Wake Forest 11, UNCG 7
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest scored five of the last six runs in Wednesday’s nonconference baseball contest, handing UNCG an 11-7 setback inside the Wake Forest Baseball Park. The Spartans dropped to 2-7 overall with their fifth straight loss, while the homestanding Demon Deacons improved to 9-4.
Junior infielder Collin Woody was one of four UNCG players to record multiple hits as he was 2-for-5 with a run scored, two RBIs and his first home run of the campaign. Senior outfielder Tyler Long added a run scored and two RBIs, while senior infielder Hunter King, senior outfielder Eric Kalbfleisch and sophomore catcher Jake Kusz chipped in with two hits apiece. Kevin Conway was 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI to lead Wake Forest.
Freshman RHP Daniel Dulaney (0-1) was saddled with the loss after giving up the go-ahead run. He allowed one hit and struck out two in two innings pitched. Donnie Sellers (1-1) picked up the victory for the Demon Deacons as he surrendered two runs on two hits over 1 1/3 innings.
The Demon Deacons dented the scoreboard first in the bottom of the frame, scoring three runs on five hits to move in front 3-0 after one complete. Three of Wake Forest’s hits went for extra bases. WFU extended its lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the second, scoring three two-out runs in the frame.
The Blue and Gold rallied with two away in the top of the fifth with two outs and redshirt junior infielder Ricky Guile at second base after a walk and a sac bunt. Zac MacAneney then drew a walk before both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch. That would prove important as a two-run single by Long and a towering two-run home run to left by Woody helped UNCG draw within 6-4 moving to the bottom of the inning.
Dulaney worked a quick bottom of the fifth and the Blue and Gold wasted little time in knotting the score in the top of the sixth. Kalbfleisch and Kusz pounded consecutive doubles to left and center to make it a 6-5 game before Kusz moved to third on a wild pitch. Freshman infielder Tripp Shelton made WFU pay for the miscue, recording a sac fly that plated Kusz and tied the score at 6.
The momentum was short lived for the Blue and Gold as Wake Forest took the upper hand back in the bottom of the sixth. A single and a walk put two runners on base quickly for the home side. A fielder’s-choice play accounted for the first out, leaving runners on the corners, before a wild pitch plated the go-ahead tally. With two outs, Stuart Fairchild worked a walk to load the bases and pinch-hitter Joe Napolitano made the most of his at-bat with a two-run single up the middle to leave the Deacs with a 9-6 advantage after six complete.
UNCG had a prime opportunity to draw even in the top of the eighth, loading the bases with no outs via three straight singles. Guile then grounded into a double play but King scored in the process and pulled the Spartans within a pair of runs. Freshman outfielder Devin Ruiz came up as a pinch hitter with a runner at third and two away. However, he struck out to leave UNCG trailing 9-7.
Wake Forest put the game away in the bottom of the eighth, scoring two runs on two hits and a Spartan error to account for the final margin.
UNCG returns to action Friday, welcoming Ivy League outfit Princeton to Greensboro, N.C., for the first contest of a four-game series. First pitch at the UNCG Baseball Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m.
UNC Asheville 8, ETSU 6
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – For the second time in as many weeks, the ETSU baseball team fell to UNC Asheville, as the Bulldogs scored five runs in the first two innings and defeated the Bucs, 8-6, on Wednesday afternoon at Greenwood Field.
The Bucs, who suffered a 3-2 setback to UNCA back on Feb. 28 at the Upstate Classic, surrendered three runs in the first and two more in the second, and ETSU could never get over the hump.
Junior Trey York extended his hit streak to 10 straight games after going 2-for-4 with one triple and two RBIs, while Chris Cook and Jordan Sanford also posted multi-hit games for the Bucs. Cook finished 2-for-4 with a walk and run scored, while two of Sanford’s three hits went for doubles and he also scored two runs.
Freshman right-hander Dalton Long made his collegiate debut on the mound but suffered the loss (0-1) as he allowed five runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings. Sophomore lefty Jamin McCann allowed one unearned run in four innings out of the pen, but the Bucs couldn’t dig out of their early deficit.
The Bucs dipped to 7-3 following the setback, while UNCA improved to 5-6.
UNCA jumped out to an early lead as the Bulldogs pushed across three two-out runs in the bottom of the first and plated two more in the second to lead, 5-0. In the first, the Bulldogs got RBI singles by Kyle Towles and Pete Guy, while Joe Tietjen wrapped up the scoring with a triple to right-center. An inning later, Kyle Carruthers scored on a passed ball and Tommy Houmard came home on Lucas Owens’ single to right in the second.
The Bucs had runners on in each of the first three innings, but ETSU grounded into double plays to end all three frames.
ETSU finally got on the board when York extended his hit streak with the triple in the fourth and came home on Phillips’ double to left; however, the Bulldogs got the run back in the bottom of the fifth when Hunter Bryant scored on a fielding error by Cook at third, making it a 6-1 score.
The Blue and Gold scratched across a pair of runs in the seventh and cut their deficit in half, 6-3. Sanford led off the inning with a double down the left field line and later scored on a wild pitch, while Robby McCabe – who reached via a walk – came in on Jeremy Taylor’s sacrifice fly to center.
UNCA answered with two runs of its own in the bottom of the seventh to regain a five-run lead, 8-3. Joe Tietjen drove in a run with an RBI double to right-center, while Joe Zayatz’s single to single to right brought in Tietjen.
The Bucs loaded the bases in the ninth and York cleared them as he singled and advanced to third on a fielding error by Tietjen in right, but with the tying run at the plate, Nick Schavone induced Kevin Phillips into a game-ending groundout.
UNCA starter Jordan Fulbright picked up the win (2-0) as the left-hander allowed one run on six hits in five innings of action, while Schavone earned his second save of the year.
The Bulldogs – who outhit ETSU, 14-10 – were led by Guy’s three-hit day, while four other Bulldog hitters posted two-hit games.
The Bucs return home to host Big 12 foe West Virginia in a three-game series beginning Friday at 4:05 p.m. at Thomas Stadium.
Coastal Carolina 5, The Citadel 1
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Coastal Carolina scored four times on only one hit in the top of the ninth, snapping a 1-1 tie and giving the Chanticleers a 5-1 victory over The Citadel on Wednesday evening at Riley Park.
The Bulldogs (5-6) managed only four hits off seven Coastal pitchers and struck out 16 times, the most since going down 18 times against South Carolina on Feb, 19, 2003. Mike Morrison entered in the seventh and worked 1 2/3 inning of one-hit relief with five strikeouts to pick up the win.
Skylar Hunter worked a quiet eighth before struggling in the ninth and taking the loss to drop to 1-2. With one out, a G.K. Young single was followed by a hit-by-pitch and two walks, the latter forcing in a run to put the Chanticleers (8-4) ahead.
Two more runs came across on wild pitches – one each by Hunter and Kevin Connell – and an error produced the final run of the inning. Stephen Windham was issued a leadoff walk by Austin Kerr in the bottom of the ninth before Kerr struck out the final three batters to close it out.
The Bulldogs scored their lone run in the seventh to tie the game at 1. Drew Ellis was hit by a pitch, Jacob Watcher singled to shortstop and William Kinney lined a single just in front of the diving Al Molina in left to plate pinch-runner Clay Martin. But The Citadel was unable to add to its total, leaving two runners on base in the frame.
Coastal had scored the only run to that point in the fourth on a solo homer by Casey Schroeder off Austin Livingston. Austin Mason started for the Bulldogs and went three innings of shutout ball, allowing two hits and striking out three. Livingston worked the next three frames and gave up only two hits besides the Schroeder homer.
The Citadel is back in action at Riley Park this weekend for a three-game series against Elon. Game one is tentatively set for Friday at 4 p.m. (a change from the original 6 p.m. time), but the schedule may be altered due to the threat of rain in the Charleston area later in the week.
Presbyterian 11, Wofford 6
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford College baseball team was defeated 11-6 by Presbyterian College on Wednesday night at Russell C. King Field. The Blue Hose led 5-4 after six innings but pulled away with three runs each in the seventh and eighth innings. The two teams split the 2015 home-and-home series.
Wofford is 9-4 on the season, while Presbyterian is 10-3 overall. The Terriers were led by Carson Waln with three hits and three runs scored, while Max McDougald had a pair of RBI singles in his first career start. Kody Ruedisili added a solo home run. The Blue Hose had 15 hits in the game, with three each from Jay Lizanich and Jacob Midkiff.
With one out in the bottom of the first, Ruedisili crushed a ball over the fence in left field for a 1-0 lead.
Waln walked to lead off the bottom of the second. Matt Pelt singled, which moved Waln to third base. With one out, McDougald hit a bunt single to score Pelt for a 2-0 lead. It was the first career hit and first career RBI for McDougald.
The Blue Hose had one out in the top of the third when four straight singles plated a pair of runs to tie the game at 2-2. Two runners were on base when Jacob Midkiff hit a home run to left field to give Presbyterian a 5-2 lead.
Wofford led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk to James Plaisted. Waln singled and a sacrifice bunt advanced the runners. A pinch-hit single by Pete Carrier drove in the run to cut the lead to 5-3. With runners at second and third, a groundout by McDougald plated a run for a 5-4 score. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases with two outs, but a fly ball ended the scoring chance for the Terriers.
The Blue Hose had a pair of singles in the top of the seventh and a balk moved the runners into scoring position. With two outs, a single up the middle by Cam McRae drove in both runners for a 7-4 lead. A walk was followed by a single by Midkiff to plate another run. At the seventh-inning stretch, Presbyterian had an 8-4 lead.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Plaisted hit a double. A double down the right-field line by Waln drove in Plaisted to make it 8-5. Cody Miller hit a ball that dropped between three Blue Hose players. Waln scored for an 8-6 score and a throwing error advanced Miller to third base. A groundout ended the seventh inning.
In the top of the eighth, the Blue Hose had runners at second and third with one out. A wild pitch allowed one run to score. A double by Jay Lizanich drove in a run and McRae reached on an error to plate a third run of the inning and make it 11-6.
Wofford starting pitcher John Caskey (0-1) went six innings and gave up five runs on eight hits. He did not issue a walk and had two strikeouts.
Brian Kehner (1-1) started for Presbyterian and went five innings with four runs allowed on six hits. He had seven strikeouts and walked three batters.
The Terriers begin a weekend series with Gardner-Webb on Friday at 5 p.m. at Russell C. King Field. The Saturday game will be played at Gardner-Webb, with the Sunday contest back at Wofford at 2 p.m.
Valparaiso 18, Western Carolina 5
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Valparaiso capitalized on its opportunities on Wednesday afternoon, cashing in on a combined 12 walks and four hit batters in the game that was spread over two days to down Western Carolina, 18-5, in midweek nonconference action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
Valpo (2-6) entered Wednesday’s resumed game with a 4-3 advantage after Tuesday night’s game was interrupted by rain showers. The Crusaders outscored the Catamounts, 14-2, in the completion of the game. Valparaiso scored runs in five of the seven innings played on Wednesday, including a pair of five-run frames in the sixth and ninth.
Western Carolina had three players record multiple-hit games, led by Bradley Strong with a 3-for-4 showing at the dish. The senior infielder finished a triple shy of the cycle, belting his first home run of the season with a two-run shot in the bottom of the first inning on Tuesday. He finished with two RBIs and three runs scored.
Outfielder Kramer Ferrell was 2-for-3 with a run scored, reaching a third time after being hit by a pitch, while freshman Brett Pope was 2-for-4 with an RBI on an infield groundout in the second inning on Tuesday. Freshman Caleb Robinson also doubled in the loss.
Both Matt Smith and Danny Bermudez drove in runs for the Catamounts.
Western Carolina used 11 pitchers in the two-day contest. Despite striking out a dozen, the Catamount hurlers issued the costly 12 walks. Sophomore Nate Williams (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing five runs – four of which were earned – on just two hits with three walks against three strikeouts on Tuesday. Senior Tyler Powell struck out two in two innings of work, starting on the mound in Wednesday’s resumption.
Three Crusaders had multi-hit outings, while four recorded multiple RBIs in the victory. Outfielder Dustin Beasley drove in a game-high seven runs on a 4-for-5 outing, while first baseman Nate Palace scored six runs and drove in three on a 2-for-3 showing. Both belted home runs, Beasley clearing the bases on grand slam.
Valparaiso reliever Luke VanLanen (1-0) scored the victory after tossing three innings out of the bullpen, scattering four hits and limiting WCU to just two earned runs. He was matched by Ben Mahar with three innings of two-hit, scoreless relief while Zack Walsh struck out one in an inning of work in the ninth.
Freshman starter Connor Kaucic allowed three runs on six hits with a pair of strikeouts for the Crusaders.
Western Carolina (3-5) returns home to host its second set of Crusaders this weekend on the baseball diamond as Holy Cross comes to Cullowhee for a four-game set. First pitch of the series opener is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Friday with a doubleheader slated for Saturday with a noon first pitch. The series finale is scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday.
Samford vs. Jacksonville State postponed
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford baseball team’s home game with Jacksonville State, originally scheduled for Wednesday at 6 p.m. CST, has been postponed due to inclement weather in the Birmingham area.
The game will now be played on March 25 at 6 p.m. This marks the second-straight day a Samford home game has been postponed, as Tuesday night’s scheduled game against UAB was also unable to be played.
Samford will travel to Memphis, to take on the University of Memphis Tigers this weekend.
VMI at Virginia postponed
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Due to a consistent rain in the Charlottesville area that is expected to worsen over the next several hours, VMI baseball's scheduled game against Virginia has been postponed. The game has been rescheduled for April 1 at 4 p.m.
VMI baseball is now scheduled to return to action Saturday, when the Keydets play host to Binghamton for a 2 p.m. doubleheader.
Furman adjusts game time
GREENVILLE, S.C. – First pitch for Furman’s game on Saturday, March 14, vs. Michigan State at Fluor Field has been moved from 5 p.m. to 3 p.m.