Elon 14, The Citadel 7
Elon 4, The Citadel 3
ELON, N.C. – After rain washed out the scheduled action for Saturday, the Elon baseball team came back and swept a doubleheader from The Citadel by scores of 14-7 and 4-3 on Sunday afternoon. The two victories gave the Phoenix a three-game sweep of the Southern Conference series.
With the wins, Elon now sits at 17-10 overall and 6-3 in the SoCon. The Citadel fell to 12-17, 1-8 – its worst start ever in SoCon play.
After three scoreless innings in game one, the Phoenix grabbed a 1-0 lead in the last of the fourth when Tyler McVicar drilled his second home run of the season over the wall in center to lead off the frame.
In the next inning, Elon put up a six-spot to increase its edge to 7-0. Ryan Cooper started things off with a bunt single and moved all the way to third on an errant pickoff throw to first. A Casey Jones single plated Cooper. With Jones at second following a stolen base, Sebastian Gomez singled to right-center to pick up an RBI. Elon's fourth consecutive hit came from Chris Hall, who singled through the left side. Back-to-back walks forced home another run as the Phoenix's lead moved to 4-0.
The first out was made on a fielder's choice that also scored a run and left men on the corners. Another stolen base was followed by a Bulldog error that allowed Elon's fifth run of the frame. The final marker came on another fielder's choice.
The Citadel tried to climb back in to the contest with a four-run sixth that included a two-run homer from Tyler Griffin, but the Phoenix came right back with five in the last of the sixth. Two of the five scored on Cooper's double down the left-field line.
The rest of the scoring came in the eighth with The Citadel scoring three runs and the Phoenix two.
Michael Elefante kept his perfect record intact as he moved to 5-0 on the year. He went 5 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on eight hits.
The loss went to James Reeves (3-2). Reeves gave up four runs on seven hits in four innings.
In the win, Elon set a season-high with 19 hits and matched a season-high with six stolen bases. Both Jones and Blaine Bower swiped two bases. Cooper ended the game 4-for-6 with two runs and three RBIs.
Elon quickly jumped in front again in game two. In the last of the first, Jones belted a 3-2 pitch over the wall in left for his third homer of the year.
After The Citadel tied it up on a sacrifice fly in the second, the Phoenix moved back in front, 2-1, when Cooper singled home Andy Moore in the third.
The score remained 2-1 until the sixth, when the Bulldogs evened it back up only to see Elon answer with two in the bottom half. In Elon's half, the rally began with two outs when Chris King homered to left. With men on first and second, Moore grounded one back up the middle to make it a 4-2 contest.
The Citadel's final marker came in the seventh after an Elon error.
The win was earned by Jake Stalzer (4-2), who went six and gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits. Matt Harris tossed 1 2/3 scoreless frames before Ryan Pennell came on to record the final four outs to garner his seventh save of the season.
Zach Sherrill (3-1) took the loss after he was charged with two runs on three hits in one inning out of the pen.
For Elon, Jones had hits in both ends of the doubleheader to extend his hitting streak to a career-best 13 games.
The Phoenix will play two home games this week before returning to league play next weekend. On Tuesday, Elon hosts North Carolina A&T at 6:30 p.m. The maroon and gold will then welcome in Campbell for a 6:30 p.m. game on Wednesday.
The Citadel travels to Ticketreturn.com Field at Pelicans Park in Myrtle Beach, S.C., to take on Coastal Carolina on Tuesday and plays its next SoCon series beginning Friday against Georgia Southern at Riley Park.
Davidson 6, Georgia Southern 0
DAVIDSON, N.C. – RHP Nick Neitzel led a combined shutout and Forrest Brandt went 4-for-5, as Davidson blanked the Southern Conference's top-hitting team, Georgia Southern, 6-0, to win the final SoCon baseball series between the teams, Sunday afternoon at Wilson Field.
Winners of 13 of their last 15 games, Davidson improved to 16-8 overall, matching its best start through 24 games since achieving the same in 1987, and 7-2 in the SoCon, continuing to match its best start in league play since 2000. It was also the first three-game series victory over Georgia Southern (20-9, 4-5 SoCon) since 1999, and the first time the ‘Cats had shutout the Eagles since 2006.
Neitzel (4-0) allowed just four hits and two walks with six strikeouts in six-plus innings. He never faced more than four batters in a single inning, and was relieved by RHP Matt Saeta fter surrendering a leadoff double in the seventh inning. Saeta, RHP/DH Ryan Lowe and RHP Michael Goldberg pitched an inning each to close the game out, combining to allow just two hits and a walk with five strikeouts.
It was Netizel's and Davidson's second combined shutout of the season.
Davidson’s team captains led the offense, as Brandt doubled and matched his career high of four hits for the fourth time in his career, and Lowe extended his reached base streak to 27 games (dating back to last season) by going 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk.
As they had done in the previous two games of the series, Davidson jumped out to a first-inning lead. Lowe and Brandt teamed up for the first run of the game, as Lowe drew a two-out walk and advanced to second on a passed ball, and Brandt drove him in with a single through the left side.
Right fielder Lee Miller (2-for-4, BB) hit the first of two doubles on the day in the third inning to drive in Brandt for a 2-0 Davidson advantage, and then in the fourth with one on, Lowe hit a line-drive home run the opposite way, just inside the left field foul pole, for his second homer of the season and a 4-0 lead. Leftfielder Ty Middlebrooks (1-for-4) and Brandt added an RBI each in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively, for the final margin.
The Wildcats totaled 14 hits, as shortstop Sam Foy and catcher Daniel Gerow also tallied multi-hit games, both going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Gerow also caught two Eagles trying to steal second base.
Georgia Southern used six pitchers, as starting RHP Eric Alonzo (2-3) went just three innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts. First baseman Ryan Cleveland and second baseman Aaron Palmer both went 2-for-4 to account for four of the Eagles’ six hits.
Davidson will conclude a 16-game homestand Tuesday, hosting regional foe Winthrop at 6 p.m. at Wilson Field.
Georgia Southern will be back at home at J.I. Clements Stadium on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Eagles face Jacksonville on Tuesday at 6 p.m. before welcoming in the Kennesaw State Owls at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
Samford 13, Furman 5
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford shortstop Tyler Filliben hit two home runs and drove in four runs to lead the Bulldog baseball team to a 13-5 win over Furman in the third game of a three-game Southern Conference series Sunday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
With the win, Samford won the series, two games to one. Samford improved to 16-11 overall and 4-2 in Southern Conference play. Furman dropped to 11-17 overall and 2-4 in SoCon games.
Filliben’s two home runs in Sunday’s game give him four homers for the weekend and eight for the season. For the game, Filliben went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs. Tripp Martin and Caleb Bryson also homered in the game for Samford.
Patrick McGavin (1-1) pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief, allowing no runs on one hit to earn the win on the mound for the Bulldogs. Alex Milazzo, Chase Traffica and Andres Gracia also saw time on the mound for Samford.
For Furman, Alex Abrams and Jordan Simpson had two hits and an RBI each. Hunter Burton also had two hits, and Chris Ohmstede drove in two runs in a 1-for-4 performance. Jacques de Gruy (1-2) pitched six innings, giving up six runs on five hits to take the loss on the mound for Furman.
Furman jumped out to an early 5-0 lead with four runs in the first inning and one more in the second inning. In the first inning, Simpson singled to drive in Burton for the first run of the game. Ohmstede then tripled to drive in Abrams and Simpson to make the score 3-0. Ohmstede then scored on a wild pitch for a 4-0 lead. In the second inning, Abrams singled to right field to drive in Sky Overton for a 5-0 Furman lead.
Samford plated two runs in the bottom of the third inning to cut the Furman lead to 5-2. After Jared Watson reached base on an error, Bryson homered to left field for Samford’s first two runs of the contest.
The Bulldogs added a run in the fourth inning. With one out, Martin homered to left field to cut the Furman lead to 5-3.
Samford took the lead for good with three runs in the fifth inning. Hunter Swilling and T.J. Dixon walked to start the rally. Filliben then hit a home run to left field to give Samford a 6-5 lead.
Samford took control of the game with six runs in the seventh inning. Heath Quinn walked with the bases loaded, driving in Dixon for the inning’s first run. Brandon Powell later singled to center field to drive in Filliben for an 8-5 Samford lead. Watson later singled to drive in Quinn and Drew McWhorter, and Powell scored on an error on the play to make the score 11-5. Swilling later singled up the middle to drive in Watson to make the score 12-5.
The Bulldogs added one final run in the eighth inning to make the final score 13-5. Filliben led off the inning with his second home run of the day for the game’s final run.
Samford will return to action on Tuesday, when the Bulldogs play at Auburn. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. CT start from Plainsman Park.
The Paladins play at Clemson on Wednesday in a 6 p.m. game.
Western Carolina 6, Wofford 1
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Senior Jordan Smith struck out five in a season-high-tying seven solid innings of work on the mound, leading Western Carolina to 6-1 victory over Wofford on Sunday afternoon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
Five of the Catamounts’ seven hits on the day went for extra bases, including three doubles and two home runs.
The win secured WCU its fourth series sweep on the season and first in Southern Conference play. The Catamounts won their ninth straight league series, and have secured wins in 21 of their last 23 conference games dating back to last season. WCU improved to 16-9 on the season, 5-1 in league games.
Senior Cody Jones paced the Catamount offensive output, finishing 3-for-4 with a single, double and his first home run of the season on a leadoff solo shot in the home half of the sixth inning. Classmate Adam Martin continued his strong offensive weekend, finishing 1-for-3 at the plate and belting his third homer of the weekend with a two-run shot in the fifth inning.
Smith (4-2) ended the day with the win on the bump after seven complete innings, scattering seven hits with two walks, a HBP and the five Ks. The Liberty, N.C., native forced the Terriers to strand seven runners on base through the first seven innings. Wofford left nine total runners on base combined.
Sophomore RHP Colton Davis, who earned the save in Saturday’s game, retired the Terriers in order during his one inning of work in the eighth, with junior Tyler Powell fanning two with one hit and a free pass in the ninth inning.
Wofford’s Josh Hyman jumped on the second pitch of the game, hitting a leadoff solo shot over the fence down the left-field line to give the Terriers the lead after the top of the first for the second straight game.
WCU answered in the bottom half of the inning with a one-out double down the right-field line by Bradley Strong. Two batters later, junior Jacob Hoyle overcame Wofford’s right-side shift as he smacked a two-out RBI double to the gap in right field, scoring Strong. Jones, who has recorded a hit in 16 of the last 17 games, followed with an RBI single through the right side, scoring Hoyle from second and giving the Purple & Gold a 2-1 lead after one.
The Terriers (16-12, 1-5 SoCon) threatened in the top of the third inning with back-to-back one-out singles to right field by Alec Paradowski and Seth Neeley, but Smith induced a 1-6-3 ground-ball double play to end the inning and preserve the 2-1 Catamount lead.
Jones led off the home half of the fourth inning with a double off the center-field fence and was later scored on a sacrifice fly by Luke Gragg after Danny Bermudez moved Jones to third with a fly out to right. WCU led 3-1 after four complete.
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, leadoff man Aaron Attaway reached on a Terrier error at short to keep the inning alive. Martin, who started the game 0-for-2, crushed the next pitch over the fence in left for his third home run and sixth RBI of the series, lifting the Catamount lead out to 5-1 after five.
Wofford put pressure on WCU in the top of the sixth when Neely led off with double down the left-field line and Clancey earned a walk. After a sacrifice bunt move the runners to second and third with one out, Smith retired the next two batters with a weak fly ball to second and routine fly to right, ending the Terrier threat.
Jones then opened the home half of sixth with a leadoff home run to right center, lighting the scoreboard for the third straight inning and giving the Catamounts a comfortable 6-1 lead.
Wofford’s Jesse Morris (5-3) was saddled with the loss, allowing six runs, four earned, in six innings of work. Morris struck out nine Catamount batters and allowed only one walk.
Neely, the only Terrier with multiple hits, went 2-for-4 with his 10th double of the season. Hyman had the only RBI for Wofford following his first inning home run but fanned in his final four at bats.
The Catamounts return to the diamond on Tuesday as they welcome mountain rival UNC Asheville to Childress Field / Hennon Stadium for a midweek nonconference contest. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m.
The Terriers will travel to UNC Asheville on Wednesday to complete their eight-game road trip before a home series against Appalachian State begins on Friday night.
Appalachian State vs. UNCG canceled
BOONE, N.C. – Sunday's baseball game between Appalachian State and UNCG has been canceled due to inclement weather.
With the cancellation, Appalachian State (8-16, 3-2 SoCon) swept a weather-shortened two-game Southern Conference series from UNCG (13-13, 2-3 SoCon).
Appalachian State returns to action on Tuesday when it travels to Columbia, S.C. for a 7 p.m. game against South Carolina. The Mountaineers return home on Wednesday to face ETSU at 4 p.m.
UNCG returns home Wednesday for a midweek rematch with North Carolina A&T. UNCG defeated A&T 8-7 at the UNCG Baseball Stadium last Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.