The Terriers had singles by Paradowski and Josh Hyman in the top of the first. A single by Neely gave Wofford an early 1-0 lead. James Plaisted put down a bunt, which scored Hyman. A groundout by Matthew Ramsay allowed Neely to score from third base for a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first, the Spartans loaded the bases on a hit by pitch and two singles. Brandon Patterson hit a single that scored two runs and a single from Trey Richardson with two outs tied the game at 3-3 after the first inning.
Wofford reclaimed the lead in the top of the second when Matthew Pelt singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. A double down the left line by Kaskow scored Pelt and an RBI single by Paradowski made it a 5-3 game. The Spartans had two runners on base in the bottom of the second when a single by Tyler Lesch and an RBI groundout by Patterson tied the game at 5-5. A two-run homer by Luke Weber to left field gave USC Upstate a 7-5 lead.
The Spartans loaded the bases on three walks in the bottom of the third. A walk to Gaither Bumgardner brought in one run for an 8-5 lead, but the Spartans left the bases loaded.
The Terriers had a lead-off single by Clark Wise in the fourth inning and Pelt was hit by a pitch. Wise scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Kaskow. A single by Paradowski scored Pelt from second base to cut the lead to 8-7. The Spartans added one run on a hit by Brody Greer in the bottom of the fourth for a 9-7 advantage.
Wofford loaded the bases in the top of the fifth on singles by Neely and Plaisted and a hit-by-pitch to Wise. Pelt and Matt Moore were both hit by pitch to tie the game at 9. A fielder’s choice by Kaskow gave Wofford a 10-9 lead. USC Upstate left two runners on base to end the fifth inning.
Neely had his third single of the game in the top of the sixth inning, but he was left on base. The Spartans had back-to-back singles to begin the bottom of the sixth. A double by Greer drove in both runners to regain the lead at 11-10. Wofford had runners at second and third after a walk and hit by pitch. Kaskow reached on an infield error that enabled both players to score to give the Terriers a 12-11 lead at the seventh-inning stretch.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Spartans were retired in order. Neither team scored in the eighth or ninth innings as the Terriers held on for the 12-11 victory.
Wofford starter Dominick Del Monte went the first inning and allowed three runs on four hits. Tanner Hawley threw 2/3 of an inning with four runs allowed on three hits. DooJoon Park allowed one run on three walks. Connell Anderson went 1 2/3 innings with one run scored on two hits along with one strikeout. Matthew Milburn threw an inning with one hit allowed and a strikeout. Dylan Cheely allowed three runs on two hits in a third of an inning. Will Stillman (1-0) went 1 2/3 innings without allowing a hit and striking out three for his first career win. J.D. Osborne threw the eighth with one strikeout. Eric Eck picked up his seventh save of the season with one strikeout in the ninth inning.
USC Upstate starter Ben Augenstein threw three innings and gave up five runs on seven hits with one strikeout. Jordan Rusk went an inning and allowed two runs on two hits. Erik Samples (0-1) threw two innings with five runs allowed on three hits with one strikeout. Daniel Seeba worked one inning without allowing a hit. Greer went the final two innings and did not allow a hit with two strikeouts.
Wofford will continue the nine-game road trip on Friday for the start of a three-game Southern Conference series against Appalachian State. The game time has been changed to 4 p.m. on Friday due to cold weather in Boone.
East Carolina 11, Elon 4
ELON, N.C. – East Carolina turned to normal Saturday starter Ryan Williams out of the bullpen to lead the Pirates to an 11-4 victory over the Elon Phoenix at Latham Park on Wednesday afternoon.
East Carolina (12-14) was the first to score, getting solo homers from both Chase McDonald and Bryan Bass in the top of the second.
Elon (14-11) came right back with four runs in the last of the second. The Phoenix loaded the bases with a Ryan Kinsella double, a walk to Antonio Alvarez and a Niko Fraser single before Wil Leathers lined one to center for a sacrifice fly to make it 2-1. Blaine Bower then connected on a 2-2 pitch from starter Nick Durazo and deposited his first career homer over the 12-foot wall in left to put Elon on top 4-2.
The Phoenix lead remained 4-2 until the top of the fifth, when the Pirates tied it on a two-run homer off the bat of Jay Cannon. East Carolina took the lead for good in the sixth, scoring three times. With two runners aboard, pinch-hitter Zach Houchins lined a double to left-center to score both runners, making it a 6-4 game. He later scored on an Elon error.
East Carolina tacked on a single run in the seventh before scoring three times in the ninth to make it 11-4.
Tyler Manez (0-2) took the loss in relief of Jacob Baker. Manez was charged with three runs (two earned) on three hits in an inning and a third. Baker struck out a career-high seven hitters in 4 1/3 innings and gave up four runs on four hits.
Williams (5-1) retired all 13 batters he faced, striking out seven. Durazo was chased from the game after 4 2/3 innings. He allowed four runs on four hits.
Elon will remain at home this weekend to battle Davidson in a three-game Southern Conference series. Friday's series opener will begin at 6 p.m. and the teams will play a 3 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday to conclude the set.