Elon 1, Georgia Southern 0
ELON, N.C. – For the second week in a row, Elon right-hander Lucas Bakker befuddled an opposing lineup. On Friday night at Latham Park in the Southern Conference opener for the maroon and gold, Bakker tossed a complete game shutout as the Phoenix handed Georgia Southern a 1-0 setback in the opener of a three-game series.
Bakker (3-1) allowed just two hits to a team that came into the weekend leading the nation with a .345 batting average. He struck out seven hitters, including five of the last seven hitters of the game. Bakker set down the first 12 hitters he faced before issuing a leadoff walk in the fifth, but that man was erased on a double play. He had faced the minimum through 6 2/3 innings before Georgia Southern (15-3) recorded its first hit, a bloop single to left from Chase Griffin.
The Eagles got their second hit in the eighth, but Bakker picked the runner off and faced just six hitters over the final two innings. He needed just 100 pitches for the complete game and faced just three over the minimum.
Both starters threw up zeroes until the last of the sixth, when the Phoenix finally broke through. With two outs, Casey Jones lined a single to left-center and then stole second. Sebastian Gomez drove home the game's only run when he lined a 1-2 pitch into center for a single.
Jones recorded two of Elon's four hits on the night.
The loss went to Sam Howard (3-2). Howard gave up one run on four hits in seven innings. He struck out eight.
The Phoenix pitching staff has now matched the 2013 staff's total of complete games with three. The two hits allowed by Elon were the fewest given up by the maroon and gold since surrendering just two hits to Akron on Feb. 17, 2012.
Elon and Georgia Southern will wrap up the three-game set from Latham Park on Saturday. Due to the forecast of rain on Sunday, the two squads will play a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Davidson 13, The Citadel 3
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Nathan Becker extended his home run streak to four games and career nights by LHP Rob Bain and leftfielder Ty Middlebrooks led Davidson to a 13-3 victory over The Citadel in the Southern Conference baseball opener for both teams Friday evening at Wilson Field.
The win extends Davidson’s winning streak to five games, while The Citadel (8-10, 0-1 SoCon), picked to finish second in the SoCon this season, dropped its third straight game to the Wildcats (8-6, 1-0 SoCon), dating back to last season.
Bain (1-1) pitched a career-high eight innings in his first career Friday night start, allowing just nine hits and three runs while striking out five and not issuing a single walk.
Middlebrooks was one of three Davidson batters to post three hits, but he accomplished the feat after entering the game in the fifth inning, going 3-for-3 with his first career home run and a game-high four RBIs. The junior had totaled just three RBIs in 59 career at-bats entering the game.
Seven of the 10 batters the Wildcats used had multi-hit games, as they totaled 19, while four hit home runs.
Davidson jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the first two innings. In the first, third baseman David Daniels (2-for-5) hit his first home run of the season to start the scoring, and shortstop Sam Foy (3-for-5, R) later drove in two with a double to right field. Catcher Daniel Gerow (2-for-5, 3 RBIs) then hit his first homer of the season in the second with one on.
Catcher Ryan Kilgallen (1-for-4) hit a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning to pull the Bulldogs within three, but that was as close as they would come, as Middlebrooks made it a 6-2 game with an RBI-single in the bottom half of the frame.
The Wildcats then added seven runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Becker (2-for-4, 3 R, BB) homered to lead off the seventh, and first baseman Ben Arkin (3-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBIs) and Gerow both added RBI doubles before the frame ended. Right fielder Tyler Griffin (1-for-4) had an RBI single in the top of the eighth for The Citadel, but Davidson added three more in the bottom half, as Arkin drove in one with a single and Middlebrooks then followed with a home run over the center field fence.
The Citadel used a total of six pitchers, as starting LHP Logan Cribb (1-2) was lifted after two innings after surrendering the first five runs on six hits and a walk with one strikeout. Shortstop Johnathan Stokes paced the Bulldogs at the plate, going 3-for-4, while designated hitter Bo Thompson went 2-for-4.
Reigning SoCon Player of the Week Forrest Brandt reached base three times for Davidson on a pair of singles and a walk and scored two runs.
Due to expected inclement weather Sunday, the two teams will finish the three-game series with a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m. The second game will start 45 minutes after the first one finishes.
Wofford 7, Alcorn State 4
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford College baseball team defeated Alcorn State 7-4 on Friday night at Russell C. King Field. Terrier pitcher Matt Milburn pitched eight scoreless innings with nine strikeouts before the Braves scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning.
Wofford moved to 11-7 on the season and Alcorn State fell to 1-16 overall. The Terriers were led by Conor Clancey with two hits and two RBIs, while Alec Paradowski added two hits. The Braves had two hits and two RBIs from Joshua Powell.
In the bottom of the second, Eric Brenk led off with a single for the Terriers. Demetrius Jennings walked and then both runners went on a double steal. A throwing error by the Braves on the play allowed Brenk to score and Wofford had a 1-0 lead.
In the Wofford half of the fourth, Dylan May walked with two outs. A double to left-center by Jennings scored May for a 2-0 lead.
Seth Neely was hit by a pitch with one out in the bottom of the sixth. He stole second and when May reached first on a wild pitch, a throwing error allowed Neely to score for a 3-0 lead. Jennings walked and James Plaisted was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A single by Clancey drove in two runs to make it a 5-0 game. With runners at first and third, a double steal scored Plaisted from third. Matt Ramsay was hit by a pitch and a wild pitch moved runners to second and third, but a fly ball ended the sixth inning with Wofford leading 6-0.
The Braves opened the seventh inning with a single and a double. A walk with two outs loaded the bases, but a ground ball to the pitcher ended the scoring opportunity. Paradowski led off the bottom of the seventh with a double down the right-field line. A single to left-center by Neely scored Paradowski for a 7-0 advantage after seven complete.
Alcorn State loaded the bases in the top of the ninth on two singles and a strikeout/wild pitch. A two-out single by Joshua Powell to right field drove in two run for a 7-2 score. An RBI single by Cedric Bell and a bases-loaded walk made it a 7-4 game. A strikeout ended the game.
Wofford pitcher Matt Milburn (2-2) went 8 2/3 innings and allowed four run on nine hits with nine strikeouts. Chris Sheehan walked one batter. Will Stillman struck out the final batter for his second save of the season.
Alcorn State starter Ryan Fuentes (1-3) went six innings and allowed six runs, but only one was earned. He gave up four hits and had four strikeouts. Jonathan Morales threw two innings and gave up one run on three hits with one strikeout.
Due to impending weather later in the weekend, the Terriers and Alcorn State will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.
Western Carolina 4, Rider 3
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina’s Strong brothers – Reece and Bradley – combined to drive in two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Catamounts rallied past the visiting Rider Broncs, 4-3, Friday afternoon in nonconference action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
With inclement weather in the forecast, officials at WCU have bumped Sunday’s series finale into the back end of a Saturday doubleheader with first pitch of game two moved to 12:30 pm. Game three of the series will begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
Trailing by a run in the home portion of the eighth, senior Adam Martin collected his second base hit of the day with a leadoff single through the left side to start the rally. He then stole second base on a strikeout at the plate to move the game-tying run into scoring position. Pinch-hitter Danny Bermudez laid down the perfect bunt single, deadening the ball down the third-base line to put runners at the corners with one out.
With Western Carolina down to its final out in the inning after a second punchout, Reece Strong was called upon to pinch hit for Jason Smith, who was originally called to hit for J.D. Long. After looking at two strikes, the younger Strong bounced the third offering over the head of relief pitcher Eric Thomas, reaching safely with Martin coming home to knot the ball game at 5 apiece. The elder Strong likewise delivered on the second pitch of his scheduled at-bat, beating out an infield single to his counterpart at second that allowed Bermudez to score from third with the go-ahead run.
WCU worked a perfect ninth with two strikeouts to cap the comeback, halting the five-game winless drought and keeping the Catamounts perfect at home this season (6-0) while stretching the home win streak to 19 consecutive dating back to last season.
Reliever Jonathan Waszak (1-0) earned the victory out of the bullpen for the Catamounts, finishing off the eighth inning, which was started by left-hander Bryce Danielson. Waszak retired both batters he faced, while Danielson worked a third of an inning, facing two with one hit allowed. Waszak threw two pitches in the top of the ninth before being relieved by junior Tyler Powell. The Charlotte, N.C., native earned his first save of the season, sitting the Broncs down in order including two strikeouts to end the game.
WCU starter Jeremy Null did not factor into the decision for a third time in his last three starts. The right-hander struck out nine against two walks, scattering nine hits with five runs allowed, only three of which were earned.
Rider (3-10) took an early lead on Null and the Catamounts as third baseman Nick Richter singled through left side ahead of Justin Thomas, who drove him home on a two-out double down the left-field line for the 1-0 advantage. Richter was among four Broncs with two-hit performances in the loss.
WCU responded, though, in the home portion of the frame with a three-spot to take the lead after one inning of play. The two-out rally was started with back-to-back singles by Dykota Spiess and Jacob Hoyle with Martin belting his first triple of the season – and fourth of his career – to right field to plate two. Cody Jones then delivered an RBI single up the middle to score Martin for the 3-1 advantage.
The visiting Broncs answered in the third, tying the game with two runs on two hits and capitalizing on the lone WCU error of the day. Richter reached for the second time with a single before moving to second on a stolen base. Second baseman Greg Fazio then drove a long fly ball to left but ended up at third base after it was dropped, with Richter scoring to trim the margin to one. Thomas then tallied his second RBI of the game with a ground out to short, scoring Fazio from third to tie the game, 3-3.
In the home half of the third, WCU again answered, mostly on the legs of senior Aaron Attaway. The Morganton, N.C., native drew a leadoff walk before promptly stealing second base. He then scored on back-to-back wild pitches, pushing the Catamounts ahead, 4-3.
Rider responded in the top of the sixth, pushing across two runs on three hits as sophomore catcher Connor Luff collected his first hit of the season, driving in two on a single up the middle to put the Broncs on top, 5-4. Luff matched Thomas for a team-high two RBIs.
It would remain a one-run deficit for the Purple & Gold until the eighth-inning heroics pushed the Catamounts to the series-opening victory.
Martin and Jones finished with two hits apiece for the Catamounts which matched Rider’s 10-hit total. A total of eight different WCU hitters collected a base hit in the winning effort.
Rider reliever Thomas (0-1) suffered the loss out of the bullpen, allowing two earned runs on three hits with a walk against three strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. Vincenzo Aiello got one out but allowed the final two hits with the inherited runners scoring the tying and go-ahead runs.
Like WCU’s Null, reigning MAAC Pitcher of the Week Kurt Sowa did not factor into the decision, allowing four runs on five hits with four walks and two Ks in six innings in the start.
No. 11 Louisville 20, Samford 10
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Samford baseball team dropped game one of its series at 11th-ranked Louisville, falling to the Cardinals by a score of 20-10 Friday afternoon at Patterson Stadium.
For Samford in the loss, Tripp Martin went 2-for-4 with a grand slam and four RBIs. Drew McWhorter went 3-for-3 at the plate, while T.J. Dixon went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Tyler Filliben went 2-for-4 for the Bulldogs.
Alex Ledford (3-1) pitched four innings, giving up nine runs, six earned, on 10 hits to take the loss on the mound for Samford. He recorded two strikeouts and allowed just one walk in the loss. Patrick Maronde, Phillip Flach, Charles Terry and Hunter Swilling also saw time on the mound for Samford.
For Louisville, Zach Lucas went 2-for-5 with two home runs and five RBIs. Grant Kay went 3-for-4 with three doubles and five RBIs. Jeff Gardner went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, while Colin Lyman went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and Danny Rosenbaum went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Kyle Funkhouser (3-1) pitched six innings, giving up six runs on nine hits to earn the win on the mound for the Cardinals. Funkhouser struck out eight Samford batters while allowing just two walks.
Louisville jumped on top with an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning. Lyman reached base on a Samford error with one out in the inning. Lyman later scored when Kyle Gibson reached base on a fielder’s choice for a 1-0 Louisville lead.
The Cardinals added three runs in the third inning to push their lead to 4-0. Gardner singled to drive in Sutton Whiting for the first run of the inning. After Lucas reached base on another Samford error, Lyman singled to drive in Gardner and Lucas, both unearned runs, for a four-run Louisville lead.
Louisville plated five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to make the score 9-0. Kay doubled down the left-field line to drive in Alex Chittenden and Cole Sturgeon for the first two runs in the inning. Gardner then singled to drive in Kay for a 7-0 lead. Lucas then hit a two-run home run to left field for a nine-run Louisville lead.
The Cardinals added two more runs in the fifth inning for an 11-0 lead. Kay doubled to drive in Chittenden and Whiting for an 11-run Louisville lead.
Samford got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning with four runs to cut the Louisville lead to 11-4. Martin singled to lead off the inning. With one out, McWhorter doubled, moving Martin to third base. With two outs, Evan Holland singled up the middle to drive in Martin and McWhorter for Samford’s first two runs in the game. Dixon later singled to drive in Holland and Caleb Bryson for the final two runs in the inning.
Louisville answered with seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Rosenbaum drove in two runs in the inning, while Whiting, Sturgeon, Kay, Lucas and Lyman drove in a run each. Samford pitchers allowed four walks and two hit batters in the inning as Louisville took an 18-4 lead.
Samford plated two runs in the top of the seventh inning to make the score 18-6. Heath Quinn and Richard Greene drove in the two runs in the inning for Samford.
The Bulldogs added four more runs in the top of the eighth inning to close to within eight runs at 18-10. Patrick McGavin, Frankie Navarrete and Dixon led the inning off with three straight hits to load the bases. With one out, Martin hit a grand slam to center field to give Samford 10 runs in the contest.
Louisville added two final runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to make the final score 20-10. Lucas hit a home run to center field with Logan Taylor on base for the final two runs of the game.
With the loss, Samford dropped to 11-6 on the season. Louisville improved to 13-4 with the win.
Samford and Louisville will continue their series with a game Saturday at 12 p.m. (CT).
Minnesota 4, Appalachian State 3
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – An error by the Appalachian State University baseball team helped the University of Michigan (6-10-1) stretch its early lead and Appalachian’s hopes of a comeback fell short as the Mountaineers fell 4-3 at Patriots Point.
With the game tied at 2 in the seventh, Michigan’s Kendall Patrick singled to left field and the next batter walked. Two sacrifice bunts advanced the runners but a bad throw from pitcher Jamie Nunn flew over the first baseman head and allowed the two base-runners to score. Michigan led 4-2.
Appalachian (4-14) tried a comeback in the eighth inning.
After getting the first two outs of the inning and giving up a walk, Michigan brought in its closer, Jacob Cronenworth. Cronenworth hit Matt Brill on the first pitch to give him first base and that advanced Michael Pierson, who walked, to second base. Troutman hit a hard grounder up the middle and Pierson rounded third base to score to make the game 4-3 with two outs and runners on first and second.
The next batter, William Head, hit a blooper over the second baseman’s head. The center fielder fielded the ball and threw to home plate. Brill had already rounded third base on his way to score and after a sliding effort into home, the umpire determined that the ball was in the catcher’s glove before Brill landed at home plate safely to cut the comeback effort short.
Nunn got the start for Appalachian. He pitched 6 1/3 innings with four strikeouts. He was charged with all four runs but only three of them were earned. He was replaced by Zach Joyce. Joyce pitched the last 2 2/3 innings and only gave up one hit, retiring eight of his 10 batters faced.
Michigan’s first two runs came early. After striking out the first batter of the third inning, Nunn issued a seven-pitch walk to the next batter and he advanced to second on a wild pitch. Leadoff hitter Travis Maezes lined a 2-0 pitch to right-center that rolled to the outfield fence for standup triple to drive in Ramsey Romano. Cronenworth brought Maezes home. Nunn got out the inning by forcing the last batter to fly out.
Appalachian’s bright moments started with designated hitter Brill. On the very first pitch he saw in the fourth inning, Brill hit the ball over the left field net to record his first home run of his career and pull the Apps within one at 2-1.
Given an extra out by Michigan in the sixth inning, the Mountaineers tied the game at 2-2. Catcher Ozzy Gonzalez popped out for the first out and Pierson struck out swinging for the second. Michigan brought in a relief pitcher who would walk junior Bradley Morton. Pierson had to be thrown out at first base after he struck out, but Michigan’s catcher launched the ball into center field so Pierson reached safely. Senior Preston Troutman lined a ball down the right-field line that would score Morton and then Head grounded out to third base for the third out.
Appalachian outhit its second opponent in a row (8-5) in a one-loss game. Troutman accounted for three of Appalachian’s eight hits and two RBIs. In the last seven games, Troutman is 11-for-24 with a double, a triple, a home run, seven RBIs and six runs scored.
Michigan was led by Maezes, who had two hits, a run and an RBI. Starting pitcher Trent Szkutnik recorded the win for the Wolverines, pitching 5 2/3 innings with six strikeouts and gave up three hits.
Appalachian State will continue its three-game weekend at the College of Charleston Tournament with an 11 a.m. matchup against Kent State at Patriots Point Park on Saturday.
UNCG vs. Princeton schedule altered
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Due to predicted inclement weather in the Triad area this weekend, the schedule for the UNCG baseball team’s nonconference series with Princeton has been altered.
The teams will now play a doubleheader (two nine-inning games) Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. The series finale, slated for Monday at 6 p.m. will be played as scheduled.
The Blue and Gold most recently completed a five-game road swing that saw UNCG play five games in five days in three different cities. The Spartans went 2-3 on the trip with wins against Minnesota in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and East Carolina in Greenville, N.C., to go along with losses to UMBC and Coastal Carolina in Myrtle Beach and a setback at UNCW.