The Citadel 7, East Tennessee State 3
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Hughston Armstrong and Johnathan Stokes homered in consecutive innings to stake The Citadel to a sizeable early lead, and the Bulldogs cruised to a 7-3 victory over East Tennessee State in a nonconference game Wednesday night at Riley Park.
The Bulldogs won their fourth in a row to improve to 21-17 while the Buccaneers lost for only the second time in their past nine games to fall to 21-13.
The win was the 500th at home for The Citadel in 22 seasons under head coach Fred Jordan, a total that includes 365 at Riley Park. It came at the expense of former Bulldog standout and Citadel Athletic Hall of Fame member Tony Skole, who is in his 14th season as the head coach at ETSU.
Austin Livingston turned in his third straight solid start for The Citadel, working the first four innings in a split-staff game and allowing five hits and two runs to run his record to 3-0. In his previous two starts, the freshman right hander combined to throw 8 1/3 innings with only three runs surrendered (two earned) in a pair of no-decisions against nationally ranked Coastal Carolina and South Carolina.
The Bulldogs took advantage of three ETSU errors in the bottom of the first to jump out to a 2-0 lead. With the bases loaded and two out, Calvin Orth hit a grounder that was booted by shortstop Jordan Sanford, who parlayed the miscue by throwing the ball into right field for his second error on the play. Armstrong and Joe Jackson came across to score for the quick Citadel lead.
That's when the power took over. With two on and one out in the second, Armstrong drove one over the fence in right field off of ETSU starter Griffin Krieg for his first home run in 102 career games, extending The Citadel lead to 5-0. The center fielder had two hits in the game and raised his batting average to a team-leading .383.
An inning later, Orth walked to lead off the frame and Stokes launched an 0-2 pitch just inside the left-field foul pole for a two-run shot and a 7-0 Bulldog cushion. The round-tripper was Stokes' second of the season and career and increased his RBI total to 30 after driving in five his entire freshman season.
The Bulldog shortstop has knocked in at least one run in eight of the past nine games and has a total of 13 during that stretch.
The Buccaneers reached Livingston for two runs in the top of the fourth. After allowing singles to the first two batters of the inning, Livingston got a pair of groundouts to plate one run, and Alex Reynolds singled in another to bring ETSU within 7-2.
The tallies ended a string of 32 1/3 innings in which Bulldog pitching did not allow an earned run. Last weekend at Georgia Southern, The Citadel gave up only two runs in 29 innings in a sweep of the Eagles but both were unearned.
The bullpen, which allowed only one hit in 8 1/3 innings in Statesboro, again came up big for the Bulldogs on Wednesday. Kevin Connell, James Reeves, Zach Sherrill and David Rivera each tossed one hitless inning with the only base-runner for ETSU from innings five through eight being a hit batter by Sherrill in the seventh.
The Buccaneers did reach closer Skylar Hunter for two hits and a run in the ninth before he fanned Trey York for his second strikeout of the inning to close out the victory.
Mason Davis singled and scored in the second to extend his hitting streak to eight games while Bo Thompson drew a walk in the same inning and has reached base in 37 consecutive contests. However, Jackson went 0-for-4 to snap his nine-game hitting streak and run of 20 straight games reaching base.
The Citadel returns to Southern Conference play this weekend with a three-game series at Riley Park against Appalachian State. The teams will begin the set on Friday at 6 p.m. followed by games on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Bulldogs enter the weekend with a 9-6 conference record, tied with Elon (12-6), Western Carolina (12-6) and College of Charleston (11-6) for the fewest losses in the league as the second half of SoCon play for The Citadel begins.
Western Carolina 9, Gardner-Webb 6
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Adam Martin crushed a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, capping a four home-run night for Western Carolina as the Catamounts powered past Gardner-Webb Wednesday night, 9-6, in nonconference midweek baseball action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
Julian Ridings continued his torrid hitting pace in the month of April, belting two home runs as a part of his fourth-straight three-hit outing (3-for-5). This month, the Shelby, N.C., native is batting .486 with eight extra-base hits, including four doubles and four home runs, scoring a team-best 13 runs.
Ridings led four Catamounts with multi-hit games on Wednesday as Jacob Hoyle doubled in a 2-for-5, one-RBI showing, with Bradley Strong (2-for-4) and Dale Urquhart Jr. (2-for-2) collecting two hits apiece. Dykota Spiess also homered, belting a solo shot in the fourth inning for WCU in going 1-for-3 with two walks.
Martin, who pinch hit in the sixth and assumed duties behind the plate, finished 1-for-2 with his towering homer providing WCU with the game-winning runs.
Gardner-Webb (20-16-1) scored in the top of the first inning, capitalizing on an infield error with John Harris driving in the game’s first run on a single to left field. However, the lead was short-lived as Ridings smacked the first pitch of his at-bat in the home half of the frame over the fence in right-center to tie the game at 1 through one.
In the second inning, the Runnin’ Bulldogs put together a two-out rally with Danny Yelverton and Jacob Walker scoring on a two-RBI single to center field by Adam Tiller for a 3-1 advantage. Spiess closed the gap back to one with a lead-off homer to right in the fourth, only to see Gardner-Webb scratch together a three-run rally in the top of the sixth inning to pull ahead, 6-2. Tiller delivered his third and fourth RBIs of the night on a double down the right-field line as a part of GWU’s three-run frame.
All told, Tiller was 2-for-5 with four RBIs to lead four Bulldog hitters with two-hit outings. John Harris (2-for-5) had a couple of singles while Walker (2-for-5) and Yelverton (2-for-4) collected a single and a double apiece.
Western Carolina (23-16) pulled within two runs, 6-4, in the sixth as Aaron Attaway drew a four-pitch walk ahead of Ridings, who deposited a 2-1 pitch over the fence in right for a two-run homer for his first career multi-homer run game.
With the deficit still at two entering the home portion of the seventh inning, Urquhart Jr. singled through the right side with one out ahead of Strong, who walked on four-straight pitches. Austin Neary nearly drove in a run with a screaming line drive that was picked at second base by J.J. Nazzaro with both WCU runners able to scramble back to first and second to prevent a double play. A balk moved both runners up one base before Martin drove a 2-0 pitch out to right-center field for a three-run homer, pushing the Catamounts ahead for the first time in the game, 7-6.
WCU added two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth on a run-scoring double by Hoyle and a RBI single by Urquhart Jr., to provide the final tally.
Catamount starter Adam Curtis worked through 5 1/3 innings, scattering four runs – only three of which were earned – on five hits with four strikeouts against three walks. He was chased in the sixth inning but factored in a no-decision following Martin’s homer. Freshman relievers Jonathan Waszak and Alex Barr both threw, with Barr striking out two before sophomore Tyler Powell (2-2) was summonsed to finish off the seventh inning, tallying two strikeouts against a pair of walks.
Powell picked up the victory – his second win of the season – with senior closer Preston Hatcher coming on in the eighth inning to induce an inning-ending ground ball before finishing with his ninth save of the year. The Atlanta, Ga., native tossed an inning and a third, striking out one with a walk and one hit surrendered.
Hatcher’s nine seasonal saves ties him for fourth in WCU’s single-season record books while his 19th career save moves him into a tie with former Catamount and current Kansas City Royals closer Greg Holland (2005-07).
Gardner-Webb reliever Brad Haymes (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season, giving up the seventh run as a part of Martin’s three-run home run with the other two runs tagged to Beau Hilton, who tossed 2 1/3 out of the bullpen. Hunter Smith tossed four frames in the start, allowing two runs on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
Both teams finished with double-digit hits as WCU outslugged Gardner-Webb, 14-to-12, with six of the Catamount hits going for extra bases. The two combined to strand 23 runners – 12 by the Runnin’ Bulldogs and 11 by WCU.
Still amidst a nine-game home stand, Western Carolina returns to the friendly confines of Childress Field / Hennon Stadium for a three-game Southern Conference series against the Georgia Southern Eagles this weekend. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 5 p.m. with a special 4 p.m. start time on Saturday in conjunction with the WCU Football Spring Game, which begins at 1 p.m. Sunday’s series finale is slated for 1 p.m.
No. 1 North Carolina 14, Elon 5
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The top-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels took advantage of walks issued by the Elon pitching staff on their way to a 14-5 victory over the Phoenix from Boshamer Stadium on Wednesday night. The contest marked Elon's eighth game against a top-25 opponent and its fifth against a ranked foe in its last six outings.
Elon (20-19) actually got on the board first in the game as Blaine Bower and Ryan Kinsella were both aboard thanks to walks before an Antonio Alvarez single drove home the first tally.
North Carolina (36-2) put up three hits with four free passes in the bottom of the second to score six runs and grab a 6-1 lead. The big blow of the inning was a three-run triple from Colin Moran.
The Phoenix got one back in the third on a Chris Bresnahan RBI single.
After UNC had stretched its advantage to 10-2, Elon's offense showed some life with a three-run sixth. Bresnahan got it started with a single before Joey Tomko drew a one-out walk. With two down, Quinn Bower walked to load the bases before a wild pitch let Bresnahan score. Another walk reloaded the bases for Sebastian Gomez, who lined a single up the middle to drive in two runs.
The Tar Heels would add a single run in the seventh and three in the eighth to complete the scoring.
Jacob Baker (0-2) took the loss, allowing six runs (five earned) on four hits in 1 2/3 innings.
Trevor Kelley (2-0) picked up the win with three shutout innings out of the bullpen.
Kinsella went 0-for-4 to snap his career-best 15-game hitting streak.
Elon will get back to Southern Conference play this weekend as the Maroon and Gold will play host to Wofford in a three-game series that gets under way at 6:30 p.m. on Friday night.
USC Upstate 12, Wofford 0
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Wednesday evening, the Wofford baseball team was defeated 12-0 by USC Upstate at Russell C. King Field. The Spartans took advantage of a season-high seven errors by the Terriers to split the season series between the schools.
Wofford is now 15-24 on the season and USC Upstate is 22-16 overall. The Terriers had five players with one hit each. Trey Richardson led the Spartans with two hits and four RBIs on the night.
The Spartans took a 1-0 lead when Gaither Bumgardner hit an RBI single in the top of the first inning. Bumgardner made it 2-0 by scoring from third base on a wild pitch. The Terriers left runners on second and third in the bottom of the first.
In the top of the second, the Spartans led off with a double and then Trey Richardson hit a line drive over the left-field wall for a 4-0 lead. Matthew Pelt had the first hit of the game for the Terriers in the bottom of the second but was left on base. After the Spartans were retired in order in the top of the third, Demetrius Jennings led off the Wofford half of the inning with a double and Alec Paradowski was hit by a pitch. Both runners were left in scoring position at the end of the inning.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Spartans combined five hits with five Wofford errors to score six runs and increase the advantage to 10-0. Wofford opened the bottom of the sixth with the first career hit for Corey Quick, but he was left on base.
After a scoreless seventh inning, the Spartans added two unearned runs in the top of the eighth inning to push the lead to 12-0.
Wofford starter Matthew Milburn (2-2) went two innings and allowed four runs on three hits with three strikeouts.
USC Upstate starter Chris Cox (3-3) threw six innings and did not allow a run on four hits with five strikeouts.
Wofford will travel to Elon on Friday for a 6:30 p.m. contest, the first in a three-game weekend series against the Phoenix.
Kennesaw State 8, Georgia Southern 3
STATESBORO, Ga. – The Kennesaw State Owls scored four runs in the ninth inning to defeat the Georgia Southern Eagles 8-3 at J.I. Clements Stadium on Wednesday.
Bo Way plated the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, putting Kennesaw State (20-19) on top 4-3. Andy Almonte scored the run on one of his three hits on the day. He finished with four runs scored and a RBI.
Kevin McCoy entered in the sixth inning with the Owls trailing 3-2 and retired all nine batters he faced on the day to earn his first win of the season. McCoy (1-0) struck out five batters at the plate including two in the sixth and two seventh.
Sam Howard (5-5) suffered the loss for Georgia Southern (21-16), which dropped its fifth straight game. Howard allowed Almonte's seventh-inning run after entering in relief of Drew Johnson. He surrendered three hits and struck out Kody Belcher to leave two runners stranded in the inning.
Making his first start since March 19 at Georgia Tech, Evan Challenger allowed just two runs – one earned – over 4 2/3 strong innings. Challenger allowed six hits but struck out two batters on 69 pitches.
After the two teams traded runs in the third inning, the Eagles took a 2-1 lead on a solo home run by Stryker Brown. It was his first long ball of the season and the first by the team in the month of April. Robbie Dodds made it a multi-homer day with a solo shot in the fifth inning, reclaiming a 3-2 lead for GSU.
Kennesaw State started the scoring in the third inning after a fielder's choice by Way scored Almonte with two outs. The Owls recorded three straight two-out hits in the fifth inning but were held to one run after Johnson retired the first batter he faced with a fly out.
Dylan Ivey led off the inning with a walk and quickly reached third base after stealing second and reaching third on a passed ball. Ivey scored a batter later on Almonte's single. Way singled to right field to plate the second run of the inning but was left stranded after Howard recorded a fly out and a strikeout.
The Owls sent all nine batters to the plate in the ninth inning and scored four runs on three hits. Almonte started the inning with a single and scored the first run of the inning on a Max Pentecost base hit. Kody Belcher followed with an RBI single before Alex Liquori walked with the bases loaded. Belcher later scored on a wild pitch.
Georgia Southern travels to Western Carolina for a three-game weekend series against the Catamounts. The series opens with a 5 p.m. first pitch on Friday and continues with a 4 p.m. game on Saturday and 1 p.m. contest on Sunday.
Campbell 11, Appalachian State 6
THOMASVILLE, N.C. – In what looked to be a hitting clinic in the first three innings, Appalachian State was unable to keep up with Campbell, as the Mountaineers fell 11-6 Wednesday night at Finch Field in their lone neutral-site game of the regular season.
Three Mountaineers tallied multi-hit games, as Will Callaway, Noah Holmes and Jaylin Davis each recorded two hits and combined for four of Appalachian’s six runs in the game. Callaway highlighted the trio with a first inning, two-run home run to take an early 2-0 lead.
Despite the two-run advantage, Campbell flashed its bats early with four runs in the bottom half. After two quick outs, CU’s Elijah Trail doubled, followed by a three-run home run by Michael Delucia, the first of his career, to cap off the four-run inning.
With matching Preston Troutman and Gabe Dimock sacrifice flies in the second and third innings, respectively, the Mountaineers tied the score heading into the bottom of the third.
Campbell got its second big inning of the game in the third when the Camels pounded out three quick hits to score three runs and take a 7-4 advantage.
Callaway led off the fifth inning with a single up the middle, followed by a Holmes double to left-center field. A groundout by Dillon Dobson and an error by the Camel defense plated Callaway and Holmes to bring Appalachian within one run.
Despite Appalachian closing the gap, Campbell never relinquished its lead, scoring two more in the bottom of the fifth, headlined by Delucia’s second home run of the game. His two-run blast over the left-center wall put the game out of reach as the Camels tacked on runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
Appalachian State starter Tyler Jackson received the loss and moved to 1-1 on the year. Rob Howard relieved Jackson in the fourth, followed by a strong performance by Rob Marcello in the sixth and seventh innings, as he struck out five Camel batters in two innings of work. Tyler Moore finished the game, tossing an inning.
The Mountaineers return to action and Southern Conference play on Friday at The Citadel for a three-game series. First pitch on Friday is set for 6 p.m.
Furman at Clemson (postponed)
CLEMSON, S.C. – Furman's Wednesday baseball game at Clemson has been postponed due to rain and rescheduled for May 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, it has been announced.
The Paladins and Tigers will now play back-to-back games, facing each other on May 7 at Clemson and again on May 8 in Greenville at Fluor Field in a 7 p.m. contest.
Furman (19-16, 7-11 SoCon) will return to action on Friday when it travels to Charleston to open a three-game SoCon series against the College of Charleston beginning at 6 p.m.