UNCG 13, The Citadel 11
GREENSBORO, N.C. – With the UNCG baseball team trailing 11-10 and down to its last strike in the game, senior infielder Trevor Edwards sent a 2-2 pitch over the wall in left-center to break the UNCG career home run record and lift the Spartans to a 13-11 victory over the Citadel Friday evening at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
The Spartans improved to 23-31 overall and 10-19 in league play, while the Bulldogs fell to 32-23 and 18-11.
The round-tripper was the 39th of Edwards’ career and team-leading 13th blast of the season. He is also the active Southern Conference leader in the statistic. Edwards ended the contest 2-for-6 with a run scored and three runs driven in.
The Blue and Gold pounded out 18 hits in the game as five batters recorded at least three base knocks apiece. Senior infielder Lloyd Enzor was 3-for-5 with three RBIs, while senior outfielder Christian Wolfe turned in a 3-for-6 performance with four runs scored and two driven in. He now has 85 hits on the season and is tied for the team lead with 42 runs scored.
Freshman RHP Ryan Clark earned his fifth win of the season against one loss as he threw the top of the ninth and gave up an unearned run on one hit. Starter and sophomore RHP Max Povse struck out six in 5 1/3 innings.
After allowing runners to reach second and third with just one out in the top of the first, Povse struck out Bo Thompson for the second out. However, Tyler Griffin sent a seeing-eye single just past the glove of senior infielder TJ Spina in the hole to score both runs and give The Citadel an early 2-0 advantage.
The Spartans would respond in the home half of the first as Wolfe led off with a single to right. After two fly outs, Enzor singled up the middle and advanced to second on a throw to third attempting to nab Wolfe. Sophomore outfielder Eric Kalbfleisch walked to load the bases and junior catcher Cambric Moye worked a full-count walk of his own to plate Wolfe and make it a 2-1 ballgame.
A scoreless second inning gave way to the third in which both teams plated a run to leave the Bulldogs with a 3-2 lead. UNCG looked to take control of the proceedings in the bottom of the fourth. Junior infielder Sean Guite singled up the middle and redshirt freshman infielder Nin Marrero poked a base knock to left center. Wolfe then reached on a fielder’s choice that erased Marrero and advanced Guite to third base. Spina laid down a bunt that allowed Guite to score, but Citadel starter Logan Cribb could not handle the bunt and Spina reached safely. That miscue proved critical, as, with two outs, Enzor singled through the right side to score both runners and give the Spartans a 5-3 advantage.
The Bulldogs got right back into the thick of things, scoring a run on an RBI single by Drew DeKergeland before plating five big ones in the sixth off of UNCG reliever and junior LHP Dylan Hathcock. A two-run single and a three-run blast by Griffin capped The Citadel’s rally and put the visitors ahead 9-5.
The teams traded runs in their next at-bats to keep the Bulldogs in front by four runs, but three two-out scores in the bottom of the seventh pulled the Spartans to within a run at 10-9. The inning began innocently enough as Moye struck out swinging and sophomore outfielder Zac MacAneney flew out to left-center.
Guite began the rally with an infield single before Marrero doubled to left-center to bring him home. Wolfe and Spina followed close behind with an RBI single and RBI double, respectively, to cap the scoring.
Neither team could push across a run in the eighth. The Bulldogs plated an unearned tally in the top of the ninth, extending their lead to 11-9 and setting up the bottom-of-the-ninth dramatics.
MacAneney flied out to begin the half inning, but Guite walked on four straight pitches and Marrero singled up the middle. Guite moved to third on the play and Wolfe delivered with an RBI single to center that pulled UNCG to within 11-10. Spina would foul out to first on a 2-0 pitch for the second out, bringing up Edwards.
The senior swung at the first two pitches and fell behind 0-2 before working it back to a 2-2 count. He would not miss the fifth pitch, as he roped it over the wall in left-center for the record-breaker and the victory.
The Blue and Gold closes out its 2013 campaign Sunday with the series finale against The Citadel. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. and the Spartans will honor their eight seniors in a pregame ceremony.
Davidson 12, Samford 1 (7 innings)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Daniel Gerow and Nathan Becker drove in three runs each, and RHP Nick Neitzel was credited with a six-inning complete game, as Davidson defeated Samford, 12-1, in an abbreviated season finale in Southern Conference baseball action Friday afternoon at Griffin Field. The game was called due to weather in the top of the seventh inning.
With the loss, Samford fell to 27-28 overall and 12-17 in Southern Conference play. The Bulldogs have earned the No. 8 seed for next week’s SoCon Championship, and they will take on top-seeded Western Carolina on Wednesday. The time of the game will be announced when the pairings for the tournament are released Saturday evening. Davidson ended its season with a record of 18-31 overall and 12-18 in SoCon play.
Davidson took command of the rubber match with six runs on no hits in the third inning and four more runs in the fourth, clinching its first series win over Samford since 2009.
Gerow slugged his first home run of the season with a runner on as part of a 3-for-4 day at the plate, while Becker reached base in all four plate appearances, going 3-for-3 with a walk. Additionally, center fielder Forrest Brandt and first baseman Andrew Barna both went 1-for-2 with two walks. Neitzel (1-2) earned his first career win, holding Samford to one unearned run on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts in a career-high six innings.
Leftfielder Christian Durdaller led the Bulldogs, going 2-for-3, while first baseman Caleb Bryson (1-for-3) had the lone RBI. Four pitchers worked 6 1/3 innings, with starting RHP Alex Milazzo (6-2) taking the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks with two strikeouts.
The game was tied 1-1 when the Wildcats scored six in the third without getting credited with a hit. The frame featured four walks, four stolen bases, two errors and two wild pitches. With one out, a walk issued to Brandt and a fielding error on a ball put in play by designated hitter Ryan Lowe (1-for-4) gave the ‘Cats runners on the corners, and then Brandt scored on a double steal. Barna then drew a walk, and he and Lowe moved up a base on another double steal, clearing a place for second baseman Sam Foy to reach on a wild pitch after he struck out. Becker then drew a walk to plate Lowe, and then an error on a ball put in play by Gerow resulted in two more runs scoring for a 5-1 lead. The final two runs scored on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by left fielder Ty Middlebrooks, respectively.
Leading 7-1, the ‘Cats added four runs on four hits in the fourth inning. Lowe drove in Brandt from second base on what appeared to be a triple but was downgraded to a single after it was ruled Lowe missed second base and was called out. Davidson overcame the setback to score three more runs, though, as later in the inning, Becker hit an RBI single and Gerow blasted a two-run home run.
The fifth and sixth innings were scoreless, and then Davidson added a run in the top of the seventh on an RBI double by third baseman David Daniels. Shortly after, a rumble of thunder was heard and then the steady rains increased, forcing the game to be called off.
College of Charleston 3, Georgia Southern 2
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – Freshman Morgan Phillips hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to center field to score the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Cougars a series-clinching, 3-2 win over Georgia Southern on Friday.
College of Charleston (30-24, 17-11) won its season-high fourth game in a row as the Cougars registered their 12th consecutive 30-win season. Georgia Southern (25-29, 13-16) lost its series to the Cougars with one final game Saturday. The victory was Charleston’s third walk-off victory of the season.
Blake Ross (2-1) picked up the win for CofC as he battled through the final four innings, allowing two hits but keeping the Eagles off the scoreboard in several tough situations. He finished with one strikeout and two walks. Starter Ryan West was cruising until the fifth inning, when he allowed two runs, one earned. He finished with three strikeouts in the no-decision.
Georgia Southern’s Chris Myers (1-2) allowed the game-winning run in the ninth inning as he hit a batter and gave up a walk after an error started the inning.
Blake Butler continued his hot hitting as he tallied two hits and reached on a walk and an error. He scored two runs, including the game-winner. Cody Martin notched two hits and had an RBI, while Brandon Murray and Phillips added the other two RBIs.
The Eagles were led by Stryker Brown, who had two hits and an RBI. Tyler Avera also registered two hits.
Charleston got on the scoreboard in the second inning with an RBI double from Martin that scored Ben Boykin. CofC added another in the third inning when Butler and Carl Wise led off with walks and Murray hit an RBI single.
Georgia Southern tied the game in the fifth inning, getting to West with four hits. Davis hit a double and then came home on a base hit from Arthur Owens to the left-field wall. However, Owens was out at second, after a strike from Murray, for the second out of the inning. The Eagles tallied two more singles and then tied the game with a two-out infield error from Gunnar Heidt.
Both teams flirted with base-runners in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings as CofC loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth. However, both pitching staffs worked out of jams to keep the score knotted at 2 heading into the ninth.
Ross worked around two base-runners in the top of the ninth inning, keeping the Eagles scoreless and setting up Charleston’s heroics in the bottom of the frame.
The Cougars will go for the series sweep and a potential two or three seed in the SoCon tournament Saturday at 1 p.m. The game will be Senior Day for 10 Cougar seniors and will also mark the final regular-season contest for College of Charleston in the Southern Conference.
No. 29 Western Carolina 9, Appalachian State 1
BOONE, N.C. – No. 29 Western Carolina again used a strong start on Friday night, scoring four runs in the first two innings before enduring a nearly two-hour rain delay at Beaver Field / Smith Stadium. After the stoppage, the Catamounts stretched their advantage to eight en route to a 9-1 victory over Appalachian State, clinching the Southern Conference series with their second win in as many nights.
The Catamounts improved to 38-17 overall and 23-6 in league play, establishing a new school benchmark for conference wins in a single season. WCU also claimed its 16th straight SoCon win, again stretching its record for the most in program history. The win was WCU’s 11th straight victory overall, and its 21st in its last 23 games dating back to April 6.
Due to a threat of impending inclement weather later in the afternoon, first pitch of Saturday’s series and regular-season finale has been bumped up to a noon start time.
Six Catamounts recorded multi-hit games, with infielders Tyler White and Bradley Strong collecting three hits apiece. White legged out his 25th double of the season, moving to within one of tying Rod Goldston for the single-season doubles record. Strong belted his third home run of the season, clearing the fence in right field with a two-run shot in the second inning.
Junior Aaron Attaway recorded two hits, extending his current career-long hitting streak to 16 straight games, with Jacob Hoyle finishing 2-for-4 with a triple to right-center field. Cody Jones and Dykota Spies also both finished 2-for-4 with Jones doubling and scoring twice, while Spiess also tallied a two-base hit.
White put the Catamounts on the board in the top of the first, driving home Attaway from second with a single into center field. Julian Ridings, who drew a walk, scored on a double-play groundout to make it 2-0 after half an inning.
In the second, Spiess doubled to straightaway center field on the first pitch of the inning, with Strong hammering a 1-0 pitch over the right-field fence to hand the Catamounts a 4-0 lead.
At just after 7 p.m., the teams were chased from the field by lightning warnings with rain showers following. After an hour and 54-minute delay, the teams returned to the diamond for the top of the third inning. The Catamount bats stayed hot, as White laced a one-out double down the left-field line and eventually scored on an RBI single by Hoyle to make it 5-0 in favor of the visitors.
In the fourth, Strong singled and promptly stole second before an groundout by Luke Gragg moved him to third. Strong then crossed home on a wild pitch, giving the Catamounts a 6-0 advantage. Jones then singled off the third baseman’s glove and eventually scored on a double to center by Ridings.
Trailing 7-0, Appalachian State (27-22, 12-14 SoCon) got its lone run of the game as Dillon Dobson homered to right center field, trimming the Catamount edge back to six, 7-1.
WCU tacked on single runs in the sixth and ninth innings to provide the final tally. In the sixth, Jones doubled to left field and was moved to third on a single by Attaway. The run came home on an infield groundout, making it 8-1. In the ninth, White stole both second and third after singling, scoring on an infield error on a hot shot by Strong that ricocheted off of the first baseman.
Catamount starter Jordan Smith (7-3) claimed his sixth straight victory in his past six starts, limiting Appalachian State to one run on just six hits. The Liberty, N.C., native struck out three against one walk, returning to toss three frames after the weather stoppage. Freshman right-hander Jonathan Waszak secured his first career save out of the bullpen for WCU, tossing four scoreless innings while holding the Mountaineers to just two hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
For the Mountaineers, starter Sam Agnew-Wieland (6-6) took the loss after two innings of work, not returning after the weather delay. Agnew-Wieland surrendered four runs on four hits with a walk and a strikeout. Catcher Josh Zumbrook tallied two hits including a double in a 2-for-4 showing at the plate while Dillon Dobson provided ASU’s lone run with a solo homer to right center field in the fourth inning.
Also, Will Callaway ran his current hitting streak to 24 games with an eighth-inning single.
Furman 5, Dayton 2
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Chris Ohmstede homered for the second straight game and Alex Abrams delivered another solid start on the mound to lead Furman to a 5-2 victory over Dayton in baseball action Friday afternoon at Latham Stadium.
The win was the fifth straight for Furman (31-23), which is now assured of at least a sixth-place finish in the Southern Conference standings after the College of Charleston knocked off Georgia Southern, 3-2, on Friday afternoon to drop the Eagles into seventh place, a half-game behind the Paladins. Furman owns the tiebreaker against GSU by virtue of its series win in Statesboro earlier this month.
Furman could still grab fifth place, but that would require losses by Appalachian State in the Mountaineers’ final two games against league regular-season champion Western Carolina, scheduled for Friday evening and Saturday.
Ohmstede, who went 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs, continued his late-season surge at the plate with a solo home run — his team-leading 13th of the season — in the sixth that extended a one-run Paladin lead to a 4-2 advantage, and an inning later drove home Taylor Johnson with an RBI single for the game’s final run. The sophomore third baseman has hit .431 (22-for-51) with four home runs and 24 RBIs over his last 13 games.
Abrams (5-1), meanwhile, tacked on another quality start since moving from the bullpen into the weekend rotation in mid-April, earning the victory after throwing a career-best seven innings and allowing two runs on five hits and no walks while lowering his season earned run average to 2.73.
The junior right-hander’s one notable mistake came in the second inning, when he left a pitch up to Dayton’s Kevin Colbrun, who deposited it over the left-field fence for a two-run home run that gave the Flyers a 2-1 lead.
Furman tied it in the third after Jordan Simpson led off with a single and later scored on a Greg Harrison groundout to third base.
The Paladins took the lead for good in the fifth, when Hunter Burton stroked a leadoff triple into the right-center field gap and came home on an infield error.
Ohmstede’s towering solo home run to left field made it 4-2 in the sixth, and his RBI single an inning later plated Johnson, who had led off with a double down the left-field line.
Johnson matched Ohmstede with two RBIs and continued his recent torrid pace at the plate that has seen him go 15-for-22 (.681) and drive in 10 runs over the last five games.
Elliott Warford pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth to record his first save of the season.
The Paladins notched 10 hits, including three by Burton, whose triple was his second in the last three games and ninth of his career. He also scored two runs.
Jake Jones, returning from a nine-day absence due to injury, singled and doubled in two trips to the plate for the Paladins.
Ralph Alloco joined Colburn in collecting two hits apiece for the Flyers, who finished with six hits.
Saturday’s finale, which is set for noon at Latham Stadium, will be preceded by recognition of Furman’s eight-member senior class.
The Paladins open SoCon Championship play on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C.
Old Dominion 13, Wofford 10
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford baseball team was defeated 13-10 by Old Dominion on Friday night at Russell C. King Field. The Monarchs scored two runs in each of the first four innings to take an 8-0 lead, but the Terriers fought back with seven runs in the final three innings.
Wofford is now 20-35 on the season and Old Dominion is 29-24 overall. The Terriers were led by Matthew Pelt with two hits and three RBIs. The Monarchs came up with 20 hits on the night, the most by a Wofford opponent this season. Ben Slaton led Old Dominion with three hits and six RBIs.
The Monarchs opened the game with back-to-back singles. Michael Perez and Austin McGowan each had RBI singles to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. After Wofford was retired in order, Old Dominion used back-to-back solo home runs by Ben Verlander and Josh Eldridge for a 4-0 advantage in the second inning.
Old Dominion pushed the lead to 6-0 on a two-run homer by Slaton in the top of the third inning. In the top of the fourth inning, McGowan and Slaton added RBI singles to make it an 8-0 contest.
Wofford led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a single by Seth Neely. A walk and single by Alec Paradowski loaded the bases. Matthew Pelt hit a double to left-center to clear the bases, but he was thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple. At the end of five innings, the Monarchs had an 8-3 advantage.
In the top of the sixth, Old Dominion loaded the bases on a single and two walks. A single by Jordan Negrini plated one run. A double by Slaton drove in three runs for a 12-3 lead. Old Dominion added a solo home run by Eldridge in the top of the seventh for a 13-3 advantage.
Wofford had singles from Paradowski and Pelt in the bottom of the seventh. A two-out single by Matt Moore drove in both runners to make it a 13-5 game.
Old Dominion loaded the bases in the top of the eighth with nobody out, but was unable to plate a run. The Terriers added a run on a sacrifice fly by Paradowski in the bottom of the eighth for a 13-6 score.
The Monarchs loaded the bases again in the top of the ninth inning with one out but stranded all three runners. Wofford had Moore reach on a walk and Derek Hirsch hit a double to left field to drive in the run for a 13-7 score. Matt Ramsay walked, which was followed by an RBI single from Josh Hyman. Neely then singled up the middle to score two runs for a 13-10 final score.
Wofford starter Jesse Morris (7-6) went three innings and allowed six runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts. He ended the season with 102 strikeouts, second-most in the Division I era at Wofford.
Old Dominion starter Andy Roberts (5-3) threw six innings with three runs allowed on three hits and two strikeouts.
The final game of the season will be on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Old Dominion at Russell C. King Field. Prior to the game, Wofford’s six seniors will be honored.