Western Carolina 4, UNC Asheville 1
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Left-handed starter Bryan Sammons struck out a career-high seven in 7 2/3 innings of work and redshirt senior Taylor Sandefur drove in two on an eighth-inning single up the middle as Western Carolina downed mountain rival UNC Asheville 4-1 Tuesday evening at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
Western Carolina (17-9) won its sixth straight game and has victories in nine of its last 11 games overall on the season, improving to 12-1 at home this season. UNCA fell to 9-19 on the year.
Sammons, a freshman from Wilmington, N.C., earned his fifth victory of the season for the Catamounts. After struggling through a first inning in which he issued three walks, including one to drive in UNCA's first run, the southpaw settled to induce a double-play ball to end the frame and started a stretch in which he retired 11 consecutive Bulldogs.
He scattered five hits and allowed just the one run. Junior closer Tyler Powell picked up his fourth save of the season, facing four batters over the final inning and a third of relief.
Sandefur led two Catamounts with multi-hit games, finishing 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and the two RBIs. Junior Jacob Hoyle also collected two hits on a pair of singles up the middle, finishing 2-for-4. Catamount catcher Danny Bermudez had the lone extra-base hit of the game for WCU with a second-inning double.
UNCA took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, capitalizing on a double by Tommy Houmard and three consecutive walks by Catamount starter Sammons – the third of which was to Eli Miller, who drove home the game's first run.
WCU answered in the home half of the fourth as the opportunistic Catamounts scored runs on a pair of bases-loaded free passes. Pinch-hitter Luke Gragg was hit by a pitch to allow the game-tying run to score, while Reece Strong drew a pinch-hit walk to make it 2-1.
Sandefur later stretched the WCU lead with a two-run base hit with the bases loaded to provide the final tally.
Houmard and catcher Pete Guy had two hits apiece to pace the Bulldogs. Reliever Nick Schavone (1-2) took the loss for UNCA in relief. The fourth pitcher out of the bullpen on Tuesday, UNCA's Corey Randall, struck out seven in just 3 1/3 innings of work.
Western Carolina returns to Southern Conference play this weekend, visiting UNCG for a three-game series that gets under way Friday at 6 pm. UNCA hosts Wofford on Wednesday at Greenwood Field with first pitch at 6 pm.
Davidson 3, Winthrop 0
DAVIDSON, N.C. – David Daniels went 4-for-4 with a two-run home run and six pitchers combined for Davidson’s second consecutive shutout as the Wildcats defeated Winthrop, 3-0, in nonconference baseball action Tuesday night at Wilson Field.
Winner of 15 of its last 18 games, Davidson improved to 17-8 overall, while Winthrop fell to 14-16.
Daniels’ big night came in front of many friends and family with split loyalties, as the East Mecklenburg H.S. product and Charlotte, N.C., native was facing his older brother, Leighton, who batted leadoff and started at second base for Winthrop. Leighton Daniels went 1-for-3 with a walk.
It was David Daniels’ third four-hit game of the season and of his three-year career, but the first in which he did it in just four at-bats.
Daniels and designated hitter Ryan Lowe (2-for-4) provided the bulk of the Wildcats’ offense, accounting for six of the team’s eight hits. Daniels, who had singled, scored the first run of the game in the first inning on an error in the outfield on a Lowe double. Then in the third inning, Daniels sent his second home run of the season off a tree beyond the left-field fence with one on.
Of Davidson’s six pitchers on the night, none pitched more than two innings or fewer than one, and each gave up exactly one hit. Starting junior RHP Clark Beeker (1-0), who only made two starts last season due to injury, earned his first win since his freshman season as he was the pitcher of record when Davidson took the lead for good, and it was a prearranged short start. He struck out one and allowed one hit in two innings.
RHP Michael Goldberg earned his fifth save of the season, striking out one and allowing a hit and a walk before inducing a game-ending 4-6-3 double play.
In between, RHP Durin O’Linger (2.0 IP, H, 2 K) followed Beeker, and he was followed by right-handers Westin Whitmire (2.0 IP, H, BB, 2 K), Cody White (1.0 IP, H, K) and Matt Saeta (1.0 IP, H, BB, K).
Center fielder Michael Patrick and right fielder John Menken accounted for four of Winthrop’s six hits, as they both went 2-for-4. In four innings of work, RHP Jason Driver (3-3) struck out six but allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits with no walks. RHP Brock Goodling prevented Davidson from extending its lead, allowing just three hits and striking out five over the final four innings.
Davidson will play its next four games on the road, opening a three-game Southern Conference series at Furman on Friday at 6 p.m.
Elon 10, North Carolina A&T 2
ELON, N.C. – Big offensive outbursts in the third and fourth innings, along with a solid start from freshman Dimitri Lettas, led the Elon Phoenix baseball squad to a 10-2 victory over visiting North Carolina A&T on Tuesday night at Latham Park. It was the fourth consecutive win for the Phoenix.
The Phoenix (18-10) jumped on Aggie starter DarAmani Swift in the third. Quinn Bower got things started by ripping a double to right-center. A hit batter and walk loaded the bases. A line out to third nearly turned in to a double play, but the throw to second caromed off the helmet of an Elon runner and into right field to allow Bower to score the game's first run. With the bags full after another walk, Tyler McVicar picked up an RBI on a ground out before Nick Zammarelli doubled home two with a shot to left-center to make it 4-0. Zammarelli then scored when Blaine Bower singled down the right-field line.
Elon extended its edge to 9-0 with a four-run fourth. With men on first and second, Casey Jones singled home a run. With two outs, A&T's catcher tried to pick a Phoenix runner off of third but threw the ball down the line to let in the seventh Elon run of the night. McVicar then doubled home two to cap the scoring.
A Jones sacrifice fly in the fifth finished the scoring for Elon.
North Carolina A&T (11-17) finally got on the board in the seventh when two Elon errors led to two unearned runs.
Making the first start of his career, Lettas (1-0) gave up no runs on just two hits and struck out three in six innings to earn his first career victory. Mike Krill threw the final three innings to claim his second save of the year. The duo combined to allow just three hits and none between the third and ninth frames.
Swift (1-4) was tagged with the defeat as he was charged with four runs on four hits in 2 1/3 innings. He issued five walks and hit one batter.
Offensively for Elon, Jones (2-for-2, one run, two RBIs) pushed his career-best hitting streak to 14 games. Quinn Bower went 3-for-3 and scored twice, while Zammarelli was 2-for-3 with one run and three RBIs. McVicar drove in two.
Elon will be right back at Latham Park on Wednesday to host the Campbell Fighting Camels at 6:30 p.m.
The Citadel 3, Coastal Carolina 2 (10 innings)
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Mason Davis singled with one out in the 10th and scored on a wild pitch, breaking a 2-2 tie and giving The Citadel a 3-2 victory over Coastal Carolina on Tuesday night at Ticketreturn.com Field in Myrtle Beach.
Including their 12-4 victory at Riley Park last week, the Bulldogs (13-17) completed a sweep of the home-and-home series against the Chanticleers for the first time since 1995. Coastal dropped to 12-17 on the year.
Davis had three singles to extend his hitting streak to six games. His base hit in the 10th was followed by a walk to Drew DeKerlegand, and both runners moved up when Tyler Poole's pickoff attempt at second sailed into center field.
Poole then uncorked a wild pitch on ball four to Bo Thompson, allowing Davis to score the game-winning run. The Bulldogs lost a chance for an insurance run when DeKerlegand was thrown out trying to score on a fly ball to right by Tyler Griffin.
The double play nearly cost The Citadel when Tyler Chadwick doubled off Skylar Hunter to lead off the bottom of the frame. But following a sacrifice bunt that moved Chadwick to third, Hunter struck out Connor Owings and got pinch-hitter Richard Carter to pop out to finish off the win.
Hunter went three innings and allowed two hits while striking out three in evening his record at 2-2 on the year. The sophomore closer worked around a leadoff single in the eighth and a two-out hit batter in the ninth and lowered his ERA to 1.69 in 14 appearances covering 21 1/3 innings.
The Chanticleers took a 2-0 lead against starter Kevin Connell in the second on three singles, two of the infield variety, and a pair of ground outs. The Bulldogs were held in check by Cole Schaefer until the sixth, when Davis singled, stole second and scored on a sacrifice fly by Griffin.
Davis also stole a base following a single in the third and has 15 thefts on the year and 50 in his career. The three-hit game gives him 14 multiple-hit contests this season and raised his batting average to a team-best .333.
Schaefer went the first five innings and allowed four hits, a marked improvement from his start against The Citadel last week when he was unable to get through the first inning.
The Bulldogs got right back at it in the seventh, putting a runner in scoring position with one out on a single by Calvin Orth and sacrifice by Bret Hines. Austin Mapes was called on to bat for Ryan Kilgallen and came through with his fourth pinch-hit RBI single of his freshman year to tie the game at 2.
Coastal had an opportunity to retake the lead in its half of the seventh against Zach Sherrill. He hit a batter and issued a walk before escaping the jam when he got Michael Paez to pop out to first and Chadwick to line out to center.
Connell went the first five innings and gave up five hits and both Coastal runs. Ross White threw a scoreless sixth before Sherrill and Hunter finished up.
The Citadel returns to Southern Conference play this weekend with a series against Georgia Southern at Riley Park. The opener of the three-game set is Friday at 6 p.m. followed by games at 2 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Georgia Southern 13, Jacksonville 5
STATESBORO, Ga. – The Georgia Southern Eagles tallied 19 hits as they rolled to a 13-5 win over Jacksonville on Tuesday night at J.I. Clements Stadium.
Georgia Southern (21-9) jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning after Ryan Cleveland beat out a dribbler down the third-base line to plate Kody Adams. Five straight hits followed Cleveland's hustle play and Aaron Palmer capped the inning with an RBI single.
Will Jackson tossed three innings and allowed just two runs in the second inning to earn his first victory as an Eagle. Jackson (1-0) struck out three batters and allowed two hits in his first start of the season.
Jacksonville (8-18) pulled within two runs with a three-run fourth inning. After Caleb Pressey loaded the bases with a walk of Braddock Rowe, a pair of hit batters plated the first two runs and a two-out single from Michael Babb drove in the third.
Jason Richman got the Eagles out of the jam with a 5-3 double play. Richman tossed two scoreless frames and struck out a batter in his fourth straight appearance.
Zach Gordon tossed four innings but allowed seven runs on 13 innings in his second start of the season. Gordon (1-5) did not walk a batter and struck out two on 89 pitches.
GSU nearly tallied 20 hits for the third time this season, and Kody Adams, who finished with three hits, was a home run short of hitting for the cycle. Adams was one of three Eagles with three hits in the game. Aaron Mizell snapped an 0-for-13 slide with a single in the fifth inning and finished 2-for-6 with an RBI.
Garrett Chapman put the Eagles up 7-2 with a second-inning home run over the wall in left field. Chapman went 2-for-4 with a walk before being lifted for Ben Morgan in the eighth inning.
After the Dolphins cut the lead to 7-5, GSU scored six unanswered runs to take an eight-run lead in the seventh inning. The Eagles got four of those runs in the sixth inning, two coming on Adams' first triple of the season.
Georgia Southern returns home Wednesday and hosts Kennesaw State at 6 p.m. Will Middour will get the start for GSU.
Samford 8, Auburn 1
AUBURN, Ala. – The Samford baseball team had a strong pitching performance and some timely hitting late as the Bulldogs earned an 8-1 win at Auburn on Tuesday night at Plainsman Park.
Samford pitcher Cole Limbaugh (1-0) pitched 4 1/3 innings, giving up one run on five hits to earn the win on the mound for Samford. Parker Curry pitched the next three innings, allowing no runs on just one hit, and Patrick McGavin and Charles Terry combined to toss the final 1 2/3 innings to secure the win.
Offensively for Samford, Caleb Bryson went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs. Brandon Powell went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
For Auburn, Jordan Ebert went 2-for-4 at the plate. Blake Austin drove in Auburn’s lone run of the game, going 1-for-4. Trey Wingenter (1-1) pitched five innings, giving up three runs on four hits to take the loss for the Tigers.
Auburn jumped on top first with a run in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Ryan Tella and Damek Tomscha both singled. Austin then singled to left field to drive in Tella for a 1-0 Auburn lead.
Samford took the lead with three runs in the top of the third inning. Hunter Swilling and Bryson started the inning with back-to-back singles, with Swilling moving to third base on Bryson’s hit. Swilling then scored on a passed ball to tie the score at 1-1. Jared Watson then walked and Tyler Filliben reached base on a fielder’s choice. Watson and Filliben later scored on an Auburn error for a 3-1 Samford lead.
The Bulldogs plated three more runs in the top of the seventh inning to push their lead to 6-1. Watson walked, Filliben singled and Drew McWhorter walked to load the bases with one out. With two outs, Powell singled to right field to drive in Watson and Filliben for the first two runs of the inning. McWhorter then scored on a wild pitch for a five-run Samford lead.
Samford added two runs in the top of the eighth inning. Swilling singled to lead off the inning. Bryson then homered to left field to give Samford an 8-1 lead.
Samford improved to 17-11 with the win. The Bulldogs have now won five of their last six games. Auburn dropped to 19-11 with the loss.
Samford will play again Wednesday afternoon when the Bulldogs play at Alabama A&M. The game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. CT start from Huntsville, Ala.
No. 1 South Carolina 2, Appalachian State 1
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Pinch-hitter Grayson Griener’s walkoff RBI single lifted No. 1 South Carolina to a 2-1 victory over Appalachian State on Tuesday night at Carolina Stadium.
The one-run loss was Appalachian State’s seventh of the season and fourth at the hands of a nationally ranked team.
Thanks in large part to sterling starting pitching by App State’s Jeffrey Springs and South Carolina’s Evan Beal, the score was knotted at 1-1 going into the bottom of the ninth inning. In his third inning of relief, Appalachian’s Taylor Thurber walked USC’s Connor Bright to lead off the ninth and Bright moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by pinch-hitter Gordon Gore.
With the winning run in scoring position, Griener, who was given the night off from his normal catching duties, was sent to the plate to pinch hit. The Mountaineers responded by bringing in their No. 1 starting pitcher, Jamie Nunn, who was on his regular day to throw on the side, to face the Gamecocks’ leader in batting average (.356) and RBIs (29).
Nunn fell behind 2-0 in the count but evened it with two straight strikes, with Griener swinging and missing by a large margin at the second one. After a third ball made the count full, Griener ripped the 3-2 pitch into left field and Bright easily came home from second with the winning run.
South Carolina (25-3) scored its only other run of the ballgame on a two-out RBI single by Bright in the fourth. Appalachian State (8-17) evened it at 1-1 on a two-out RBI single by Jaylin Davis in the sixth.
Springs, who got the nod on the mound after having his normal start washed out by inclement weather on Sunday, limited the Gamecocks to just one run on three hits over five innings. The southpaw retired 13 of the 17 batters he faced but didn’t figure in the decision.
USC’s Beal was just as good, retiring 15 straight after allowing back-to-back singles in the first inning. Still recovering from an injury that kept him out of game action until last week, Beal retired 16 of the 18 batters he faced in his second start of the season, but, like Springs, did not figure in the decision.
Thurber (0-3) was charged with the final run to suffer the loss and Vince Fiori (1-0), South Carolina’s fourth pitcher of the night, retired all four batters he faced to get the win.
Davis accounted for two of Appalachian State’s five hits, while Bright (3-for-4) was responsible for three of South Carolina’s nine.
Appalachian State is back in action on Wednesday when it hosts ETSU at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
Clemson 13, Furman 2
CLEMSON, S.C. – Weston Wilson went 3-for-3 and drove in three runs and four Clemson pitchers combined to limit Furman to just three hits on the way to a 13-2 victory in Tuesday baseball action at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
Wilson’s RBI single in the second inning gave Clemson a 2-1 lead, and his two-run double, part of a five-run sixth inning, helped blow the game open for the Tigers.
The win improved Clemson to 18-9 on the season, while Furman fell to 11-18.
Tiger pitchers Jake Long, Zack Erwin, Clay Bates and Wales Toney combined to hold Furman to just three singles. Erwin (2-1) was credited with the victory after working six innings of shutout, two-hit ball.
Clemson banged out 10 hits, two of which left the yard. Steve Wilkerson hit a solo home run in the seventh, and Will McGibbon followed with a three-run blast in the eighth to account for Clemson’s final runs of the contest.
Tyler Slaton doubled twice, drove in three runs, scored twice and swiped two bases for Clemson.
Furman grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first when Heath Burton drew a bases-loaded walk, but the Tigers tied it in their first at-bat after Slaton was hit by a pitch from Paladin starter Billy Greenfield (1-3), stole second and third and came home on a sacrifice fly.
Furman opens its SoCon home season this Friday when it entertains Davidson in a 6 p.m. game at Latham Stadium.