Mercer 9, Virginia Tech 1
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University baseball team opened the 2015 season with an impressive 9-1 victory over Virginia Tech on Friday evening at Claude Smith Field.
The Bears used a six-run seventh inning and strong performances from pitchers Ryan Askew and Morgan Pittman to run away from Virginia Tech. Askew surrendered just one run on six hits in 5 2/3 innings of work to pick up the victory on the mound, while Pittman closed out the game with a scoreless 3 1/3 innings for his first save of the year.
Mercer got on the board in the second inning thanks to a blast by freshman Trey Truitt. The 6-foot-1 outfielder drove a 3-2 pitch over the wall in his first collegiate at-bat, driving in fellow freshman Jackson Ware to give Mercer an early 2-0 lead.
Virginia Tech got a run back in the top of the third on Alex Perez’s solo shot, but the Bears’ pitching staff would work its way out of trouble in the fifth and sixth innings to keep the lead intact.
Kyle Lewis opened Mercer’s six-run seventh with a run-scoring double, driving in Truitt for the team’s third run. Lewis would cross the plate himself moments later on Charlie Madden’s double to right-center before Madden scored off a wild pitch to add to the inning’s tally. The Bears would go on to tack on three more runs in the inning, as Danny Edgeworth cleared the bases with a two-out double to left field for an 8-1 advantage.
The Bears closed out the scoring with a run in the bottom of the eighth, as Conrad Cornell came up with an RBI single to center field to plate Keith Pridgen.
Mercer tallied 10 hits on the night, including a team-leading three from Lewis. Madden and Truitt also recorded multi-hit performances for the Bears.
The Bears will look to add a second win in their season-opening series, as they continue play Saturday at Claude Smith Field. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
Western Carolina 17, Purdue 6
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina rapped out 19 base hits including six for extra bases en route to a season-opening 17-6 victory Friday afternoon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. The Catamounts scored two or more runs in four frames to tally their 10th straight home victory, winning their season-opener for a seventh consecutive year.
True freshman Brett Pope finished a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate with four singles, a double and four runs scored, while junior J.D. Long collected a career-best four hits on five at bats with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored to pace the Catamount offense. Junior Danny Bermudez, who threw out two would-be base stealers from behind the plate, drove home three on 2-for-4 hitting with a solo home run, while sophomore Matt Smith collected two hits, including a double and circling the base paths on his first collegiate home run.
All told, WCU had eight batters collect hits in the winning effort with five posting multi-hit games.
Sophomore starter Bryan Sammons (1-0) scored the victory on the mound for Western Carolina, scattering seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. The southpaw surrendered five runs – only one of which was earned – with three strikeouts against two walks. Junior reliever Jonathan Waszak struck out five, including four straight, in 2 2/3 frames, while junior Taylor Durand allowed two base hits with a strikeout in tossing the ninth inning.
Purdue (0-1) capitalized on an early WCU error to take a 1-0 lead in the opening inning on Friday afternoon. Lead-off man Michael Vilardo reached on a misplayed ball in the infield before moving to third on the game's first hit, a Brandon Kreig chopping single up the middle. The Boilermakers' third batter, Kyle Johnson, then dropped a single into shallow right-center field to score Vilardo for the early advantage.
The lead was short-lived, though, as the Catamounts answered with a 2-spot in the home half of the first. Smith lifted a one-out single to left-center field before moving to third when WCU loaded the bases on a Bermudez HBP and an infield single by senior Jacob Hoyle. Smith scored on an infield fielder's choice by transfer Austin Atwell with a throwing error allowing Bermudez to scamper home.
Vilardo struck again in the top of the second with a two-out, two-RBI double to right-center field to push Purdue back in front, 2-1. Vilardo was one of two Boilers with two hits in the opener, with outfielder Kyle Johnson also finishing, 2-for-5.
The Catamounts surged back in front on the strength of a four-run home half of the second inning to take a lead they would never relinquish. Pope opened the barrage with a single to right field before Long doubled down the right-field line to put two in scoring position. Senior Bradley Strong brought home the two runners on a two-RBI single through the right side to make it 3-2, WCU. With Strong aboard, Smith hit his first career home run on a shot that cleared the fence in right-center field to cap the four-run burst.
After Purdue got one back in the top of the fourth inning to trim the margin to two, 6-4, the Catamounts erupted in a decisive, six-run fifth inning. Bermudez opened the scoring with a solo home run that carried the "Purple Monster" down the left-field line. Later, with two aboard, redshirt junior transfer Kramer Ferrell bounced a ground-rule double over the fence in left-center to score two in Pope and Hoyle.
The scoring continued when freshman Caleb Robinson drove home Ferrell from third on a fielder's choice, with Long and Strong later coming home thanks to a pair of stolen bases and a Purdue throwing error.
The Boilermakers tacked on a run in the top of the sixth inning on Evan Kennedy's sacrifice fly to right field to make it 12-5 through six innings.
In the seventh, the Catamounts again hung a crooked number on the scoreboard to further put the game out of reach with four runs on five hits. Long plated his third run of the day on a single through the right side, with redshirt freshman Pierce Suttles delivering his first collegiate base hit on an RBI single up the middle. Bermudez drove home two on a single through the left side to make it 16-5.
Both teams would scratch the scoreboard in the eighth inning, with Purdue loading the bases but scoring just once. Vilardo recorded his third RBI of the day on an infield single, with Long collecting his second RBI to score Pope, who doubled, capping the game's scoring.
Strong ended the game in the ninth with a 4-3 double-play, the second turned by the Catamount defense in the winning effort.
Purdue starter Gavin Downs (0-1) – one of five Boilermakers to toe the rubber on Friday – suffered the loss after surrendering six runs – five earned – on six hits through two innings of action. Reliever Brian Ghiselli struck out three in 2 1/3 innings, with Tim McElroy, Kyle Van Hoeck and Alex Lyons combining to strikeout four over the final 3 2/3.
WCU and Purdue will wrap up the three-game nonconference series with a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 11:15 a.m. at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
Wofford 8, Boston College 4
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford College baseball team defeated Boston College 8-4 in the season opener on a cold Friday night at Russell C. King Field. The Terriers were down a run after five innings but came back by scoring six total runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to secure the victory.
Wofford opens the season 1-0 for the third time in the last five years. Boston College begins the year at 0-1. It was the ninth straight season the Terriers have opened the season at home. Wofford had eight different players record a hit on the night, with James Plaisted leading the team with two. Conor Clancey and Demetrius Jennings each had two RBIs. Matt Milburn earned the win for the Terriers with eight strikeouts and only two earned runs. The Eagles were led by Gabriel Hernandez and Logan Hoggarth with three hits each.
In the top of the third, the Terriers turned a 1-6-3 double play to end a scoring chance for the Eagles. Wofford led off the bottom of the third with a double by Kody Ruedisili. Derek Hirsch walked and a sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position. Ruedisili scored on a passed ball and a double by Matt Ramsay to left center scored Hirsch for a 2-0 lead.
Boston College opened the top of the fourth with a double, and a single by Logan Hoggrath made it a 2-1 game. With two outs, a single up the middle drove in a run to tie the game at 2. Wofford was retired in order in the bottom of the fourth. The Eagles added a run in the top of the fifth on a ground out by Johnny Adams for a 3-2 advantage. Wofford went in order in to end the fifth inning.
The Eagles had runners on second and third after a pair of singles and a wild pitch, but a strikeout ended the top of the sixth inning. Plaisted had a line drive up the middle for a base hit in the bottom of the sixth. Mack Nathanson was hit by a pitch and then Jennings drove a double into the gap in right-center to score both runners for a 4-3 lead. A double play ended the sixth inning.
The bases were loaded with two outs in the top of the seventh after three walks to the Eagles. A fielder’s choice to Conor Clancey at third base ended the scoring chance. Carson Waln led off the Wofford half of the seventh with a double to left center. Derek Hirsch added a single to move Waln to third. A wild pitch scored Waln to give the Terriers a 5-3 lead.
In the eighth inning, Boston College had two runners on base when a fly ball ended the scoring chance. Wofford opened the bottom of the eighth with a double by Plaisted to left center. Nathanson was hit by a pitch and the runners advanced on a wild pitch. A double to left-center by Clancey drove in both runners for a 7-3 advantage. Alex Malsch entered the game to pinch-run for Clancey and scored from third on a sacrifice bunt by Ruedisili to make it an 8-3 game.
Boston College had the first two batters in the top of the ninth reach base. A wild pitch advanced the runners into scoring position and with one out, a sacrifice fly by Stephen Sauter made it an 8-4 game. A ground ball to Alec Paradowski at second base ended the game.
Wofford starting pitcher Matthew Milburn (1-0) threw six innings and allowed three runs on nine innings with eight strikeouts. He walked only two batters, while the strikeout mark was one shy of his career high. Connor Foltyn faced one batter and Spencer Kulman worked an inning and did not allow a hit. Jacob Condra-Bogan gave up one hit in 2/3 of an inning. Will Stillman went the final 1 1/3 innings to earn his first save of the season. He allowed one run on one hit and had a pair of strikeouts.
John Gorman started for the Eagles and went 5 1/3 innings. He retired nine straight batters and tied a career high with eight strikeouts. Bobby Skogsbergh (0-1) allowed one run on one hit. John Nicklas went two innings and gave up four runs on four hits with three strikeouts. Brian Rapp threw the final 2/3 of an inning and did not allow a run on one hit.
Wofford will face Xavier on Saturday at 5 p.m., followed by a contest against Dayton on Sunday at 1 p.m.
UNCG 12, High Point 8
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG baseball team used an impressive offensive display in Friday’s season opener to capture a 12-8 victory over local rival High Point at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
The Spartans won their third season opener in as many tries under head coach Link Jarrett and their victory was the sixth in the last seven meetings with the Panthers. High Point outhit the Blue and Gold 14-12, but UNCG took advantage of six Panther errors and recorded six extra-base hits to rack up its 12 runs.
Senior outfielder Zac MacAneney had a solid day at the plate, notching three hits, two runs scored and an RBI. Newcomer and junior infielder Collin Woody impressed in his Spartan debut as he was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBIs and two doubles. Senior outfielder Tyler Long and senior designated hitter Aaron Wright also produced multi-hit efforts with two base knocks, two runs scored and two RBIs each.
Junior RHP Ryan Clark, the Southern Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year, picked up his first victory of the season – throwing five innings and allowing four runs on seven hits with a strikeout. John McGillicuddy took the loss for HPU, giving up five runs (all earned) on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts in just 2 2/3 innings. Senior RHP Tyler Frazier earned his first save of the year after recording the final out of the contest.
After Clark set High Point down in order in the top of the first, the Spartan offense went to work quickly. MacAneney and Long poked singles through both sides of the infield with MacAneney moving to third on Long’s hit. With one away, senior outfielder Eric Kalbfleisch smashed a triple to deep left, clearing the bases and giving UNCG a 2-0 advantage. Woody then drew a walk before a fielder’s choice play allowed Kalbfleisch to score the Spartans’ third run, leaving the home team with a 3-0 lead after one complete.
An RBI groundout in the top of the third made the score 3-1, but the first of Woody’s two doubles in the bottom of the frame accounted for two runs and put the Blue and Gold ahead by a 5-1 margin.
Freshman infielder Tripp Shelton reached on an error to begin the bottom of the fourth and he would later come around to score on a sac fly by senior infielder Hunter King to make the score 6-1. The Spartans really began to pull away in the fifth, as a two-run double by Long helped the Blue and Gold put up a 4-spot to establish a 10-1 cushion. The Panthers struck back for three runs on three hits in the top of the sixth, but an RBI double by Wright served as a response and left the score at 11-4 heading to the seventh inning.
Both teams tallied a run in the eighth before High Point tried to rally one last time. Spencer Angelis singled up the middle to lead off the top of the ninth and Alexander Gross drew a one-out walk to put runners at first and second. Tony Fortier-Benson then singled to load the bases for Carson Jackson. He came through with an RBI single to cut the Spartan lead to 12-6. Cody Manzella struck out for the second out but a wild pitch permitted another run to come across and cut the UNCG advantage to 12-7. Another wild pitch made it a four-run ballgame, but Frazier fanned Peter Ripke to end the contest.
The Spartans and Panthers will continue their series Saturday in High Point, N.C. First pitch at Williard Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m.
ETSU 7, Eastern Kentucky 3
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Trey York and Hagen Owenby both belted two-run home runs and Jimmy Nesselt recorded a quality start as the ETSU baseball team posted a 7-3 Opening Day win over Eastern Kentucky on Friday afternoon at Thomas Stadium.
Despite falling behind by two runs early and trailing by a run after five complete innings, the Knoxville, Tenn., duo of York and Owenby showcased their power by going yard. York’s two-out, two-run bomb to center tied the game at 2 in the second, while Owenby’s two-run shot in the sixth proved to be the game-winner. York was one of three Buccaneers to finish with a two-hit game as Jeremy Taylor and Chris Cook also accomplished the feat. Taylor went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs, while Cook doubled and drove in a run. Following hits 2-hit effort, Taylor has now hit safely in 10 straight games dating back to the 2014 season.
Nesselt, who was making his first Opening Day start, earned the win (1-0) after allowing three runs on four hits in six innings. The senior right-hander walked two and struck out six. Following his six innings of work, the ETSU bullpen shut down the Colonels as Jamin McCann , Kain Hewitt and Dillon Cate combined for three scoreless innings in relief.
As a team, ETSU (1-0) out-hit EKU, 8-7, while six Buccaneer hits went for extra bases.
The Colonels struck first by plating a pair of runs on two hits in the top of the first to grab a 2-0 lead. Shea Sullivan led off the game taking the first pitch he saw from Nesselt to right field, while Mandy Alvarez – who reached on a one-out fielder’s choice – later scored when TJ Alas reached on an infield dribbler to first. The Colonels tacked on their second run on a double steal as Alas stayed in a run-down long enough to allow Kyle Nowlin to cross the plate.
However, ETSU answered with a bang in the second to tie things at 2.
York showed great poise at the plate as he battled off six pitches before sending a two-strike, two-out pitch over the wall in deep center to pull even with the Colonels. Jordan Sanford, who extended his streak of reaching base safely to 21 straight games after being hit earlier in the frame, trotted home on York’s round-tripper.
The long-ball came back into play in the top of the fourth, this time favoring EKU. Alas connected on a two-out solo homer to right-center to put the Colonels back ahead, 3-2.
Fortunately for the Bucs, they weren’t done with the fireworks and rallied for the four-run win.
Following the solo homer to Alas in the fourth, Nesselt retired seven of the final eight hitters he faced and was in line for the win after Owenby’s first collegiate home run gave ETSU a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth.
After McCann worked out a jam in the top of the seventh, the Blue and Gold offense tacked on three insurance runs in the bottom half of the frame, courtesy of Taylor’s two-RBI double to left and his later scoring on Cook’s ground out to second.
From there, Hewitt and Cate silenced EKU’s bats to send the Buccaneer faithful home with the victory.
Senior Logan Hershenow took the loss (0-1) for the Colonels as he was charged with four runs on five hits in six innings of work, while Alas led EKU’s offense with a three-hit day.
With bad weather expected to hit the Tri-Cities region on Saturday night, the teams agreed to play a doubleheader beginning at noon on Saturday. The first game will be a full nine-inning game, while the nightcap will go seven innings.
VMI 3, North Florida 1
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jordan Tarsovich homered as the second batter of the game, Andrew Woods pitched seven strong innings and the bullpen retired six of the seven batters it faced to close out the game as the VMI Keydets defeated the North Florida Ospreys, 3-1, Friday night. The game was the season opener for both clubs.
Tarsovich put the Keydets up early, homering to left field as the second batter faced by UNF starter Tyler Moore (0-1). He then gave the Keydets the lead for good with a fifth-inning single, and freshman Matt Dunlevy had a pinch-hit sacrifice fly to provide a ninth-inning insurance run. That was all the runs VMI's pitching would need, as Woods scattered six hits over seven innings and Jonathan Kelley and Taylor Edens allowed just one combined baserunner in the final two frames to close out the season-opening victory.
Woods (1-0) picked up the win for the Keydets, allowing just one run on six hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out four batters, as did his counterpart Moore, who gave up two runs on five hits over six frames and was charged with the loss. Edens picked up the save by pitching a scoreless ninth inning.
With the victory, the Keydets gave head coach Jonathan Hadra his first collegiate win in his first game as a head coach. Hadra is the first VMI coach to beat a Division I team in his debut since 1974, when Donny White beat Davidson in his first stint at the helm of the Keydets.
After Tarsovich's home run gave the Keydets the early lead, UNF tied it up in the second. Keith Skinner led off with a walk, and Trent Higginbothem and Corbin Olmstead followed with back to back singles to load the bases with no outs. Woods induced a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Nick Karmeris, however, and wound up giving up just one run in the inning.
VMI took the lead for good in the fifth. With one out, Will Malbon – who was making his first career start in the leadoff spot – tripled to right-center. Tarsovich then drove him home with an infield out, giving the Keydets a 2-1 lead.
The home team nearly rallied in the sixth. Ryan Roberson led off with an infield single, and Skinner reached on an error. The next batter, Higginbothem, attempted a sacrifice bunt, but Woods was able to throw Roberson out at third base on the play. Olmstead then struck out and, after a wild pitch, Karmeris grounded out to end the inning and preserve VMI's 2-1 lead.
The Keydets then added on in the ninth. David Geary tripled with one out off reliever Tyler DuPont, prompting both a pinch-hitter and a pitching change. Freshman Matt Dunlevy lofted a sacrifice fly to center off reliever Matthew Naylor, scoring Geary to make it 3-1, Keydets, and that margin stood up as Edens allowed only a single in the ninth.
Offensively, the Keydets saw Tarsovich lead the way with a 2-for-4, two-RBI night, while Roberson and Higginbothem collected two hits apiece for UNF.
VMI looks to clinch a season-opening series win for the first time since 2010 on Saturday, when the Keydets return to action against North Florida. Game time in Jacksonville is set for 1 p.m.
The Citadel 5, Air Force 3
CHARLESTON, S.C. – James Reeves tossed six stellar innings, striking out 14 while allowing only two hits and no walks, to lead The Citadel to a 5-3 win over Air Force in the season opener for both teams Friday at Riley Park.
The teams complete the three-game series Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon. The Sunday game was moved up a day in anticipation of freezing temperatures in the Charleston area near the close of the weekend.
Reeves fell one shy of his career high strikeout total set last season at Davidson and gave up both of his hits in the second when the Falcons scored their only run off the redshirt junior southpaw. Reeves was making his first start since last March 30 after missing the second half of the 2014 campaign with an elbow injury.
Skylar Hunter worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth to close out Air Force for his 29th career save, tying Citadel Hall of Famer Hank Kraft for the most in school history. Hunter was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association preseason All-America third team last week.
Reeves and the bullpen were backed by a nine-hit attack that included a two-run double by Bret Hines in the third that broke a 1-1 tie and gave The Citadel the lead for good. Freshman Shy Phillips had three hits in his collegiate debut, while Connor Walsh slammed his first career home run.
Griffin Jax allowed eight hits and all five Bulldog runs in 6-plus innings and took the loss for the Falcons.
Reeves struck out the side in the first and fifth and had a pair of punch-outs in his other four frames. He threw a total of 89 pitches with 62 strikes and went to a three-ball count on only three batters.
Set-up men Zach Sherrill and Zach Lavery struck out two each in their one inning on the mound, giving Bulldog pitchers 19 in the game, tied for the second-most in school history and two away from the record set against Appalachian State on April 12, 1997.
Walsh's round-tripper leading off the bottom of the second hit about halfway up the video board in right-center to match a Falcon run in the top of the inning. A fielder's choice grounder by Drew Ellis and sacrifice fly by Johnathan Stokes made it 5-2 in the seventh.
Ellis also singled in the first for his first collegiate hit while joining Phillips, second baseman Philip Watcher and right fielder Clay Martin as freshmen in The Citadel's starting lineup.
Akron 7, Furman 5
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Daulton Mosbarger went 2-for-4 and drove in three runs and Akron took advantage of eight bases on balls issued by Furman pitching to beat the Paladins, 7-5, in the 2015 baseball season opener for both teams Friday afternoon at Latham Stadium.
Akron (1-0) and Furman (0-1) will play game two of the three-game series Saturday at 1 p.m.
Mosbarger steered a two-out, two-run single into short left-center field to give Akron a 2-0 lead in the second inning, and delivered again the fourth with a two-out base hit into left field off Paladin starting pitcher Matt Solter to stake the Zips to a 3-0 lead.
Furman tied it with a three-run fifth, combining three hits with an Akron throwing error, but the Zips responded with a two-run seventh.
After pitching around leadoff walks in the fifth and sixth innings, Paladin relief pitcher Billy Greenfield issued a base on balls to Akron’s Darius Washington to lead off the seventh, and Washington later scored on Kris Simonton’s single to right center field off Paladin right-hander Nolan Mullen to break the deadlock. A Mullen wild pitch allowed Simonton to take second, and he came around to score on a Dom Iero single to center field to put Akron up 5-3.
James Meeker drew a leadoff walk in the eighth and scored on a Washington single to make it a 6-3 game.
The Zips tacked on another run before Furman put its first three batters on base in the bottom of the ninth via an error and singles by Blake Chisolm and Sky Overton off Akron’s Zach Beaver. Michael Campoamor’s RBI grounder made it 7-4, and Chisolm scored on a wild pitch by Beaver’s replacement, Matt LaRocca, to cut it to 7-5 before LaRocca recovered to strike out Carter Grote and Brandon Elmy to end the game.
The two teams combined to post 10 hits apiece, all singles. Simonton and Washington joined Mosbarger in recording two hits apiece for the Zips. Cameron Whitehead, Jake Jones, Jordan Simpson and Blake Chisolm had two hits each the lead the Paladins.
The Zips’ final four runs were set up by walks.
Greenfield (0-1) took the loss after allowing three walks and a run over 2 1/3 innings.
The win went to Josh Davis, who pitched two scoreless innings, allowing only two hits while striking out one.
LaRocca was credited with the save.
Radford 5, Samford 2
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford baseball team dropped its 2015 season opener to the Radford Highlanders by a score of 5-2 Friday evening at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
In the loss for Samford, catcher Richard Greene went 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. Designated hitter Jared Watson also drove in a run for Samford, going 1-for-4 at the plate.
Samford starting pitcher Alex Ledford (0-1) took the loss on the mound for the Bulldogs. Ledford tossed 5 innings, giving up three runs, just two earned, on four hits. Philip Flach, Mikel Belcher, Sam Teague, Wyatt Burns and Jesse Travis also saw time on the mound for the Bulldogs.
Radford was led at the plate by Hunter Higgerson, who went 2-for-5 with a double and three RBIs. Chris Coia also drove in a run for the Highlanders. Michael Boyle (1-0) earned the win on the mound for Radford, pitching 6 innings, giving up two runs on six hits.
Radford jumped out to an early lead, plating two runs in the top of the first inning. Josh Reavis doubled with one out to get things started. After Patrick Marshall walked, Higgerson doubled down the left-field line to drive in Marshall and Reavis for a 2-0 Radford lead.
Samford came back with a run in the bottom of the first inning to make the score 2-1. T.J. Dixon doubled to lead off the inning. Watson then singled to drive in Dixon for Samford’s first run of the game.
Radford added a run in the third inning when Higgerson singled to drive in Shane Johnsonbaugh. Samford then added a run in the fifth inning on Greene’s solo home run to make the score 3-2.
The Highlanders added a run in the sixth inning and another run in the eighth inning to make the final score 5-2. Josh Gardiner doubled to drive in Coia for the run in the sixth inning. In the eighth inning, Danny Hrbek scored on a sacrifice bunt by Coia for the game’s final run.
Samford and Radford will continue their series with a game Saturday at 2 p.m. CST at Joe Lee Griffin Field.