Appalachian State 9, UNC Asheville 2
Appalachian State 7, UNC Asheville 2
BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State University played its best baseball of the season in all phases of the game on Saturday afternoon and swept a doubleheader from UNC Asheville, 9-2 and 7-2, at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.
Appalachian State got superb starting pitching from Jamie Nunn and Tyler Moore, banged out 20 hits in 12 innings and was flawless defensively en route to victories in both seven-inning games.
Nunn surrendered single runs in the first and seventh innings of the opener but was nearly unhittable in between, retiring 15 of the 18 batters he faced from the second through the sixth stanzas. In all, the right-hander surrendered just three hits and struck out five before being lifted from the game with one out in the sixth. Appalachian’s ace picked up his first win in his last seven starts, dating back to a 9-1 triumph over Elon on May 3 of last season.
Moore was just as good in the nightcap, taking a shutout into the seventh inning before allowing two inconsequential runs in the final frame. Despite having a string of 16.1-consecutive innings without surrendering an earned run snapped in the seventh, the sixth-year senior tossed the first complete game of his career, scattering eight hits and striking out two along the way. It was the first complete game by a Mountaineer since Sam Agnew-Wieland (now a member of the New York Yankees organization) notched back-to-back shutouts on March 30 and April 6 of last year.
After managing eight or more hits in a game just once in its first 12 contests of the season, Appalachian State recorded eight hits in Saturday’s opener and a season-high 12 in the nightcap. The Mountaineers struck early in both games, scoring seven runs over the first three innings in Game One and four in the first two innings in Game Two.
Preston Troutman led the way in the opener with two hits, two RBI and two runs scored, highlighted by a two-out RBI triple in the second inning. Additionally, Dillon Dobson hit a two-run homer in the first, Ozzy Gonzalez had a two-run double in the third and William Head matched Troutman with a game-high-tying two hits.
The top and bottom of Appalachian’s batting order did the majority of the damage in the nightcap, with the Mountaineers’ Nos. 1, 2, 3, 8 and 9 hitters collecting 11 of the team’s 12 hits. Tyler Zupcic highlighted the effort from the two-hole, going 3-for-4 with three doubles, an RBI and two runs scored. Head, Dobson, Troutman and Zach Hummel contributed with two hits apiece, including a solo homer to straightaway center by Troutman and a pair of doubles from Dobson. Seven of App State’s 12 hits went for extra bases in Game Two.
Appalachian State did not commit an error in either game, marking the first time all season that the Mountaineers have had consecutive games without a miscue in the field. Before returning to Beaver Field’s FieldTurf playing surface, Appalachian had committed 21 errors over its previous eight outings.
Appalachian State (3-11) looks to complete a three-game series sweep on Sunday when it closes the set with UNC Asheville (3-9) at 1 p.m.
Georgia Southern 7, Holy Cross 1
Georgia Southern 6, Holy Cross 2
STATESBORO, Ga. – The Georgia Southern Eagles swept a doubleheader from Holy Cross 7-1, 6-2 on Saturday at J.I. Clements Stadium.
In game one, Josh Wirsu held Holy Cross to three hits as the Georgia Southern Eagles took game two in the series 7-1 over Holy Cross at J.I. Clements Stadium.
Georgia Southern struck for two runs in the first inning on a bases loaded catcher's interference and a bases-loaded walk by Hunter Thomas. The Eagles led 4-1 in the eighth inning before Dalton Busby plated two runs with a single and Chase Griffin ripped a double down the left field line to score a third run.
Wirsu improved to 3-1 on the year after allowing one run over 6.2 innings. Wirsu struck out a season-high eight batters and walked one. The junior right-hander retired the first eight batters he faced in order. The only leadoff batter to reach base, Evan Ocello, did so in the seventh inning after being hit by a pitch.
Ocello later scored Holy Cross' lone run of the game on a ground out by Anthony Critelli.
Chase Griffin led GSU with three hits and plated two runs. Griffin was one of four Eagles with multiple hits and helped the team finish with 10 or more hits for the 10th time this season.
Ben White tossed five innings and allowed four runs but suffered the loss. White (0-1) held GSU to five hits and two walks.
In game two, Ryan Cleveland went two for three and plated two runs with a double in the go ahead fifth inning as the Georgia Southern Eagles swept game two of a doubleheader over the Holy Cross Crusaders at J.I. Clements Stadium Saturday.
Chase Griffin broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth with a RBI single through the right side of the infield. Following Cleveland's two-run double, Stryker Brown drove in Cleveland with a base hit to center field.
Eric Alonzo entered in the top of the fifth with the tying run in scoring position and coaxed a ground out to end the threat. Alonzo (1-0) picked up his first win as an Eagle after tossing 1.1 innings and allowing one hit.
Jason Richman followed with two scoreless frames, and Caleb Pressey worked around a leadoff single in the ninth inning.
Phil Reese allowed five runs on 10 hits and took the loss. Reese (1-2) pitched into the fifth inning and struck out two batters.
Holy Cross struck first for the second time in the series. Anthony Critelli homered on a 2-0 pitch in the second inning, driving a ball into the trees in left field.
Georgia Southern got the run back and took a 2-1 lead in the bottom half of the frame. Ben Morgan drove in Hunter Thomas with a ground out; and Kody Adams singled to center field to plate Aaron Palmer, who made his first start as an Eagle.
Georgia Southern finished with 12 hits, with three coming from Griffin. Dalton Busby and Brown also recorded multi-hit games.
The Crusaders tallied eight hits on the day. Evan Ocello tallied with two hits, and Anthony Critelli drove in a run with a pair of hits.
The series concludes tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. Will Middour is scheduled to make his second start of the season and will square off with Donny Murray.
Davidson 3, North Carolina A&T 1
Davidson 13, Massachusetts 3
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Davidson held North Carolina A&T scoreless after the first inning and added runs in the fourth and sixth innings to defeat the Aggies, 3-1, in nonconference baseball action Saturday evening at Wilson Field.
RHP Charles Cantrell (2-1) went the distances for the Aggies, allowing the three runs on 10 hits and two walks with five strikeouts, but four Davidson (4-6) pitchers combined to limit the Aggies to one run, scattering seven hits and six walks, while striking out nine.
RHP Ryan Lowe (1-0) allowed three hits and five walks with five strikeouts in five innings of work after drawing the start, while RHP Matt Saeta (2) allowed a pair of hits in the ninth, but struck out two, in earning his second save of the season. RHPs Cody White and Michael Goldberg kept N.C. A&T scoreless in between.
North Carolina A&T got on the scoreboard in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Lester Salcedo (2-for-3), who had the lone multi-hit game for the Aggies, but Davidson went ahead in the fourth inning, scoring a pair of runs on a hit batsman and a walk. After the first two batters were retired in the fourth, the Wildcats loaded the bases on singles by right fielder Nathan Becker (1-for-4) and Foy (2-for-4), and a hit-by-pitch by left fielder Lee Miller (1-for-2, RBI). Cantrell then hit first baseman Ben Arkin (1-for-2) and walked catcher Daniel Gerow (1-for-2) to plate two runs for the Wildcats.
Miller gave Davidson an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning, sending his first home run of the season over the fence in right field.
The two teams will meet again Sunday 45 minutes after Davidson plays Massachusetts for a second time. That game is slated to start at noon.
Davidson scored 11 runs with two outs in the sixth inning en route to a 13-3 victory over Massachusetts in nonconference baseball action Saturday night at Wilson Field.
The win was Davidson’s (5-6) second of the day, as they defeated North Carolina A&T (6-6) in a game prior, 3-1. Massachusetts (1-7) picked up its first win of the season in the first game of the day at Wilson Field, defeating N.C. A&T, 15-0.
In the decisive inning, Davidson sent 15 batters to the plate with all nine batters in the lineup scoring at least once. Centerfielder Forrest Brandt (2-for-3, 3 RBI) and right fielder Nathan Becker (1-for-4, 2 RBIs) scored twice, while second baseman Sam Foy (2-for-4, RBI) reached twice with a pair of singles. The ‘Cats totaled six hits and six walks in the frame.
Brandt and Becker (1-for-4, 2 RBIs) ultimately scored the first and last runs of the frame, as they earned back-to-back two-out walks in their first at-bats to start the offensive. Brandt then drove in three runs with a bases-clearing double in his second at-bat, and Becker followed with his team-best fourth home run of the season to score both.
Pitching was the story early, as the game was scoreless through five innings. RHP Danny Mooney (2-1) was perfect until allowing a walk in the fifth, and he then allowed two hits and a run in the sixth inning to lose the no-hitter. He was perfect in the seventh inning to conclude his night, finishing with six strikeouts.
UMass only recorded two hits in each the sixth and ninth innings. Second baseman Nick Sanford (1-for-4) led the sixth off with a double down the right field line, and he later scored from third on a RBI-single by left fielder Paul Yanakoupolis (1-for-3).
RHP Ryan Moloney (0-3) appeared to be cruising for UMass, allowing just four hits through the first five innings and retiring the first two batters of the sixth inning, but then he walked Brandt and Becker was lifted for RHP DJ Jauss after throwing a ball on the first pitch to Foy.
Foy lifted an RBI single to left field to tie the game at 1-1. A wild pitch during the next at-bat allowed the go-ahead run, and then left fielder Lee Miller (2-for-4) drove in Foy with a single up the middle for a 3-1 advantage. Jauss walked the next two batters to load the bases, and then another to allow another run. Third baseman David Daniels (2-for-5) delivered with a two-RBI single to center for a 6-1 advantage.
Jauss was lifted but Davidson did not let up, as designated hitter Ryan Lowe (1-for-3) walked to load the bases for Brandt, who cleared them with a double. Becker’s home run immediately after gave Davidson its 11-1 lead. Foy singled again before a groundout ended the inning.
Freshman Brian Fortier pinch hit to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning and he slugged his first career home run. Later, the ‘Cats added another run on a wild pitch for a 13-1 advantage. The Minutemen scored two runs in the ninth inning for the final margin.
Davidson and UMass will complete their first-ever series Sunday at 12 p.m. at Wilson Field. Davidson will then complete a back-to-back doubleheader by facing N.C. A&T 45 minutes after the first game concludes.
Samford 9, ULM 6
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford baseball team earned its eighth-straight win in a 9-6 victory over Louisiana-Monroe in the second game of a three-game series Saturday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
With the win, Samford improves to 10-4 so far this season. ULM drops to 7-8 with the loss.
Samford was led in the win by Heath Quinn, who went 2-for-5 with a double. Caleb Bryson also went 2-for-5 at the plate, while T.J. Dixon was 2-for-3. Tripp Martin hit a three-run home run in the win, going 1-for-3 at the plate.
Alex Milazzo (2-0) pitched 5.0 innings, giving up three runs on six hits to earn the win on the mound for Samford. Andres Gracia pitched the final inning to pick up his fifth save of the season.
For ULM, Justin Stawychny went 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI. Anthony Herrera had two hits and four RBI for the Warhawks. Alex Hermeling pitched 2.0 innings, giving up four runs on three hits to take the loss on the mound for ULM.
Samford jumped on top first with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Dixon and Tyler Filliben drew back-to-back walks to start the inning. Martin then hit a three-run home run to left field for a 3-0 Samford lead.
ULM came back to tie the score with three runs in the top of the second inning. Stawychny doubled to left field to drive in Chet Simoneaux to make the score 3-1. Herrera later singled to drive in Stawychny and Dalton Herrington for a 3-3 tie.
Samford took the lead again with one run in the bottom of the second inning. Danny Rodriguez walked to lead off the inning. With two outs, Filliben tripled to drive in Rodriguez for a 4-3 Samford lead.
The Bulldogs added three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to push their lead to 7-3. Brandon Powell singled to left field to drive in Quinn and Martin for the first two runs of the inning. Jordan Wren later singled to drive in Powell for a four-run Samford lead.
ULM came back with three runs in the top of the sixth inning to cut the Samford lead to 7-6. Josh Faciane singled to drive in Herrington for the first run of the inning. Herrera then tripled to drive in Faciane and Stawychny to bring ULM to within one run.
Samford answered with two runs of its own in the bottom of the seventh inning. Dixon and Bryson both scored on a Warhawk error to give Samford a 9-6 advantage.
Samford and Louisiana-Monroe will conclude their series with a game Sunday afternoon. The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start from Joe Lee Griffin Field.
The Citadel 5, College of Charleston 4 (11 innings)
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Bo Thompson ended three innings of frustration for The Citadel by driving home Hughston Armstrong with a single in the bottom of the 11th, giving the Bulldogs a 5-4 win over College of Charleston in an exciting opener to a three-game set between the city rivals.
Skylar Hunter was a workhouse on the mound, going four shutout innings and throwing a career-high 74 pitches to earn the win. He allowed only three hits and one walk while striking out four to help The Citadel even its record at 7-7.
The Cougars, who entered the game ranked No. 29 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, dropped to 10-3. The teams continue the series with a 2 p.m. game on Sunday at Patriots Point before returning to Riley Park on Monday at 6 p.m.
Armstrong singled with one out in the bottom of the 11th and got into scoring position when he stole his fourth base of the year. After Michael Hanzlik got the second out of the inning, Thompson lined a 1-1 pitch in front of center fielder Alex Pastroius to easily score Armstrong.
The Citadel had the potential winning run at second with only one out in each of the three previous innings, but Cougar pitchers Chase Henry and Hanzlik were able to wriggle out of trouble, assisted by a pair of double play grounders. College of Charleston had a threat of its own in the top of the 11th, but Hunter struck out Brandon Glazer with two men on.
The Bulldogs led 3-0 after five and Logan Cribb was cruising along with a three-hit shutout. The Cougars then started the sixth with three straight hits, including an RBI single by Glazer, and took advantage of two errors to score twice more, pulling into a 3-3 tie. Glazer drove in another run with a single in the seventh to give CofC its first lead of the day.
The Citadel bounced right back to tie it in its half of the inning when Tyler Griffin recorded his fourth hit and third RBI of the game, bringing home pinch runner Jason Smith. The game then developed into a pitching battle between Hunter and Henry until Thompson's game-winning hit four innings later.
Griffin, who matched his career high in hits first set against North Florida last February, put the Bulldogs on top with a run-scoring single in the first off Cougar starter Nathan Helvey. Thompson drove in a run with a double and Griffin followed with another RBI single in the third to build The Citadel's lead to 3-0.
The Bulldogs got a runner to second in both the fourth and fifth but were unable to add to their lead.
Armstrong, DeKerlegand and Thompson each had two hits, making the top four batters in The Citadel lineup a combined 10-for-20 with four runs scored and all five RBI. The Bulldogs were without second baseman Mason Davis, whose illness kept him out of the lineup for the first time in his career after 131 consecutive starts.
Junior left hander James Reeves will get the start for The Citadel at Patriots Point tomorrow. Reeves is 2-0 with wins over Virginia Tech and Nebraska and has an ERA of 3.24. He will be opposed by Cougar sophomore righty Taylor Clarke (2-1, 1.80 ERA).
UMBC 2, UNCG 0
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – UNCG limited UMBC to just three hits Saturday night, but the Spartan offense could not push a run across as the Terriers picked up a 2-0 victory in game four of the Chanticleer Classic inside TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. UNCG fell to 5-7 overall while UMBC picked up its first win of the season to improve to 1-4.
Sophomore RHP Ryan Clark (1-2) pitched well for the Spartans but was saddled with the loss after hurling eight innings and giving up two runs (one earned) on just three hits. He retired the first seven batters he faced. Riley Stephenson (1-1) recorded the win for the Terriers throwing 7.1 scoreless innings, giving up five hits and striking out six UNCG batters. Jonny Dierks posted the save for UMBC as he hurled 1.2 innings without allowing a hit.
No player on the field had more than one hit on the evening while Kevin LaChance recorded the only RBI of the contest.
The Spartans had a nice opportunity to score first in the bottom of the second as McDonald and Chapman led off with singles. However, Guite lined into a double play to effectively kill the inning.
UMBC took advantage of some Spartan miscues in the top of the third, scoring a two-out run when McDonald and King committed a pair of errors which allowed Mark Esposito to score from second base.
After both teams’ bats went relatively quiet for the majority of the game, the Terriers would add an insurance run in the top of the eighth. Kevin LaChance drove in Andrew Casali from third base with a RBI single to make it 2-0. Hall led off the bottom of the frame with a base hit through the left side, but was gunned down at second on a nice defensive play by the UMBC middle infield for the first out. UNCG could not muster anything after that as the Terriers took the two-run advantage to the ninth. Both teams went down in order to end the contest.
The Spartans return to action tomorrow morning at 11 a.m., taking on Minnesota in their second game of the Chanticleer Classic.
Elon 5, Minnesota 2
Elon 3, UMBC 1
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Elon won a pair of games the Chanticleer Classic at TicketReturn.com Field on Saturday, downing Minnesota 5-2 and UMBC 3-1.
Lucas Bakker allowed just five hits and struck out six as the Phoenix handed the Golden Gophers a 5-2 defeat in the first game of morning.
Bakker (2-1), who retired 18 consecutive hitters from the second inning into the ninth, tossed the first complete game of his Elon career. Four of the five hits he allowed came in the first two innings before he settled into a groove. After the first two hitters of the second reached with singles, Bakker allowed just one more base runner (a hit batter) until a one-out single in the top of the ninth.
After falling behind 2-0 on two unearned runs in the top of the first, Elon scored one in the last of the first when Sebastian Gomez doubled home Ryan Cooper.
The Phoenix moved in front in the fourth thanks to three runs. With runners on first and second with one out, Nick Zammarelli ripped one to the wall in center for a two-RBI triple. He then scored on a Tucker Norton ground out.
Danny Lynch drove in Elon's final run with a single in the fifth.
Minnesota fell to 6-4 on the season.
Three Phoenix players had two-hit games - Cooper, Zammarelli and Andy Moore.
The loss went to Alec Crawford, who gave up five runs on nine hits in seven innings.
A three-run seventh inning was all the offense that Elon needed as the Phoenix handed UMBC a 3-1 setback in its second game of the day at the Chanticleer Classic.
Traiing 1-0, Elon (10-4) got things going with back-to-back singles to center in the seventh from Andy Moore and Zammarelli. After a two-out hit batter loaded the bases, Casey Jones drew a five-pitch walk to force home Moore to tie the game. Zammarelli was then able to walk home when Gomez drew a four-pitch walk that put the maroon and gold in front, 2-1. A passed ball then scored the final Phoenix run.
Michael Elefante (4-0) gave up just one run on eight hits in seven innings. The righty fanned six hitters. Ryan Pennell came on to throw the final two innings, striking out two and allowing just one hit, to claim his third save of the year.
Elon pitching did not allow a walk in its two games of the day.
UMBC (0-4) scored its lone run in the second when a two-out single drove home a runner from third.
The loss went to Mac Gill (0-1), who was charged with two runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.
The Phoenix will wrap up play at the Chanticleer Classic on Sunday with a 2:30 p.m. game against host Coastal Carolina.
Buffalo 5, Western Carolina 4
ATHENS, Ga. – Western Carolina baseball suffered its second-straight loss at the Georgia Bulldog Invitational on Saturday, dropping a 5-4 decision to the Buffalo Bulls at Foley Field. Buffalo scored all five of its runs in the first four innings while holding off each Catamount surge to earn the win.
Western Carolina (8-4) concludes tournament play against the tournament host, Georgia, on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 pm.
Two Catamounts finished with two-hit games as senior Dykota Spiess went 2-for-4 with a run scored and junior catcher Danny Bermudez was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run. Junior Bradley Strong drove in two runs on a 1-for-2 showing with a run-scoring HBP and a ninth-inning single. Senior Cody Jones also plated a run on a HBP with senior Aaron Attaway driving in one on a sacrifice fly.
As the designated home team in the neutral field meeting, Buffalo (7-2) tallied single runs in the bottom of the first two innings to lead 2-0 through two frames. A Catamount error aided the Bulls run in the first inning with a single and three-straight walks driving in the second.
WCU responded in the top of the third with a two-spot to knot the game at two apiece. Three-straight one-out freebies loaded the bases for the Purple and Gold as Bermudez and Reese Strong both walked ahead of Bradley Strong who was plunked by a pitch. The next batter, Cody Jones, was also hit by a pitch to bring home the Catamounts' first run with Aaron Attaway lifting a sacrifice fly to center to drive in the game-tying marker.
However, the Bulls matched WCU's two-run top of the third with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to reclaim the 4-2 edge before stretching it with a solo run in the bottom of the fourth.
Trailing 5-2, the Catamounts tried to rally in the top of the seventh inning. Pinch hitting freshman Matt Smith was hit by a pitch to start the rally. Bermudez lifted a single to center to put two aboard with nobody out. Reese Strong sacrificed the runners to second and third base for the first out ahead of his older brother, Bradley, who drove a run-scoring sacrifice fly to left to bring home a run and make it 5-3.
In the ninth, the Catamounts were able to pull back to within a run as Spiess singled and was driven home on a single by Bradley Strong. However, even with runners at first and second, WCU couldn't find the equalizer in falling, 5-4.
Freshman Nate Williams (0-1) took the loss in his first career start. He allowed four runs, only three of which were earned, on four hits with three walks against a career-best three strikeouts. Sophomore Jonathan Waszak tossed one inning with a run allowed on three hits and a strikeout with freshman B.J. Nobles also facing two batters out of the bullpen.
Senior T.J. Fussell held the Bulls scoreless over the final 4.2 innings of two-hit relief, striking out eight batters.
Buffalo's starter Anthony Magovney (2-0) scattered four hits over 6.1 innings of three-run baseball while striking out seven to pick-up the win. Ben Hartz scored his first save of the year, tossing the final 2.2 innings while allowing the one run in the ninth inning and a total of three hits with a strikeout.
WCU was out-hit in the game, 10-to-7, with seven singles for the Catamounts.
Marist 8, Wofford 3
Marist 3, Wofford 1
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford baseball team fell to Marist College 8-3 in game one, and 3-1 in game two of a doubleheader against the Red Foxes on Saturday at Russell C. King Field.
The losses move the Terriers to 8-6 overall and the wins for Marist improve them to 4-9 for the season.
Game 1: Marist 8, Wofford 3
In the first game, both teams could not find a run in the first three innings. The Terriers would leave a total of three runners on base in the first three innings unable to find a spark early on.
The Red Foxes struck first in the top of the fourth creating a three run cushion, 3-0. After Nick McQuail was walked, Zach Passerelle doubled to right center scoring McQuail from first. Marist would then his two straight singles, capped off by Matt Pagano’s bunt single that scored Passerelle from third base. After the runners advanced on a wild pitch, Mark Brennan grounded out to the shortstop with one out to score the Red Foxes’ final run of the inning.
Wofford the cut Marist’s lead to 3-1 scoring a run in the bottom of the fifth. Dylan May doubled to left center with one out, then scored on a throwing error by the shortstop on Derek Hirsch’s ground ball. Seth Neely led the bottom of the sixth inning with a home run to left center, cutting the Red Foxes’ lead to one, 3-2.
Marist then scored five runs in the top half of the seventh to extend its lead 8-2. The Red Foxes had two runs scored on two walks and two batters hit by a pitch. Then with two runners on base, Tyler Kirkpatrick smacked a two-RBI double to right center to score two more runs. Brennan the sacrifice bunted to score Marist’s final run of the inning.
The Terriers scored one final run in the bottom half of the seventh. After a single by Connor Clancey, May getting hit by a pitch, and a drawn walk by Alec Paradowski, Josh Hyman hit into a double-play with no outs scoring Clancey from third making the score 8-3.
Wofford was unable to make a comeback in the final two innings dropping the first game of the doubleheader.
Wofford starter Matthew Milburn (1-2) went 4.2 inning allowing three runs on five hits, four walks and three strikeouts.
The Red Foxes’ starter Jordan Eich (1-2) earned the victory pitching six innings allowing two runs on four hits, one walk and four strikeouts.
Game 2: Marist 3, Wofford 1
In game two, Wofford’s starter Luke Leftwich had a strong outing for the Terriers as he fanned a career-high 12 strikeouts for the game. Leftwich struck out eight of the first 13 batters he faced. Both teams were unable to score the first four innings.
Marist scored the first run of the ballgame in the top half of the fifth inning to make the score 1-0. The Red Foxes put runners on first and third with no one out. Mark Brennan then grounded out to the shortstop to score Steve Laurino from third.
Laurino would then knock in another run in the top of the sixth inning to extend Marist’s lead 2-0. Joey Aiola scored from second base off Laurino’s RBI single through the right side.
The Terriers cut the lead to one, 2-1, in the bottom half of the sixth as Connor Clancey doubled down the left field line with one out, and Derek Hirsch doubled to left center with two outs to score Clancey.
Both teams were scoreless for the next two innings, but the Red Foxes extended their lead to 3-1 as Tyler Kirkpatrick hit an RBI single with one out in the top of the ninth to score Zach Passerelle from second.
Leftwich (1-1) took the loss as he pitched six innings giving up two runs on three hits, walked two and struck out a career-high 12 batters. Will Stillman pitched three innings giving up one run on one hit, walked one and struck out three.
Scott Boches (2-0) earned his second victory of the season pitching 5.2 innings, gave up one run on six hits, walked four and struck out six Terrier batters.
Wofford returns to action tomorrow to conclude the three-game series with Marist College at Russell C. King Field at 1 p.m.
Gardner-Webb 15, Furman 3
Gardner-Webb 7, Furman 6
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Gardner-Webb swept a baseball doubleheader from Furman on Saturday at Latham Stadium, claiming a 15-3 win in game one and 7-6 decision in the second game.
The two teams will wrap up the three-game weekend series Sunday with a 2:00 p.m. at Gardner-Webb’s John Henry Moss Stadium.
In the opener Gardner-Webb’s Matt Fraudin (1-0) pitched seven strong innings and got more than ample offensive support to cruise to the 15-3 victory. The junior right-hander limited Furman to just four hits and an unearned run while striking out seven over seven frames to earn the victory.
Fraudin and Furman starting pitcher Alex Abrams (2-1) dueled for five innings before the Bulldogs used four hits to strike for five runs and break the game open in the sixth. A Jacob Walker solo home run to left center field got the inning going for the Bulldogs, who later got a two-run single from Blair Huggins to highlight the rally that gave Gardner-Webb a 7-0 lead.
After the Paladins pushed across an unearned run in the bottom of the inning, the Bulldogs tacked on three runs in the seventh and five more in the eighth en route to the easy victory.
Gardner-Webb pounded out 16 hits, led by JJ Nazzaro, who went 2-for-4 and drove in three rurns, and Tyler Best, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI. Huggins and Walker also registered two RBI for the Bulldogs.
Greg Harrison had two of Furman’s seven hits.
Abrams was charged with the loss after surrendering seven runs on nine hits over six innings. He walked four and struck out one.
In the second game Gardner-Webb combined five hits with three Furman errors in the eighth inning to rally from a 4-1 deficit to take the 7-6 victory and doubleheader sweep.
Furman got on the board in the third against Bulldog starting pitcher Andrew Barnett, getting a two-out, two-run single from Abrams to take a 3-0 lead.
The advantage stood behind the solid pitching of Paladin starter Matt Solter, who allowed a leadoff double to Henry Rudino and triple to Simmons in the seventh that cut it to 3-1. Solter gave way to Billy Greenfield, who got out of the jam after Gardner-Webb failed to execute a squeeze play and Huggins struck out.
The Paladins got the run back in bottom of the seventh on a Hunter Burton RBI that scored twin brother Heath Burton from second base, but the advantage was short-lived as Gardner-Webb turned the game around with a five-run eighth aided by three Paladin errors.
The Bulldogs made it 7-4 in the ninth after Scott Johnson doubled and scored on a Scott Coleman single.
Furman made it interesting in its final turn at the plate, getting a two-out RBI double from Hunter Burton that cut it a 7-5. The Paladins sliced it to 7-6 after Sky Overton raced home on a wild pitch. With the tying run at third base, Bulldog reliever Andrew Massey recovered to get Jordan Simpson on an infield pop to end the game and earn his second save of the season.
The win went to Barnett (3-0), who came within an out of going the distance. He allowed all six runs on 10 hits over 8 2/3 innings, walking two and fanning six.
The loss was charged to Brant Masters (0-1) in relief. He yielded the three runs, only one of which was earned, on five hits in just 2/3 of an inning.
Solter pitched well, allowing only a run on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings of work.
Gardner-Webb out-hit Furman 14-10 in the game, getting a 3-for-5, two-RBI performance from Coleman and 3-for-4, two-run display from Simmons.
Hunter Burton led Furman at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Abrams had two hits in four at bats and drove in a pair of runs.