Furman 13, Marist 4
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Sky Overton went 3-for-4, stole two bases and scored four runs to headline a season-high 19-hit attack in Furman’s 13-4 victory over Marist in baseball action Saturday afternoon at Latham Stadium.
The win evened Furman’s record at 6-6 on the season, while Marist fell to 0-5. The Paladins and Red Foxes will square off in Sunday’s finale beginning at 1 p.m.
Overton, a sophomore center fielder and leadoff hitter from Johns Creek, Ga., who came into the contest hitting just .205, singled and scored in each of the first three innings and reached on a fielder’s choice and crossed the plate in the fifth inning to notch his most productive outing of the campaign.
Furman’s 19 hits topped the previous high of 13 recorded in a 6-5, 12-inning victory over 22nd-ranked Indiana on Feb. 21.
Chris Ohmstede also delivered at the plate in a big way, going 3-for-5 with a triple, double, three RBIs and two runs scored. Cameron Whitehead joined Overton and Ohmstede with three hits, while Blake Chisolm and Sims Griffith both collected a pair of hits and two RBIs. Griffin Davis rounded out the Paladins’ multi-hit parade with a 2-for-2, two-run performance.
The big run support made a winner of Paladin starting pitcher Ryan Morse (1-3), who proved he didn’t need much help in his five innings of work, yielding only two hits and a run. He walked four and fanned three.
Furman’s big day at the plate came primarily at the expense of Marist starting and losing pitcher Rich Vrana (0-2), who was tagged for seven runs on nine hits in just 2 1/3 innings.
The Paladins plated their first three runs with two-out base hits, beginning with Whitehead’s line-drive single to left field in the first and continuing with RBI singles by Overton and Carter Grote in the second for a 3-0 lead.
An inning later, Furman blew the game open, scoring six runs on five hits, highlighted by Griffith’s two-run single and a two-run triple to right field by Ohmstede, on the way to a 9-0 advantage.
Chisolm’s two-run single in the fifth capped a three-run frame and gave Furman a 12-1 lead.
Led by Graham McIntire’s 4-for-5, two-RBI worksheet, Marist registered eight hits in the game.
The Citadel 11, Elon 8
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Johnathan Stokes snapped a seventh-inning tie with a two-run homer, sparking a five-run frame that carried The Citadel to an 11-8 victory over Elon on Saturday at Riley Park.
The win evened the weekend series and sets up the rubber game on Sunday at 1 p.m. The contest can be seen free of charge on the SoCon Digital Network.
The Bulldogs (6-7) used a 14-hit attack to snap a three-game losing streak. Five of those hits came in the decisive seventh, including the home run by Stokes that snuck just inside the right-field foul pole. Philip Watcher, pinch-hitting for brother Jacob, delivered a two-run single, and William Kinney added a sacrifice fly.
Jason Smith, who started the seventh with a single, had a career-high four hits and scored four times, while Stephen Windham continued his hot hitting with four singles to raise his batting average to a team-leading .387. Stokes also had a double in addition to his first round-tripper of the year, scored three times and drove in three.
The Citadel added a run in the eighth before sweating out the ninth. Elon scored twice and had the bases loaded with nobody out when Skylar Hunter was able to get a strikeout and a pair of groundouts to end the threat. The save was Hunter's fourth of the season and 32nd of his career, moving the junior closer within five of equaling the Southern Conference record held by Elon's Thomas Girdwood.
Ross White worked a one-hit, scoreless seventh and picked up his second career win. Lucas Bakker, who was Elon's Friday starter a year ago, gave up six hits and all six runs in the seventh and took the loss, dropping to 1-3.
Austin Mason started for the Bulldogs and gave up four runs (two earned) in three innings and left with The Citadel leading 5-4. Austin Livingston followed on the hill and went the next three frames, giving up just three hits and one run with no walks and four strikeouts.
A fielder's-choice grounder by Connor Walsh and RBI single by Windham gave the Bulldogs a quick 2-0 lead in the first. Elon went in front with four in the second, but The Citadel answered right back with three runs in its half of the inning, including a run-scoring double by Stokes and sacrifice fly by Austin Mapes to go back ahead 5-4.
It stayed that way until the fifth, when Nick Zammarelli doubled in Casey Jones to tie it up. The Bulldogs were held scoreless by starter Michael Elefante and Bakker from the third through sixth until erupting in the seventh.
Wofford 8, Gardner-Webb 5 (11 inn.)
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – On Saturday afternoon, the Wofford College baseball team needed 11 innings to defeat Gardner-Webb 8-5 at John Henry Moss Stadium. The Runnin’ Bulldogs scored twice in the ninth inning to send the game to extra frames. Both teams scored a run in the 10th, but Wofford scored three runs in the top of the 11th to earn the win.
Wofford is 11-4 on the season, while Gardner-Webb is 10-4 overall. Alec Paradowski had three hits for Wofford, while James Plaisted and Matt Pelt each had two RBIs. Starter Luke Leftwich struck out 13 batters. Gardner-Webb was led by Collin Thacker with three hits and a pair of RBIs. It was the first extra-inning game of the season for both teams.
With two outs in the bottom of the second, Collin Thacker hit a solo home run to right field for a 1-0 GWU lead.
With two outs in the top of the third, Paradowski hit a solo home run over the fence in right field. It was the first run allowed by starter Matt Fraudin this season in 22 innings. In the bottom of the third, Leftwich struck out the side. Wofford was retired in order in the top of the fourth inning.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs took a 2-1 advantage with a leadoff home run by Ryan Hodge in the bottom of the fourth.
Paradowski led off the sixth with a walk, Matt Ramsay doubled and James Plaisted reached on an error to load the bases. A single up the middle by Matt Pelt drove in two runs to give Wofford a 3-2 lead.
With two outs in the top of the seventh, Paradowski singled. A triple to the wall in right-center by Matt Ramsay scored Paradowski for a 4-3 lead.
Gardner-Webb opened the bottom of the ninth with a walk and a single. Another single loaded the bases with nobody out. A 4-6-3 double play allowed one run to score. With two strikes, a wild pitch scored the runner from third to tie the game at 4-4. A strikeout ended the ninth inning.
In the top of the 10th, Plaisted walked with one out. Pelt added a single and a double steal gave Wofford runners at second and third. Demetrius Jennings hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Plaisted for a 5-4 lead. Gardner-Webb answered by opening the bottom of the 10th with a triple down the right line. A double by Collin Thacker drove in a run to tie the game at 5-5.
Waln walked to start the 11th inning for Wofford. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. A single up the middle by Mack Nathanson scored Waln for a 6-5 lead. Paradowski singled and gave Wofford runners on the corners with one out. Ramsay put down a bunt and the runner was out at the plate for the second out. A double to centerfield by James Plaisted scored Paradowski and Ramsay for an 8-5 advantage. A fly ball ended the top of the 11th inning.
Gardner-Webb led off the bottom of the 11th with a single. With one out, a double by Matt Simmons gave the Runnin’ Bulldogs two runners in scoring position. A strikeout was followed by a walk to load the bases with two outs. A strikeout ended the game with the Terriers an 8-5 winner.
Leftwich threw eight innings and allowed only two runs on six hits. He struck out a career-high 13 batters and did not issue a walk. Will Stillman went 1 1/3 innings in the save opportunity and gave up three runs on four hits with a strikeout. Spencer Kulman (3-1) threw the final 1 2/3 innings and did not allow a run on two hits with three strikeouts.
Matt Fraudin started for Gardner-Webb and went seven innings. He allowed four runs on six hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Ryan Boelter (0-1) threw 2/3 of an inning and allowed one run on a hit. Jeremy Walker threw the final inning and gave up two runs on three hits.
The Terriers goes for the sweep of three-game series on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Russell C. King Field. On Tuesday, Wofford will travel to Savannah State at 5 p.m.
UNCG 12, Princeton 3 (7 innings, game one)
Princeton 14, UNCG 9 (game two)
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG baseball team returned home Saturday after eight straight games on the road, splitting a doubleheader with Princeton. The Spartans won the first game by a 12-3 score in seven innings before the Tigers rebounded in game two with a 14-9 victory. UNCG moves to 3-8 overall while Princeton goes to 1-4.
In game one, UNCG scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning to seize control early.
The Spartans out-hit the Tigers 15-7 and used a quality start from junior RHP Ryan Clark (2-1), who struck out a career-high 10 batters in six innings of work. He picked up the win after allowing just one run on four hits. Chad Powers (0-2) took the loss for Princeton as he tossed four innings and gave up seven runs (three earned) on nine hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
Senior infielder Aaron Wright produced a stellar effort at the plate, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored, two RBIs and his second home run of the season. Senior outfielder Zac MacAneney also enjoyed a fine effort with two hits in five at bats, a run scored and three RBIs. Additionally, sophomore catcher Jake Kusz chipped in with two hits and two runs scored.
With two outs in the bottom of the second in a scoreless game, senior outfielder Eric Kalbfleisch and Kusz struck out before Wright doubled and senior infielder Hunter King walked. Freshman designated hitter Devin Ruiz drew a walk as well to load the bases for freshman infielder Tripp Shelton. A fielding error at short allowed Wright and King to race home for a 2-0 UNCG lead, but the Spartans were not done there. MacAneney then crushed a two-run double to left-center that extended the Spartans’ advantage to 4-0 after two complete.
The teams traded runs in the third inning before the Blue and Gold started to pull away in the fourth. MacAneney and junior infielder Collin Woody homered in the inning to leave UNCG with a 7-1 cushion. Another home run, this time by Wright, made it an 8-1 contest in the fifth and the Spartans put the game away in the bottom of the sixth.
The rally began with two outs as Kusz doubled to center and Wright brought him home with an RBI single. A consecutive double and triple by Ruiz and Shelton plated three more runs to push the UNCG lead to 12-1. The Tigers would add two runs on three hits in the top of the seventh to account for the final nine-run margin.
In game two, Princeton scored six times in the first two innings and held off a late UNCG rally to take the second game of the doubleheader 14-9. The teams combined for 23 runs and 28 hits while the Tigers made two errors.
Senior RHP Brennen James (0-3) gave up eight runs in a tough four-inning outing. He struck out two and walked two while surrendering 11 hits. Keelan Smithers nabbed the win after tossing four innings and allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits with four walks and two strikeouts. A total of four Spartans produced multiple hits, with junior catcher Jake Hall recording an additional two runs scored and two RBIs. MacAneney added three RBIs and a run scored.
Zack Belski gave the Tigers an early lead in the top of the first with an RBI single after two wild pitches moved Danny Hoy from first to third. The Spartans came up with the tying run in the bottom of the second thanks to an RBI triple by Ruiz.
Princeton broke the contest open in the top of the third, scoring five runs on five hits. The big blow came off the bat of Paul Tupper, who hit a grand slam in the frame.
After the Tigers stretched their lead to 11-1 after the top of the fifth, UNCG put up a big answer in the bottom of the frame. MacAneney reached on an error to lead things off before senior outfielder Tyler Long and Woody notched two straight singles to load the bases. Kalbfleisch drew a bases-loaded walk for the first tally and Hall followed with a two-run double. After two pop up outs, Shelton worked a bases-loaded walk and MacAneney smoked a bases-clearing triple to deep center. When the smoke cleared, the Spartans found themselves within three runs at 11-8.
Wright scored on a balk to bring the score to 11-9 in the bottom of the seventh and he had a great chance to pull UNCG even or into the lead with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth. He put a nice swing on the ball, but the Princeton shortstop had him shaded correctly and snagged a liner to end the threat and leave his team with a two-run cushion.
The Tigers put the game out of reach in the top of the ninth, scoring three more runs on two hits.
The teams will complete their series with another doubleheader Sunday with game one beginning at 11 a.m. The first contest is scheduled for seven innings while the second will go the full nine frames.
Western Carolina 22, Holy Cross 11 (game one)
Holy Cross 9, Western Carolina 3 (game two)
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina baseball split its Saturday doubleheader with Holy Cross, putting together a 15-run inning in a 22-11 victory in game one before falling to the Crusaders in the night cap, 9-3. The two teams wrap-up the four-game, nonconference series on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 11:00 am at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
Sophomore Matt Smith led the Catamounts offensively in the twin bill, finishing 4-for-8 with a triple and his second career home run, scoring five runs while driving in four. Junior Danny Bermudez drove in a team-high five runs in the two games, collecting three hits including a double and a home run, while senior Bradley Strong collected his team-leading 20th RBI on a three-hit day, stretching his career-long hitting streak to 25 games.
Redshirt junior Kramer Ferrell also recorded three hits in the two games, driving in three runs. Seeing action in the first game, junior Reece Strong plated three runs on a 2-for-2 showing at the dish.
Game One: Western Carolina 22, Holy Cross 11
With its lead down to one run, 7-6, Western Carolina erupted for 15 runs in the home half of the seventh inning to down Holy Cross, 22-11. The Catamounts pushed across the 15 runs using just six hits, capitalizing on seven walks, four hit batters and one error.
Five Catamount batters recorded multi-hit games with Matt Smith pacing the squad with a 3-for-4 showing including a triple and home run. Kramer Ferrell and Reece Strong joined Smith by finishing with three RBI in the victory.
Western Carolina pulled out to a 4-0 lead through the first four frames with two runs in the first and two again in the fourth inning. After Holy Cross closed to within three, 4-1, in the top of the fifth, the Catamounts hung a three-spot on the board in the bottom of the fifth to make it 7-1 through five complete.
Five runs between the sixth and seventh innings including four in the top of the seventh alone made it a one-run affair before the 15-inning rally for WCU after the seventh inning stretch. Holy Cross added five runs with four in the eighth and one in the ninth to provide the final tally.
Freshman Corey Sikes (1-0) picked up the victory in game one after tossing 2.1 innings out of the bullpen in relieving junior starter Jonathan Waszak. Sikes allowed five runs on six hits, striking out three against a pair of walks. Waszak held Holy Cross scoreless through four innings, working around five walks with three strikeouts in just his second career start – the first since his freshman season.
Junior Colton Davis struck out one in two thirds of an inning while Nate Williams fanned two in two frames of work, allowing one run on two hits with a walk.
Holy Cross starter Donny Murray (0-1) was tagged with the loss, surrendering four runs on five hits in 3.2 innings. Murray struck out five with a pair of walks as the first of eight pitchers used by the Crusaders.
Game Two: Holy Cross 9, Western Carolina 3
Holy Cross pitchers Ben White and Sean Gustin combined to hold the potent Western Carolina offense to just four hits through nine innings, taking game two of Saturday's doubleheader, 9-3, at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
White (1-2) allowed just three runs – two earned – while scattering four hits to pick-up the victory. He struck out nine without issuing a walk, tossing seven total innings. Gustin was nearly perfect over the final two innings, striking out three with one walk in two innings of hitless, scoreless relief.
Four Catamounts combined for the four hits with Bradley Strong, Kramer Ferrell, Matt Smith and Spencer Holcomb each reaching base by hit, Ferrell legging out a double.
Catamount starter Korey Anderson (0-1) was saddled with the loss, surrendering five runs – four earned – on four hits with a strikeout and two walks in his first collegiate start. Reliever Dillon Bray struck out two in two and a third while Taylor Durand tossed three and a third of two-run, three-hit relief, striking out one with three walks. B.J. Nobles struck out three to add to his team-leading tally of 22 Ks, allowing just two hits in an inning and two thirds out of the bullpen.
WCU fell behind 5-0 in the top of the second inning only to rally with two in the home half of the inning to pull back within three, 5-2. Ferrell led-off with a double to center field before Smith delivered a RBI single up the middle. Holcomb then plated Smith from third with a sacrifice fly to left field.
The Catamounts would get to within two with a third run in the bottom of the third inning. Bradley Strong singled before stealing second and then moving over to third where he was brought home on a sacrifice fly by Danny Bermudez.
It was as close as WCU would get, however, as Holy Cross answered with two runs in the top of the fourth and two insurance runs in the eighth to score the 9-3 victory.
Harvard 6, Mercer 1 (game one)
Harvard 8, Mercer 7 (game two)
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University baseball team dropped both games of Saturday afternoon’s twin bill with Harvard at Claude Smith Field, falling 6-1 in the opener and 8-7 in the nightcap.
Mercer (8-8) was unable to rebound from Friday night’s loss to the Crimson (5-2) and was outhit 22-10 in Saturday’s portion of the four-game series. The Bears, who lead the SoCon and rank among the national leaders with 16 long balls this season, clubbed four home runs on the day.
HARVARD 6, MERCER 1
Mercer’s offense struggled in the day’s opening game, managing a season-low three hits. Harvard took advantage, scoring a pair of runs in the fourth, before adding one tally in each of the next three frames for a 5-0 advantage.
Danny Edgeworth provided Mercer’s only offense of the game in the eighth, lifting a solo shot over the right field fence for his second long ball of the season. However, the Bears were unable to get any closer, as the Crimson added an insurance run in the 9th to wrap up a 6-1 victory.
Connor Herd was credited with the loss for Mercer despite five solid innings, as he surrendered four runs on six hits after tossing three-straight scoreless frames to open the game.
HARVARD 8, MERCER 7
The Crimson scored three runs in the first two innings off of Mercer starter DJ Johnson, but the Bears would turn to the long ball to keep pace.
Devin Bonin smacked his first home run in a Mercer uniform with a first-inning shot to right, before the added Nate Moorhouse’s second career four-bagger in the second frame. Kyle Lewis tied the contest in the third, 3-3, drilling the game’s third solo shot with a drive to left field for his team-leading fifth home run of the season.
Much like it has all series though, Harvard had an answer for the Bears’ fireworks. The Crimson used a four-run fourth inning to regain the lead for good, 7-3.
Mercer kept fighting despite the four-run deficit, igniting a rally with a three-run fifth. The Bears took advantage of a two-out error to keep the inning alive, before Howard Joe’s two-run single to center field trimmed the deficit to one, 7-6.
Jake McQuiggan, who had three hits in the game, put the finishing touches on a great game at the plate in the seventh, scoring what turned out to be the nightcap’s winning run on a solo shot to left field.
Once again the Bears responded, but one run in the home half would not be enough as they were haunted by eight stranded runners over the final four frames.
Lewis recorded his eighth multiple-hit performance of the year to lead Mercer’s offense, which put together seven hits in the contest.
Mercer wraps up the four-game series with Harvard tomorrow, March 8, with a 1 p.m. contest at Claude Smith Field.
West Virginia 18, ETSU 2
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – West Virginia scored runs in each of the first six innings and red-shirt junior left-hander Ross Vance tossed five scoreless frames as the Mountaineers cruised to an 18-2 series-clinching win over ETSU on Saturday afternoon at Thomas Stadium.
The Mountaineers, who nipped the Blue and Gold by a run in extra-innings on Friday, came out firing on all cylinders and ETSU couldn’t stop the blitzkrieg.
Seven of West Virginia’s 20 hits went for extra bases, including four home runs and two from senior shortstop Taylor Munden. Muden, the Mountaineers’ top hitter, went 2 for 5 with two RBI and three runs scored, while senior catcher Cam O’Brien and red-shirt sophomore designated hitter Garrett Hope combined for five hits, five runs and nine RBI. Hope recorded a grand slam in a six-run sixth inning and also doubled and scored in a four-run fifth.
Vance (2-1) held the Bucs to one hit and struck out seven in his five innings of work, while sophomore right-hander Jackson Sigman and freshman righty Shane Ennis each tossed a scoreless inning in relief.
Kevin Phillips and Aaron Maher combined for four of ETSU’s five hits, while Nathan Millsap and Andrew Lasure posted the RBIs in the two-run eighth inning. Phillips went 2 for 4 and scored a run, while Maher – who entered the game in the seventh – posted hits in his two at-bats. Junior Trey York had his streak snapped at 11 games, but he has still reached base safely in all 12 games after working a fourth-inning walk.
Junior right hander Lee Haeberle suffered his second straight loss (2-2) after he was tagged for nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits in 4.1 innings of work. Junior Josh Jacques and sophomore Connor Bartow were the only Buccaneer relievers to register scoreless appearances. Jacques – who hasn’t allowed a run in his three outings this season – tossed 1.1 scoreless innings and struck out three, while Bartow held West Virginia without a run in the eighth.
The Mountaineers got all the offense they needed in the first two innings as West Virginia plated a run in the first and three more in the second, but the visitors kept piling it on over the next four frames en route to building a 17-0 lead before the Bucs plated their two runs in the eighth.
The 17 runs allowed by the Blue and Gold were the most since surrendering 18 to Hartford last March, while the 20 hits were the most since FGCU finished with 21 last May.
ETSU suffered its third straight loss with the setback and dipped to 7-5, while the Mountaineers moved to 6-6.
The series finale is set for 1:05 p.m. on Sunday as junior right-hander Griffin Krieg goes to the hill for the Bucs and West Virginia counters with sophomore righty Chad Donato.