Davidson 11, Furman 6
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Ben Arkin drove in a career-high four runs to lead three Wildcats with three hits each, as Davidson defeated Furman, 11-6, to complete a three-game sweep of the Paladins in Southern Conference baseball action Sunday afternoon in Latham Stadium.
Winner of 18 of its last 21 games and five straight, Davidson improved to 20-8 overall for its first 20-win season since 2005. The Wildcats also improved to 10-2 in SoCon play to continue its best start ever in the league, completing its first three-game SoCon series sweep on the road since 1993.
Arkin drove in four runs, going 3-for-5 for a double, while left fielder Nathan Becker went 3-for-4 with a home run, double, walk and three RBIs, and third baseman David Daniels (3-for-5) finished a home run short of the cycle.
Designated hitter Ryan Lowe (1-for-4, 2 RBIs) extended his reached-base streak to 31 games, dating back to last season, and his hitting streak to 11.
Davidson jumped out to 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by Becker and a bases-clearing double to the right-field corner by Arkin. The majority of the damage was done with two outs, as RHP Tyler Wood (2-1) struck out two after second baseman Andrew Pope (2-for-5, RBI, BB) and Daniels led the game off with back-to-back singles. A single through the left side by Becker plated Pope, and then shortstop Sam Foy (1-for-3, 2 BB) loaded the bases by drawing a walk before Arkin cleared them with his double.
Furman (11-21, 2-7 SoCon) battled back to within one run as designated hitter Alex Abrams (2-for-5) doubled and later scored on a fielder’s choice by third baseman Chris Ohmstede (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs) in the bottom half of the first, and then Abrams doubled again in the third and scored when first baseman Greg Harrison (2-for-5, 2 RBIs) slugged a two-run home run to left field.
Wood settled in on the mound for the Paladins after the first, as he retired 11 straight, but the ‘Cats were able to score two more runs off him in the fifth. Pope and Daniels earned back-to-back walks and moved up one base on a wild pitch, allowing Lowe to plate Pope from third with a single through the right side, and centerfielder Forrest Brandt (0-for-3) to drive in Daniels on a sacrifice fly for a 6-3 lead.
Wood left after the fifth inning, striking out nine but allowing six runs on five hits and four walks.
Davidson grew the lead to six in the seventh inning, at 9-3. Daniels led the frame off with a triple to the right gap and scored on a sacrifice fly by Lowe, and then Becker blasted a two-run home run to dead center after Brandt drew a walk.
RHP Nick Neitzel (5-0) allowed four runs on seven hits and a walk with three strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings of work to stay undefeated on the season for Davidson.
An RBI single by right fielder Hunter Burton gave Furman another run in the seventh, and a home run by Ohmstede and another run on an error in the eighth pulled Furman back within three. However, Daniels limited further damage in the eighth with a diving catch on a liner and a quick throw to second base for an inning-ending double play.
The ‘Cats added two insurance runs on RBIs by Arkin and Pope for the final margin.
Davidson will travel to UNC Asheville on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. game, and then hosts Samford at Wilson Field for a three-game SoCon series beginning Friday at 6 p.m.
Furman hosts No. 1 South Carolina at Flour Field on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Western Carolina 3, UNCG 1
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Western Carolina starter Jordan Smith tossed his fourth career complete game, limiting UNCG to just one run as the Catamounts completed the three-game sweep of the Spartans with a 3-1 victory Sunday afternoon at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Smith held the SoCon's top-hitting team to one run on eight hits, allowing just one for extra bases. With the game still hanging in the balance, he retired six straight between the sixth and eighth innings after WCU had pulled back in front, recording three of his five strikeouts during that span. With five Ks in the win, Smith now has 243 career strikeouts to move into sixth on WCU's career ledger, bypassing former left-hander Chris Masters (241, 2007-09).
Smith (5-2) made his 52nd career start on Sunday, taking sole possession of second in WCU's career record books, just one shy of all-time record holder Jack Kimel (53, 1989-92). He also moved into a tie for seventh in school history with his 22nd career win, matching former Catamount Jerry Reed (1974-77).
Western Carolina (20-9, 8-1 SoCon) took the early lead in the top of the second inning as senior Dykota Spiess drove one of his two singles on the day up the middle to score sophomore Danny Bermudez for the 1-0 lead. Two innings later, UNCG's Sean Guite tied the game at one with a leadoff home run that just skirted the left-field fence.
The decisive inning came in the top of the sixth for WCU. Junior Bradley Strong drew a leadoff walk before promptly stealing second to move a runner into scoring position. Senior Cody Jones then flared a double down the left-field line to score Strong to put the Catamounts back in front, 2-1. Senior Adam Martin then flew out to left for a productive out as Jones tagged at second and advanced to third base before Jacob Hoyle plated him on a sacrifice fly to left field for the two-run edge.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Catamounts worked out of jam as UNCG had runners at second and third with one out. Smith got a fly ball out to center field before striking out designated hitter L.J. Kalawaia to end the threat.
WCU worked a perfect bottom of the seventh before working around two-out singles in both the eighth and ninth to secure the victory, the team's ninth consecutive. Dating back to last season, the Catamounts have won 10 straight SoCon series while also winning 24 of their last 26 league games.
Spiess paced WCU with two singles in a 2-for-4 showing at the plate with an RBI, while Cody Jones and Hoyle also drove in runs.
For the Spartans (14-16, 2-6 SoCon), Guite led seven players with hits, recording a 2-for-3 outing with the solo home run and the only marker for UNCG. Starter Dylan Thompson (1-3) took the loss, allowing three runs - two earned - on seven hits with two strikeouts against a pair of freebies, including a walk and hit batter.
Western Carolina has five games scheduled next week, including four at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. The Catamounts host Presbyterian on Tuesday before traveling to UNC Asheville on Wednesday in the back end of a nonconference home-and-home. WCU returns to league play next weekend with a three-game series against Furman at home.
UNCG kicks off a nine-game road swing Tuesday, heading over to Winston-Salem, N.C., for a contest at Wake Forest. First pitch inside the Wake Forest Baseball Park is slated for 6 p.m.
Wofford 4, Appalachian State 3
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford College baseball team picked up a 4-3 win over Appalachian State at Russell C. King Field on Sunday afternoon. The Terriers took a 2-1 lead on a solo home run by Seth Neely in the third inning and held off a late rally by the Mountaineers for the win.
Wofford is 18-14 on the season and 2-7 in the Southern Conference. Appalachian State is 11-18 overall and 5-3 in the league.
The Terriers were led by Neely with two hits and two RBIs, while Josh Hyman had two RBIs. Preston Troutman led the Mountaineers with two hits and an RBI. Appalachian State had a 12-7 lead in hits but left 12 runners on base.
In the bottom of the first, Alec Paradowski hit a double and moved to third on a wild pitch. A single by Neely to left field scored Paradowski for a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the second, Matt Brill doubled and scored on a single by William Head. A double play ended the inning for the Mountaineers with the game tied at 1-1.
With two outs in the bottom of the third, Neely cleared the wall in left field for a 2-1 lead. It was his fourth home run of the season.
Wofford’s Matt Pelt led off the bottom of the fifth with a single and he moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. A single by Hyman scored Pelt to give Wofford a 3-1 advantage.
In the top of the sixth, the Mountaineers had runners on the corners after two singles but a fly ball ended the scoring chance. Appalachian State opened the top of the seventh with back-to-back singles. An RBI single from Troutman made it a 3-2 game, but the Mountaineers stranded two runners.
Wofford led off the bottom of the seventh with a single by Matt Ramsay. He stole second and third base, while Derek Hirsch walked and stole second. A sacrifice fly by Hyman scored Ramsay for a 4-2 lead.
Appalachian State opened the top of the ninth with a single and a walk. A wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position. Michael Pierson reached on a fielder’s choice, with the runner thrown out at home. A fielder’s choice by Tyler Zupcic drove in a run for a 4-3 game with two outs. Dillon Dobson grounded out to end the game.
Wofford pitcher Jesse Morris (6-3) threw six innings and allowed two runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts. Will Stillman allowed one hit with one strikeout in 1 2/3 innings. Eric Eck earned his seventh save of the season by going 1 1/3 innings and allowing one run on one hit.
Appalachian State starter Jeffrey Springs (1-1) went 6 1/3 innings with three runs allowed on seven hits and six strikeouts. Taylor Thurber threw the final 1 2/3 innings and did not allow a hit with two strikeouts.
Next week, Wofford will visit Old Dominion for a pair of games on Tuesday and Wednesday before returning home to host Elon.
Appalachian State hosts High Point on Tuesday before welcoming The Citadel for a three-game set over the weekend.