Furman 20, USC Upstate 6
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Jordan Simpson homered twice and Furman pounded out a season-high 22 hits en route to a 20-6 victory over USC Upstate in baseball action Tuesday evening at Latham Stadium.
The win, Furman's third in its last four games, improves the Paladins to 16-19 on the season, while the loss drops the Spartans to 13-24.
The 20 runs marked Furman’s highest output since beating Indiana, 24-10, in 2001. The Paladins banged out a season-high four home runs, including a pair by Simpson, who clocked a three-run job in the first inning and two-run shot in the fourth, part of a 3-for-4, five-RBI, three-run performance. The two route jobs gave the junior second baseman a team-leading 10 home runs on the campaign and the five RBIs matched a career high.
A trio of freshmen contributed in a big way, led by Sims Griffith, who went 3-for-5 and drove in four runs, and Brandon Elmy, who homered, drove in two runs, and scored twice in a 3-for-4 performance. Landon Kay hit Furman's final home run of the game, a three-run blast in a six-run eighth inning, capping a 3-for-6 effort at the plate that included three RBIs and three runs scored.
Chris Ohmstede (3-for-5) and Jake Jones (2-for-5) both drove in a two runs for the heavy hitting Paladins.
Harry Norman (1-0) rode a six-run Furman first inning to the win, throwing a predetermined two innings of two-hit shutout ball as the Paladins showcased six pitchers in the contest.
Ohmstede's RBI single opened the scoring and was followed by Simpson's three-run round-tripper to left field, giving the Paladins a 4-0 lead. After a Cameron Whitehead single, Elmy rocketed a line drive over the left-center field fence to stake Norman and the Paladins to a 6-0 advantage.
Furman made it 8-0 with Griffith's two-run single in the third and upped it to 10-0 an inning later on Simpson's second blast of the game, a two-run shot that landed at the base of a magnolia tree high up on the hill above the left field fence.
Leading 10-2 after six innings, the Paladins tacked on four more in the seventh and six in the eighth, highlighted by Griffith's two-run double down the left-field line and Kay's three-run long ball, his second home run of the season.
Furman's early offensive explosion came at the expense of Spartan starting and losing pitcher Dylan Parker (2-2), who surrendered eight runs on 10 hits in just 2 1/3 innings.
Charlie Carpenter led USC Upstate, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs.
The Paladins open a three-game Southern Conference series at Western Carolina on Friday.
Samford 13, Troy 2
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford baseball team scored 13 runs on 14 hits on its way to a 13-2 win over in-state rival Troy on Tuesday evening at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
Samford was led at the plate by Frankie Navarrete, going 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Austin Edens went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs. Richard Greene also homered for Samford in a 1-for-4 performance. T.J. Dixon, Alex Lee and Jared Watson had two hits each, with Watson driving in three runs for the Bulldogs.
Wyatt Burns (1-0) pitched three innings in relief, giving up no runs on four hits to earn the win on the mound for Samford. Burns struck out three batters and walked none. Tristan Widra, Devan Traglia, Mikel Belcher and Andres Gracia also pitched in the game for Samford.
For Troy at the plate, Clay Holcomb went 2-for-4 to lead the way. Logan Hill and Reid Long drove in a run each for the Trojans. Ben Tidwell (0-2) pitched three innings, surrendering four runs on six hits to take the loss on the mound for Troy.
Samford jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Edens doubled to drive in Heath Quinn with the game's first run. Watson later singled to drive in both Edens and Lee for a 3-0 Samford lead.
Troy came back with two runs in the top of the third inning to cut the Samford lead to 3-2. Long drove in the Trojans' first run with a sacrifice fly that scored Brody Binder. The second run of the inning was scored on a sacrifice fly by Hill, scoring Holcomb to bring Troy to within one run of Samford.
The Bulldogs added a run in the bottom of the third inning to make the score 4-2. Lee singled to left field and later scored on a wild pitch for a two-run Samford lead.
Samford took control of the game with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Danny Rodriguez singled and Greene reached base on an error to start the inning. Navarrete then hit a three-run homer to left field for a 7-2 Samford lead.
The Bulldogs added five runs in the sixth inning to push their lead to 12-2. Greene homered to lead off the inning. Edens also homered in the inning, and Quinn and Watson drove in a run each for the Bulldogs. Dixon also scored on an error in the inning as Samford built a 10-run advantage.
Samford plated one final run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Navarrete singled to lead off the inning and later scored on a wild pitch to make the final score 13-2.
With the win, Samford improves to 18-17 on the season. Troy falls to 20-18 with the loss. The win was the fourth straight for Samford, the longest winning streak of the season for the Bulldogs.
Samford will return to action Friday night when the Bulldogs open a three-game Southern Conference series at ETSU. The teams are scheduled to play Friday at 5:05 p.m. (CDT), Saturday at 1:05 p.m. and Sunday at 12:05 p.m.
Clemson 14, Western Carolina 2
CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson pounded out 11 base hits and capitalized on nine walks as it cruised past Western Carolina, 14-2, Tuesday night in the back end of a midweek nonconference baseball home-and-home at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
Western Carolina (15-17) was limited to just three base hits, scoring both of its runs on solo home runs by Austin Atwell and Matt Smith. Atwell’s sixth-inning solo shot over the fence in left-center field was the first base hit for the Catamounts off Clemson starter Jake Long. It also extended his current hitting streak to a career-long 10 straight games.
Smith also extended a pair of streaks with his eighth-inning poke over the fence in right. The Fredricktown, Ohio, product has reached base safely in 12 consecutive games including a current nine-game hitting streak.
Freshman Brett Pope collected WCU’s only other base hit on the night with a ninth inning, two-out single into left field.
Clemson (19-18) scored all of its runs between the second and fifth inning, seizing control of the game with a seven-run fourth inning. The Tigers scored three in the second inning before adding one in the third despite loading the bases. Already ahead 11-0, Clemson tacked on three runs in the fifth to complete its scoring.
Freshman starter Brendan Nail (2-3) took the loss after surrendering seven runs – six earned – on six hits through three innings on the mound, facing three batters in the fourth. The southpaw from Greensboro, N.C., issued four walks and a hit batter and had one strikeout. Reliever Nate Williams was also tagged for seven runs – five of which were earned – on five hits in an inning and a third, also giving up four walks.
Freshman Dylan Biumi tossed a career-long 2 2/3 innings of hitless, scoreless relief out of the bullpen, while redshirt sophomore Dillon Bray struck out one in an inning of work.
Clemson starter Jake Long (1-0) earned the victory, tossing six innings of one-run, one-hit baseball. The senior right-hander held the Catamounts hitless through 5 1/3 innings before Atwell’s round-tripper.
Seven Tigers recorded hits, with catcher Chris Okey leading the way with a 3-for-4 outing, driving in two runs. Glenn Batson also plated a pair on a 2-for-4 performance, with Reed Rohlman scoring three runs on a 2-for-2, two-walk night. Outfielder Tyler Slaton finished 1-for-2 but drove home a game-high four runs.
Western Carolina is scheduled to return to the diamond on Wednesday night in the first of two seasonal meetings with Tennessee Tech (15-19). First pitch is 5 p.m. at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
Mercer vs. Georgia State washed out
DECATUR, Ga. – The Mercer University baseball team led Georgia State 6-0 after four innings of play, but the game was canceled in the fifth frame when heavy thunderstorms rolled into the area on Tuesday night.
Due to NCAA rules that require the teams to complete five innings, the game and its statistics will not count. The two teams will not reschedule the contest.
The Bears pounded out 11 hits and six runs through the first three frames, including two apiece from Devin Bonin, Kyle Lewis and Charlie Madden. Jose Hernandez and Madden each drove in a pair of runs to pace the team, as eight players found the hits column on the night.
The run support was more than enough for Mercer starter DJ Johnson, who shined on the mound for the second straight game. Johnson tossed four scoreless innings, striking out three while surrendering just two hits.
Mercer’s bats were hot from the start, putting together three hits in the opening frame to grab a 1-0 lead on Jackson Ware’s RBI single. The Bears tacked on two more scores in the second inning for a 3-0 advantage behind a solo home run by Charlie Madden and a run-scoring double from Kyle Lewis.
The third inning proved to be no different, as Mercer continued to pour it on with three runs on four hits. Madden drove in his second run of the game to start the scoring, plating Danny Edgeworth with a bloop single over the pitcher. Pinch-hitter Jose Hernandez made it a 6-0 lead moments later, pushing Howard Joe and Trey Truitt across with a single to right field.
The Bears return to Claude Smith Field pm Wednesday as they host in-state foe Georgia Southern. Mercer will look to sweep the season series when the action begins at 6 p.m.
ETSU at Appalachian State postponed
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Due to inclement weather expected to hit the Tri-Cities area, Tuesday’s ETSU-Appalachian State baseball game has been moved to Wednesday, April 29, at Thomas Stadium. First pitch will still be set for 6:05 p.m.
The Buccaneers return to action Wednesday night when ETSU hosts ACC foe Virginia Tech at 6:05 p.m.
Wednesday’s game will be video streamed for free on the SoCon Digital Network (weather permitting), along with being broadcast on WXSM-AM 640 The Extreme Sports Monster as “Voice of the Bucs” Jay Sandos will have the call starting with the Atmos Energy Dugout Show, which begins 30 minutes prior to first pitch.
UNCG at Duke postponed to Wednesday
DURHAM, N.C. – Due to the threat of inclement weather, UNCG’s game at Duke, originally schedule for 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, has been moved to Wednesday, April 15. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. at Jack Coombs Field.
The Blue Devils and the Spartans meet for the 15th time in program history. Duke holds an 8-6 lead in the all-time series.
VMI vs. VCU canceled
LEXINGTON, Va. – VMI's scheduled baseball game against the VCU Rams has been canceled due to the rain blanketing the Commonwealth of Virginia on Tuesday. There are currently no plans to make up the contest.
The Keydets return to action Wednesday night, playing host to the Richmond Spiders at 6 p.m.
The Citadel’s Wednesday game at Liberty postponed
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Wednesday's scheduled baseball game between The Citadel and Liberty has been postponed due to the high probability of rain in the Charleston area.
The contest has been tentatively rescheduled for May 6 at 5 p.m. Check The Citadel baseball schedule page for updates on the Liberty game as well as the remainder of the 2015 campaign.
The Bulldogs are back in action Friday at 6 p.m. when they open a three-game Southern Conference series at UNCG. The series continues on Saturday at 2 and Sunday at 1.
Friday's game can be seen on ESPN3. Saturday's and Sunday's games will be available on the SoCon Digital Network.