The Citadel 7, Lafayette 4
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Connor Walsh and Stephen Windham both drove in two runs in a five-run fifth, rallying The Citadel from a 3-1 deficit and an eventual 7-4 victory over Lafayette to clinch the weekend series.
The Bulldogs have won four in a row to improve to 9-7, while Lafayette dropped to 1-5. The Citadel will go for the sweep Sunday at 1 p.m. in a game that can be seen on the SoCon Digital Network.
The Citadel trailed 3-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth and had two on with two outs when Johnathan Stokes hit a sinking liner to center that a charging Drew Aherne was unable to corral, bringing in the first run of the inning.
A hit batter loaded the bases, and Walsh followed with a ground single up the middle to bring home the tie and lead runs to increase his season RBI total to a team-leading 18. Windham went opposite field for a double to right, knocking in two more to give the Bulldogs a 6-3 advantage.
James Reeves overcame a slow start to earn his third win without a loss this season. He went the first seven innings, allowing eight hits and three runs, walked one and struck out eight. The redshirt junior southpaw gave up a run in the first and three hits and two runs in the fourth that put the Leopards ahead 3-1.
Reeves allowed only two hits over the next three innings before yielding to the bullpen. In 25 innings this spring, Reeves has struck out 36 batters and walked only two and has fanned at least eight batters in three of his four starts. Reeves is the winningest active pitcher in the SoCon with 15.
Zach Sherrill and Ross White combined to retire the side in the eighth, with White needing only two pitches to get out of a two-on situation and limit the Leopards to one run in the inning.
Skylar Hunter came on for the ninth and allowed a walk while striking out two to pick up his seventh save of the year. The junior closer has saved all four games of The Citadel's current winning streak and has 35 in his career, now only two behind the all-time SoCon record held by Elon's Thomas Girdwood.
ETSU 6, Miami (Ohio) 5
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Despite being out-hit for the second straight game, ETSU junior first baseman Kevin Phillips delivered the biggest one of the afternoon for the Buccaneers.
Phillips’ three-run, two-out home run in the bottom of the seventh snapped a tie game en route to lifting ETSU to a 6-5 series-clinching victory over Miami on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Thomas Stadium.
The home run was Phillips’ second of the series and fourth of the year, while it was also his only hit of the game. Meanwhile, fellow junior Trey York registered his 10th multi-hit game of the year as he went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and has now reached base safely in all 15 games this season.
Junior right-hander Lee Haeberle bounced back to give the Blue and Gold a quality start after allowing three runs on six hits and struck out four in six innings. Sophomore southpaw Jamin McCann earned the win (1-0) and worked out of a one-out bases-loaded jam to keep things tied at 3 in the seventh. After allowing a pair of runs and putting the game-tying run on second in the ninth, Dillon Cate replaced McCann, and the Buccaneer right-hander picked up his third save of the year as he struck out pinch-hitter Brooks Urich looking to end the game.
ETSU picked up its fourth weekend series win of the season and improved to 9-7, while Miami suffered its sixth straight loss and dipped to 2-11.
After dropping a heartbreaker in Friday’s series opener, the RedHawks plated runs in the first two innings and grabbed an early 2-0 lead as Chad Sedio belted a one-out solo home run to left in the first and Scott Slappey drove in Jake Romano – who ripped a one-out double to left – with an RBI single to right in the second.
However, the Bucs capitalized on Miami’s poor fielding in the third as the RedHawks committed two of their four errors in the fame and ETSU pulled even at 2. Zach Thompson led off with a single to right and was called safe at second after Jeremy Taylor hit a bouncer to the right side, but Sedio was called off the bag on the force play, resulting in runners on first and second with one out. The Bucs loaded the bases when Chris Cook hit a chopper to third and Slappey was charged with an error as his throw to second was wide of the bag. With one out and the bases full of Bucs, York delivered a two-RBI single to right to tie the game.
From there, both starting pitchers settled in as the right-handers tossed scoreless innings in the fourth and fifth, but RedHawk catcher Max Andresen led off the sixth with a triple and Miami regained the lead as he scored on an RBI groundout by Ryan Elble.
Fortunately for the Bucs, the RedHawk fielding woes continued in the bottom of the inning as York led off with a single and advanced to third on a fielding error by Kendall Johnson at first. With one out and runners on the corners, Aaron Maher tapped one back to the mound, but Jacob Banks airmailed his throw to the plate and York tied it a 3.
Following McCann’s heroics in the top of the seventh as he worked out of a one-out bases-load situation, Phillips came through with the biggest hit of the game as his laser shot down the line in left stayed fair and put the Bucs ahead, 6-3.
Miami didn’t go down without a fight, as the RedHawks pushed two across in the ninth, but with two outs and the tying run at second, Cate got the strikeout to end the game and clinch the series win.
Banks (1-4) took the loss for Miami as he was charged with four runs (two earned) on four hits in 6 2/3 innings of work, while Will Schierholz surrendered the three-run bomb to Phillips.
The RedHawks – who out-hit ETSU, 10-5 – were led by Sedio’s three-hit game, while he and four other Miami hitters accounted for the RBIs.
Sunday’s series finale is set for 1:05 p.m., as junior right-hander Griffin Krieg will try to give the Bucs their first three-game series sweep since taking three from USC Upstate last May.
Wofford 14, Iona 4 (game one)
Wofford 7, Iona 6 (game two)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford College baseball team swept a doubleheader against Iona on Saturday afternoon at Russell C. King Field. Wofford scored nine runs in the fifth inning on the way to a 14-4 win in the first game in seven innings. In the second game, the Gaels led 5-4 before a 3-run homer by Conor Clancey in the bottom of the eighth gave Wofford the eventual 7-6 win.
Wofford is 14-5 on the season, while Iona is 3-13 overall. The Terriers were led by Clancey with five hits and eight RBIs on the day, while James Plaisted added four RBIs. Overall, the Terriers had 28 hits, while the Gaels had 16 in the two games.
In the first game, Alec Paradowski led off the bottom of the first with a double and Matt Ramsay added a single. A double by Plaisted scored Paradowski for a 1-0 lead and an RBI single by Kody Ruedisili gave Wofford a 2-0 lead after one inning.
Carson Waln led off the bottom of the fourth with a double. With one out, Clancey hit a double to drive in Waln for a 3-0 lead. Clancey moved to third on a ground ball and scored on a single by Derek Hirsch. Hirsch stole second and a two-out single by Paradowski made it a 5-0 game.
Wofford added singles from Waln and Ruedisili in the bottom of the fifth. A double by Clancey drove in Waln for a 6-0 lead and a single by Max McDougald pushed the lead to 7-0. A walk to Hirsch loaded the bases with one out and a single by Paradowski through the left side drove in one run. With the bases still loaded, Ramsay was hit by a pitch to plate a run for a 9-0 lead. A double down the left-field line by Plaisted cleared the bases for a 12-0 advantage. Two more singles added a run, while a walk loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly by Clancey made it a 14-0 game.
In the top of the sixth, Iona led off with a single. A double by Jon Budesa drove in one run. Back-to-back groundouts allowed a second run to score for a 14-2 game. In the top of the seventh, the Gaels led off with a walk and a single. A double play left one runner on base. After a walk, a double by Vinny Demaria plated two runs for a 14-4 score. Matt Pelt made a diving play on a fly ball to right center to end the game.
Wofford starting pitcher Matt Milburn (4-0) threw six innings and allowed two runs on three hits. He struck out seven batters and walked only one.
Mariano Rivera (1-3) started for Iona and went 4 1/3 innings with nine runs allowed on 13 hits. He had six strikeouts and one walk.
In game two, Pelt led off the bottom of the second with a double and Clancey singled. With Pelt at third, a sacrifice bunt by Ruedisili scored him for a 1-0 lead. Cody Miller reached on a fielder’s choice and McDougald was safe at first on a bunt. With Miller at third, the Terriers ran a double steal and Miller was safe at home for a 2-0 lead. Wofford left one runner on base at the end of the second inning.
The Gaels opened the top of the fifth with back-to-back singles. With one out, a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases. An infield single scored one run and a double by Travis Mistretta scored three runs. Mistretta scored on the play as well, advancing on the throw and reaching home on an error, to make it a 5-2 game. The Gaels left two runners on base to end the top half of the fifth.
Paradowski opened the bottom of the sixth with a double and Ramsay singled. A sacrifice bunt by Plaisted moved the runners into scoring position and with two outs, a single through the left side by Clancey drove in both runners to cut the lead to 5-4.
Ramsay had a single to begin the Wofford side of the eighth inning. With one out, Pelt added a single. Clancey then hit a line drive over the fence in left-center to give Wofford a 7-5 lead. In the top of the ninth, the Gaels led off with a bunt single. With two outs and the runner at second, a single to right field by Travis Mistretta scored a run for a 7-6 score. A strikeout ended the game.
Wofford starting pitcher Jordan Accetta went 4 1/3 innings with five runs allowed on six hits, along with one strikeout. Elliot Lance threw 2 2/3 innings and did not allow a run on three hits with three strikeouts. Spencer Kulman (4-1) did not allow a hit with two strikeouts in an inning. Will Stillman earned his sixth save of the season with one run allowed on two hits and three strikeouts in the ninth inning.
Bill Maier started for Iona and threw six innings with four runs allowed on seven hits. He had five strikeouts and did not walk a batter. Andrew Camiolo (0-1) allowed two runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings. John Daddino went the final 2/3 of an inning with one run allowed on one hit.
The Terriers will conclude the four-game series against Iona with a doubleheader on Sunday beginning at noon at Russell C. King Field.
Mercer 3, Bradley 2
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University baseball team led from start to finish in its 3-2 victory over Bradley on Saturday afternoon at Claude Smith Field.
Mercer (11-10) got another impressive performance from its starting pitcher Saturday, as Connor Herd opened the game with six scoreless frames en route to his second win of the year. The freshman finished the day with two runs on six hits while striking out five in 6 2/3 innings of work.
Mitchell Wade and Morgan Pittman combined for 2 1/3 scoreless innings to close out the contest, retiring all seven batters they faced. Pittman recorded the game’s final four outs, three via strikeout, for his second save of the season.
The Bears provided just enough run support to even their series with Bradley (12-3), as Kyle Lewis’ three-hit performance led the team to eight hits in the contest. Matt Meeder had his best outing of the year, going 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI to go along with handful of impressive plays in the field.
Mercer jumped to an early 1-0 lead for the second straight game, as Howard Joe plated Meeder for the game’s first score in the bottom of the first.
The Bears added two more runs in the middle frames, as Meeder drove in Nate Moorhouse with a double in the fifth before Danny Edgeworth’s sixth-inning RBI handed Mercer a three-run advantage.
Bradley broke up Herd’s shutout bid in top of the seventh on Isaac Smith’s two-run shot, but the Bears’ bullpen shutdown the Braves’ offense the rest of the way for the team’s 11th win.
Mercer will conclude its series with Bradley on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at Claude Smith Field.
Furman 11, Michigan State 9
Connecticut 12, Furman 1
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Furman exploded for 10 third-inning runs on the way to beating Michigan State, 11-9, in the first game of a Saturday day-night doubleheader at Fluor Field on Saturday. In the night contest, Furman dropped a 12-1 verdict to Connecticut.
With the score tied 1-1 after two innings against Michigan State, Furman sent 16 batters to the plate and banged out 10 hits in the third en route in plating 10 runs to surge to an 11-1 lead. The 10-run frame was the biggest by the Paladins since posting 10 runs in the eighth inning of a 13-5 win over Georgia Southern in 2013.
Michigan State answered Furman’s onslaught by scoring eight unanswered runs, but the relief combination of Matthew Quarles and Elliott Warford calmed Michigan State’s bats, limiting the Spartans to a run on three hits over the final five innings.
Quarles (1-1), who entered the game in the fifth after Michigan State had pulled to within 11-8, allowed only a run and two hits over four innings. He walked one and struck out three in earning the victory.
Waford pitched a scoreless ninth to notch the save, the 10th of his career.
Two-run doubles by Brandon Elmy and Matt Towarnicky and a two-run single by Sky Overton highlighted Furman’s big 10-run third. The Paladins roughed up Michigan State starting and losing pitcher Mick VanVossen (1-3) for six runs and Spartan relievers Alex Troop for four runs in the frame that lasted more than 40 minutes and featured stretches of four and five consecutive hits.
Michigan State made it a game by scoring twice in the third and five more in the fourth, capped by a two-run double by Mark Weist into the left-field corner off Paladin starter Will Gaddis, who exited after four innings with Furman leading 11-8.
Jake Jones headlined Furman’s 14-hit attack, going 4-for-5 with two RBIs. Batting leadoff for the first time in his 171-game starting career, senior third baseman Chris Ohmstede went 2-for-5 with a walk, stolen base and three runs scored.
Towarnicky also had two hits, as did Griffin Davis.
Michigan State was paced by Ryan Richardson’s 3-for-4 performance. The Spartans finished with 10 hits.
In Saturday’s second game, Connecticut starting pitcher Anthony Kay allowed only a run on six hits over seven innings in helping the Huskies cruise to the 12-1 victory.
UConn scored all the runs it would need in the second against Paladin starter Matt Solter (0-1), using a Jon Testiani two-run double to help grab a 4-0 lead.
Furman got on the board in the fourth on a Sims Griffith RBI infield single to make it 4-1, but the Huskies bounced back with a two-run fifth and six more runs in the sixth to take total control.
UConn banged out 13 hits and took advantage of 10 walks by Paladin pitching. Bobby Melley (3-for-5, two RBIs) and Vinny Siena (3-for-5, two RBIs, two runs) did the big damage offensively for the Huskies, who also got three RBIs from Testiani.
Kay (3-1) earned the victory, while Solter surrendered six runs, four of which were earned, on nine hits to take the loss, lasting just four innings.
Griffith and Jordan Simpson had two hits apiece to lead Furman.
Jacksonville 5, Samford 4
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Samford baseball team dropped a 5-4 decision in game two of a three-game series at Jacksonville on Saturday afternoon at Jack Sessions Stadium.
The teams entered the ninth inning tied at 4-4. Samford got two runners on in the top of the ninth, but the Bulldogs were unable to push a run across. In the bottom of the ninth, Parker Perez singled to lead off the inning. Perez moved to third base on an error and then scored on a sacrifice bunt by J.J. Gould for the 5-4 Dolphin win.
With the loss, Samford fell to 6-9 on the season. Jacksonville improved to 8-10 with the win.
For the game, Samford was led at the plate by Heath Quinn, who went 3-for-4 with a home run and one RBI. Hunter Swilling had a home run and two RBIs, while Richard Greene homered and drove in one run.
Jesse Travis (0-1) started the ninth inning on the mound for Samford, giving up one unearned run on one hit to take the loss. Travis was one of seven pitchers used in the game by the Bulldogs.
Jacksonville was led by Connor Marabell with a home run and two RBIs, while Drew Luther homered and drove in one run. Spencer Stockton (1-0) pitched the ninth inning for the Dolphins to earn the win.
Jacksonville jumped on top first with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Marabell grounded out to second base, driving in Gould for the game’s first run. Austin Hays later singled to center field to drive in Angelo Amendolare for a 2-0 Dolphin lead.
Samford plated a run in the top of the second inning to cut the lead to 2-1. With two outs in the inning, Greene hit a solo home run to left-center field for Samford’s first run of the contest.
The Bulldogs tied the game with a run in the top of the third inning. With one out in the inning, Quinn homered to left-center field to knot the score at 2-2.
Jacksonville took the lead again with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Luther homered to left-center field to give the Dolphins a 3-2 lead.
Samford took the lead with two runs in the top of the eighth inning. Quinn singled to lead off the inning. With one out in the inning, Swilling hit a home run to left field to give Samford a 4-3 lead.
The Dolphins tied the score with a run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Marabell led the inning off with a home run to left field to knot the score at 4-4.
Samford and Jacksonville will conclude their three-game series with a game Sunday at 12 p.m. (CDT).
Liberty 4, Western Carolina 2
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty capitalized on a pair of walks and two hits as a part of a three-run fourth inning as the Flames handed Western Carolina a 4-2 loss in the Catamounts’ finale of the Liberty Baseball Invitational on Saturday night at the Liberty Baseball Stadium.
Western Carolina was limited to just five hits including four singles over the nine-inning affair. Junior catcher Danny Bermudez led the way with two of the five on a 2-for-4 outing with a pair of singles. WCU senior Bradley Strong also reached twice with a single and a walk, extending his reached-base safely streak to 30 straight games dating back to last season.
Sophomore Matt Smith also reached base twice with a pair of walks, reaching base for the eighth straight game.
The Flames opened the three-run frame with two hits sandwiched around a fly ball out to center field to put runners at the corners. Nick Salisbury doubled to open the frame, with Andrew Yacyk singling to put the first two on base. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases and then drove in the game’s first run, with Dalton Britt driving in the first run by drawing the walk.
Liberty’s one-out rally continued as Derek Perry reached on a fielder’s choice with the Catamount infield looking to turn the double play, with one run scoring on the throw to second. However, the relay to first base skipped past the bag, allowing the third run to cross the plate, handing the Flames a 3-0 advantage.
Western Carolina responded in the fifth inning as junior infielder Reece Strong hit his first collegiate home run. The Richlands, Va., native drove a shot deep into the right-field corner, where right fielder Tray Roberts tracked it to the wall. Looking to steal the round-tripper away from the younger Strong brother, Roberts leaped and reached above the fence line only to have the ball tip off the end of his glove and continue over the wall to make it 3-1.
The Flames got the run back in the bottom of the frame as Roberts led off with a triple down the left-field line and was driven home on a sacrifice bunt squeeze play by Aaron Stroosma to reclaim the three-run margin, 4-1.
WCU capped the scoring in the sixth inning as freshman Brett Pope, who reached on a fielder’s choice, took second on a Bradley Strong single before being driven home by Bermudez on his RBI single to make it 4-2. But that was as close as the Catamounts would get as Liberty’s bullpen held the Catamounts to just two base runners over the final 2 /13 innings.
Catamount freshman starter Brendan Nail (1-1) struck out three against three walks in five innings of work. The Greensboro, N.C., native allowed four runs, only three of which were earned, on five hits. The loss was the first for WCU among Nail’s four career starts to date.
Liberty starter Ashton Perritt (1-2) picked up the win for the home squad, scattering four hits and two earned runs over 5 2/3 innings. Alex Close, who played the first eight innings at first base, struck out two in securing his first save of the season in tossing a perfect ninth inning.
Yacyk collected three hits to lead Liberty in a 3-for-4 outing, with infielder Sammy Taormina reaching twice in a 2-for-4 performance with a double.
Western Carolina (7-9) returns home to host the Kennesaw State Owls at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium on Wednesday, March 18. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
UNCG’s Saturday games canceled
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Due to heavy rainfall in the Wilmington area, the UNCG baseball team's schedule for the rest of the weekend has been changed.
The Spartans will now play just a single game Sunday against Columbia at noon. UNCG was scheduled to play a Saturday doubleheader with a noon contest against Columbia and a 4 p.m. tilt versus host UNCW.
The Blue and Gold picked up its first road win of the campaign yesterday in a 10-4 triumph over the Seahawks – a team that was receiving votes in many of the national top-25 polls this week.
VMI’s Saturday game postponed
LEXINGTON, Va. – For the second straight weekend, VMI will play a doubleheader Sunday, after Saturday's contest with Central Connecticut State was postponed due to field conditions following a consistent, hours-long rain Saturday morning and afternoon. Saturday's action gets underway at 11 a.m. with a nine-inning contest. A seven-inning game will follow.