ETSU 10, Pittsburgh 4
ETSU 9, USC Upstate 2
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Bucs got a strong dose of starting pitching and timely hitting as ETSU swept a doubleheader by picking up wins over Pittsburgh and USC Upstate on Sunday afternoon at the Upstate Classic.
The Blue and Gold got six innings of one-run ball from junior Lee Haeberle and the Buccaneer offense compiled 14 hits as ETSU cruised to a 10-4 win over Pittsburgh. In the nightcap, junior Griffin Krieg tossed six scoreless innings and Kevin Phillips went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and four RBIs as ETSU completed the Sunday sweep with a 9-2 win over USC Upstate.
On Sunday, the Blue and Gold hit .346 (27-78) with four doubles, four triples and one home run and outscored the opposition, 19-6. ETSU’s pitching staff held Pitt and Upstate to a .221 average (15-68) while striking out 17 and walking only three.
Chris Cook and Hagen Owenby combined to go 9-for-18 with two doubles, one triple, three RBIs and five runs in the two games.
Following the pair of wins, ETSU bounced back into the win column and improved to 4-1, marking the second time in the last three years the Bucs have won four of their first five games to start the season. The last time ETSU opened 4-1 was in 2013, when the Blue and Gold won the Atlantic Sun championship.
The Bucs return home to host Butler next weekend at Thomas Stadium. The weekend series begins Friday, Feb. 27, at 3:05 p.m.
Western Carolina 14, George Mason 5
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Western Carolina scored runs in five of the nine innings on Sunday morning as it powered past George Mason, 14-5, in its finale at the Hughes Bros. Challenge hosted by UNCW on-campus at Brooks Field. The Catamounts tallied 15 total hits in the win, including 13 singles.
Senior captain Bradley Strong drove in four runs as a part of a 3-for-4 outing with one of WCU's two doubles, scoring twice. Strong, one of five Catamounts with multi-hit games, also walked once and was hit by a pitch. The Richlands, Va., native recorded a career-high six stolen bases on the day.
Freshman Caleb Robinson matched Strong with three base hits (3-for-5), adding a pair of RBIs, while Kramer Ferrell (2-for-3), Brett Pope (2-for-5) and Danny Bermudez (2-for-6) had two hits apiece. Bermudez recorded three RBIs for WCU.
Junior reliever Jonathan Waszak (1-0) picked up the victory after coming on for freshman starter Brendan Nail in the fifth inning. Nail held the Patriots to three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts against two walks in 4 2/3, while Waszak officially tossed just a third of an inning, getting the Catamounts out of the fifth. The Wendell, N.C., product did face two batters in the sixth and was saddled with a run allowed after leaving the game.
Taylor Durand struck out one with a pair of walks in an inning and a third, while sophomore B.J. Nobles, the reigning Southern Conference Pitcher of the Week, punched out four with just one hit allowed in an inning and two-thirds. Senior closer Tyler Powell fanned one in tossing a 1-2-3 ninth inning in a non-save situation.
George Mason (1-5) pulled ahead in the home half of the first inning as Luke Willis laid down a bunt single and was aboard when the next batter, Tyler Nelin, homered over the fence in left field for the early 2-0 advantage.
The Catamounts were able to rally back in the top of the third inning, capitalizing on four singles and a run-scoring balk. Caleb Robinson led off with a single into left field ahead of Ferrell as the two worked a perfect hit-and-run as Ferrell chopped one through the left side. Pope, who moved into the leadoff role for WCU, moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, which allowed Robinson to score on the pitching miscue balk.
The inning continued as Strong bounced one down the left-field line for his first RBI of the day. The senior promptly stole both second and third to move into scoring position, where Bermudez brought him home for the team's first lead on an RBI single into left field, giving the Catamounts the 3-2 lead.
Western Carolina tacked on runs in the top of the fifth as Pope reached on an infield error before Austin Atwell belted a stand-up double to left field, putting two runners in scoring position. Strong then delivered again with a double down the left-field line plating two and stretching the lead to 5-2.
In the bottom of the frame, George Mason got one run back, putting runners at the corners with nobody out. However, the WCU middle infield turned a double play with Willis coming home with his second run of the day to clear the bases but trim the Catamount advantage to two, 5-3.
The two teams traded runs in the sixth inning before a three-run seventh handed the Catamounts a 9-4 cushion. Strong drew a leadoff walk before swiping both second and third, scoring on a pinch-hit infield fielder's choice by his younger brother, Reece Strong. Robinson drove in the second run with Ferrell plating the third marker in the frame.
George Mason trimmed the margin back to four with a run in the bottom of the seventh, but Western Carolina put the game away, plating five runs in the ninth inning.
For the Patriots, Willis, Nelin and Derek Evans collected two hits apiece, with Nelin pacing the squad with two RBIs coming on the two-run homer. Starting pitcher Jake Kalish (0-2) took the loss, allowing five runs – four earned – on nine hits in five innings of work.
Western Carolina is scheduled to return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 25, as the Catamounts travel to mountain rival UNC Asheville. First pitch at Greenwood Field is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Wofford 2, UNC Asheville 1
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – A solo home run by James Plaisted in the bottom of the sixth inning propelled the Wofford College baseball team to a 2-1 win over UNC Asheville on Sunday afternoon at Russell C. King Field. The Terrier pitching staff combined for 16 strikeouts in the game.
Wofford is 7-0 on the season, while UNC Asheville is 2-4 overall. The Terriers’ 7-0 start this season is the best in the school’s Division I era and the best since a 13-0 start in the 1983 season. Plaisted led the team by driving in both runs, while Matt Ramsay had a pair of hits. The Bulldogs had only three hits on the day, including a solo home run by Lucas Owens.
Adam Scott struck out the side in the top of the first inning. Alec Paradowski led off with a double for the Terriers in the bottom of the first. Ramsay followed with a single, and a sacrifice fly by Plaisted scored Paradowski for a 1-0 lead after one inning.
The third inning began with back-to-back walks for the Bulldogs. With one out, another walk loaded the bases. Back-to-back strikeouts ended the scoring chance with three UNC Asheville runners stranded.
With two outs in the top of the fourth, Owens hit a solo home run to right-center to tie the game at 1-1.
The Bulldogs had the bases loaded with two outs in the top of the sixth inning after three walks. A fly ball to center field ended the scoring chance with three runners stranded.
The Terriers took a 2-1 lead when Plaisted hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth with two outs.
Will Stillman came in to pitch for the Terriers in the top of the ninth inning. A fly ball to left field, a strikeout, and fly ball to right field ended the game.
Wofford starter Scott went five innings and allowed one run on two hits with eight strikeouts. Spencer Kulman (2-0) worked an inning and had two strikeouts. Stillman recorded his fifth save of the season with a strikeout in the top of the ninth inning.
Joe Zayatz (0-2) threw a complete game for the Bulldogs. He allowed two runs on six hits and struck out eight batters while walking just one.
On Tuesday, the Terriers will travel to Clemson to face the Tigers at 4 p.m. A four-game series with Harvard will begin on Friday afternoon at Russell C. King Field.
Mercer 13, Bethune-Cookman 4
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Mercer University baseball team recorded a season-high 13 runs and 11 hits to run away with a 13-2 victory over Bethune-Cookman on Sunday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Mercer (4-4) swept the Wildcats (0-7) with the victory and will return to Macon, Ga., on a three-game winning streak.
The Bears got on the board first for the third straight game, as Kyle Lewis and Devin Bonin each drove in runs to hand the Orange and Black a 2-0 lead after three innings.
Mercer expanded that lead with its biggest outburst of the season, as it plated eight runs in a decisive fourth frame for a 10-0 advantage that put the game out of reach.
Pinch-hitter Jose Hernandez started the fireworks with an RBI double to score Nate Moorhouse. Lewis followed that with a double of his own to score Hernandez before run-scoring hits by Bonin, Charlie Madden and Danny Edgeworth added to the Bears’ tally.
Bethune-Cookman broke up the shutout with a pair of runs in the home half of the inning, but the Bears tacked on three more runs in the sixth thanks to Hernandez’s sacrifice fly and Lewis’ two-run blast to left field.
The run support proved to be plenty, as Mercer’s pitching staff limited the Wildcats to four runs, two earned. D.J. Johnson picked up the victory to improve to 1-1 on the season after giving up two runs in five innings with six strikeouts.
The Bears’ season-best effort at the plate on Sunday included a 7-for-13 performance with runners in scoring position. Lewis led the team’s offense with his fifth multi-hit outing of the year, driving in a season-high four runs on two hits. Bonin went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs in the contest, while Moorhouse and Trey Truitt also notched multi-hit efforts for Mercer.
Mercer will be back in action on Tuesday, Feb. 24, when it hosts Florida A&M in the first of a two-game series at home. First pitch on Tuesday is set for 6 p.m.
Presbyterian 12, Furman 3
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Jay Lizanich homered, collected three RBIs and scored four runs to power Presbyterian to a 12-3 victory over Furman on Sunday at Fluor Field in the final game of the First Pitch Invitational.
Lizanich belted a two-run third-inning shot to help Presbyterian (6-2) break open a close game, walked and scored in both the fifth and seventh innings, and singled and scored in the eighth to highlight a 13-hit attack by the Blue Hose.
Ryan Hedrick and Weston Jackson also homered for the Blue Hose, who roughed up Furman starting and losing pitcher Ryan Morse (0-2) for six runs, five of which were earned, on five hits over 4 1/3 innings.
Morse was staked to a 1-0 lead on Chris Ohmstede solo home run in the bottom of the first inning, but it didn’t last as Hedrick deposited a Morse offering over the left-field wall in the second inning to put PC up, 2-1.
An inning later, Lizanich hit his two-run clout, also to left field, for a 4-1 lead, and Jackson followed with a PC’s third route job, a solo blast, to stretch the advantage to 5-1.
PC took advantage of four walks on the fifth to push across another run to make it 6-1.
Furman (3-4) cut it to 6-3 with two runs in the bottom of the fifth, but the Paladins’ bid for more was short-circuited by Blue Hose reliever Cole Norwood, who came on to strike out Cameron Whitehead with one out and the bases loaded, and retire Carter Grote on a groundout.
PC blew it open with three runs in the seven, two in the eighth and a final run in the ninth.
The Blue Hose feasted on 10 walks issued by Furman pitching.
Lizanich was joined in the two-hit parade by Jackson, Hedrick and Jacob Midkiff.
PC starting pitcher Aaron Lesiak (1-0) was credited with the win after yielding three runs on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out two.
Sky Overton was the only Paladin to produce more than one hit, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run.
Furman finished with eight hits.
The Paladins play at Charleston Southern on Tuesday in a 6 p.m. game.
Austin Peay 17, Samford 8
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford baseball team fell behind early and never could catch up as the Bulldogs dropped a 17-8 decision in the third game of a three-game series with Austin Peay on Sunday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
Samford won the series, two games to one. The Bulldogs took game one, 11-3 Friday afternoon, and won the second game by a score of 6-4 on Saturday. With the loss, Samford fell to 3-3 on the young season. Austin Peay improved to 3-2 with the win.
For Samford in the loss, Jared Watson went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs. Heath Quinn went 2-for-4 with a home run and one RBI. Damon Waller went 2-for-3 with a double at the plate.
Samford used seven pitchers in the game. Cole Limbaugh (0-1) started the game and pitched three innings, giving up eight runs, seven earned, on 10 hits to take the loss on the mound for the Bulldogs.
Austin Peay was led by Clayton Smithson, Logan Gray and Ridge Smith with four hits each. Cayce Bredlau hit a grand slam, driving in six runs in a 1-for-3 performance. Caleb Powell (1-0) pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up five runs, three earned, on eight hits to earn the win on the mound for the Governors.
Austin Peay grabbed an early 8-0 lead with six runs in the second inning and two more in the third. In the second inning, Bredlau did most of the damage with a one-out grand slam to left-center field.
Samford put its first run on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning, but Austin Peay added a run in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth to stretch its lead to 11-1.
The Bulldogs plated two runs in the fifth inning and two more runs in the sixth to make the score 11-5. Austin Peay, however, scored four runs in the seventh inning to take a 15-5 lead.
After Samford plated two runs in the seventh inning to make the score 15-7, Austin Peay added two more runs in the top of the eighth inning to push its lead to 17-7. Samford added one final run in the bottom of the eighth inning to make the final score 17-8.
As a team, Austin Peay pounded out 20 hits. Samford totaled 12 hits for the game.
Samford will return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 24, when the Bulldogs host in-state rival Troy. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. CST at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
St. John’s 4, UNCG 0
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Preseason Big East favorite St. John’s held the UNCG baseball team’s offense in check Sunday morning as the Red Storm downed the Spartans 4-0 in game four of the Keith LeClair Classic inside Clark-LeClair Stadium. UNCG fell to 2-3 overall with the loss while St. John’s moved to 3-2 after its second straight victory.
The Spartans out-hit the Red Storm 8-7 but left nine men on base. SJU also took advantage of six walks by the Spartan pitching staff.
Freshman RHP Michael Bates (0-1) took a loss in his first career start, throwing three innings and allowing one run on three hits. He walked four and struck out two. Cody Stashak tallied the victory for SJU as he tossed six scoreless innings and struck out five against just one walk.
Freshman designated hitter Devin Ruiz notched a team-high two hits, while Alex Caruso and Zach Lauricella picked up two hits apiece to lead the Red Storm.
St. John’s put up the first run of the game in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly to center and threatened to score again in the bottom of the fourth. With no outs and runners at first and second, senior LHP Blair Betts came on and worked brilliantly out of the jam. After a sac bunt accounted for the first out, Betts induced a pop up and a fly ball out to end the frame.
UNCG put up its own threat in the top of the fifth. Eric Kalbfleisch led off with an infield single and stole second before Wright drew a walk. After Ruiz struck out, Kusz flied out to the warning track in left to terminate the half inning.
The Spartans ran into some two-out trouble in the sixth as consecutive infield singles and a bases-loaded walk by Betts made the score 3-0 in favor of the Red Storm. Freshman RHP Daniel Dulaney came on and recorded the final out to keep the UNCG deficit at three. St. John’s added a run in the bottom of the seventh off of a wild pitch to extend its advantage to 4-0.
For the second straight contest, the Spartans mounted a late rally. With two away in the top of the eighth, MacAneney drew a walk before consecutive infield singles by Long and King loaded the bases for Kalbfleisch. He poked a dribbler in front of the mound, but a nice throw by SJU pitcher Thomas Hackimer nabbed him at first to end the threat. UNCG produced two more two-out hits in the top of the ninth, but a fielder’s choice play ended the contest and preserved the shutout for the Red Storm.
The Spartans return to the field Tuesday, traveling to Durham, N.C., for the first of two meetings with Atlantic Coast Conference member Duke. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Jack Coombs Field.
College of Charleston 4, The Citadel 3
CHARLESTON, S.C. – College of Charleston made a three-run sixth inning stand up in a 4-3 victory over The Citadel on Sunday at Patriots Point, completing a sweep that was decided by a total of only four runs.
The Cougars (4-2) also won 8-7 in 11 innings at home in the series opener on Friday and took a 6-4 decision at Riley Park on Saturday. The Bulldogs (3-4) hurt their cause by stranding 13 runners in Sunday's loss, including the potential tie run at second in the ninth.
Trailing 4-2 heading into the final frame, Austin Mapes doubled and scored on a ground out by Connor Walsh. Johnathan Stokes walked and pinch-runner Shy Phillips reached second on a wild pitch with two outs before Hayden McCutcheon retired Stephen Windham on a foul out to the catcher.
Mapes had his first double of the game in the third to extend his hitting streak to five games. Philip Watcher also contributed a pair of knocks for the Bulldogs.
The game was tied at 1 in the sixth when the Cougars took advantage of a close play at first base to open the door to their game-deciding inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Ryan Brown hit a grounder to second and just beat a double play throw to first, allowing Morgan Phillips to score the go-ahead run.
Charleston executed a double steal with Bradley Jones coming across on the back end, and Blake Butler capped the uprising against reliever JP Sears (1-1) with an RBI single that gave the Cougars a 4-1 cushion.
Walsh grounded a triple just inside the bag at first, his second three-base hit in as many days, to lead off the eighth and scored on a ground out by Stokes to pull the Bulldogs within two. Three walks issued by Jake McBreairty later in the inning loaded the bases, but The Citadel failed to cut further into the Charleston lead.
Austin Mason went the first 4 1/3 innings for the Bulldogs, allowing six hits and one run with four strikeouts. Nick Pappas was the biggest thorn for Mason, doubling three times and driving in the first run in the first. The Bulldogs answered in the second when Ryan Kilgallen singled and scored on a double by Clay Martin and a throwing error on the play.
Nathan Helvey struggled early but settled down after the loading the bases in the third, striking out Bailey Rush to end that threat, the first of 12 consecutive batters her retired. He gave up a two-out single and walk in the seventh, but McBreairty came in to get Drew Ellis to fly out to left, ending another Citadel threat.
Helvey (1-1) tied his career high with eight strikeouts. The save was McCutcheon's second of the season.
The Bulldogs return to action Tuesday with another game against a former Southern Conference rival as they head to Statesboro, Ga., for a 6 p.m. contest against Georgia Southern.