ETSU 10, Appalachian State 4
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Junior Jeremy Taylor broke a Buccaneer single-game record with four stolen bases and scored four runs, while junior right-hander Lee Haeberle tossed five strong innings as ETSU wrapped up its homestand with a 10-4 win over Appalachian State on Wednesday night at Thomas Stadium.
ETSU (17-27) got off to a strong start offensively to pick up its third win in four games as the Blue and Gold scored seven runs in the first two innings, while eight Buccaneers accounted for the 11 hits. Overall, the Bucs have posted double-digit runs and hits in back-to-back games.
Taylor, who tied a career high with four runs, extended his streak of reaching safely to 19 straight games after going 1-for-2 with one double, three walks and two RBIs, while Chris Cook, Hagen Owenby and Aaron Maher finished with two hits each. Cook doubled and drove in two runs and also pitched a scoreless ninth inning with one strikeout. Owenby and Maher both drove in a run and Kevin Phillips went 1-for-3 with a double, a run scored and two RBIs.
Haeberle (4-6) allowed three runs on four hits with four strikeouts and two walks in five innings to earn the win, and the Buccaneer bullpen held Appalachian State (13-32) to one run on two hits in the final four innings. Freshman right-hander Logan Gentry tossed two perfect innings with three strikeouts and sophomore southpaw Jamin McCann allowed one run on two hits with a strikeout in one inning of relief.
Despite surrendering a pair of solo home runs in the top of the first, Haeberle bounced back by limiting the Mountaineers to one run on two hits in his final four innings.
The Buccaneer hurler was quickly rewarded with three runs in the first and ETSU added four more in the second to go ahead, 7-3.
Taylor worked a walk and stole third before scoring on a wild pitch in the bottom of the first, while Trey York, who reached on the first of two catcher’s interference calls on the night, sprinted home on Phillips’ RBI double to left. Phillips later scored on Maher’s single to left, putting the Blue and Gold ahead by a run.
After the Mountaineers tied it a 3 in the top of the second, the Bucs exploded with four runs on four hits in the bottom of the frame to regain the lead for good. Senior Zach Thompson began the inning with a walk, while Christian Bailey, Taylor and Cook connected on three consecutive doubles to go up by four.
Haeberle and Gentry then held the Mountaineers scoreless for the next five innings and the Bucs tacked on a run in the fourth to extend their lead to, 8-3. Taylor reached on an error to start the frame, stole third and scored on Cook’s RBI single to center.
The Mountaineers cut their deficit in half in the eighth when Dillon Dobson connected on his second home run of the night, but ETSU responded with two runs in the bottom half, resulting in the 10-4 score. Again, it was Taylor who ignited the spurt, as he walked and moved to second on Cook’s sacrifice bunt. From there, the speedster swiped third for his record-breaking fourth steal and hustled home on Phillips’ sac fly to center. Meanwhile, York, who reached on his second catcher’s interference call, scored on Andrew Lasure’s pinch-hit double to right.
Cook made his third straight relief appearance and pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to wrap up the six-run nonconference victory.
To go with his four runs and four stolen bases, Taylor also made a highlight-reel catch in the top of the fifth when he robbed Dobson of extra bases with a sliding catch in right-center.
Freshman right-hander Reed Howell suffered the loss (1-5) as he was tagged for seven runs (five earned) on six hits in two innings, while Dobson had two of Appalachian State’s six hits with the two solo homers. Conner Leonard also homered in the setback.
The Buccaneers return to action this weekend as ETSU heads to Greenville, S.C., for a critical Southern Conference series at Furman, beginning Friday at 7 p.m.
Samford 4, UAB 2
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford baseball built an early lead and held on late for a 4-2 win over crosstown rival UAB on Wednesday evening at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
Samford used nine pitchers during the game, with the group combining for nine strikeouts and just one walk. Tristan Widra (1-1) pitched two innings, giving up no runs on one hit to earn the win for the Bulldogs. Andres Gracia tossed the final inning without allowing a hit to pick up his ninth save of the season. Eric Wright, Caleb Maggio, Jesse Travis, Devan Traglia, Philip Flach, Mikel Belcher and Mark Donham also saw time on the mound for Samford.
For Samford at the plate, Heath Quinn went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Alex Lee went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs for the Bulldogs. With Quinn's homer, Samford extended its nation-leading total to 61 so far this season.
UAB was led offensively by Esteban Tresgallo and Chase Davis, who each went 2-for-4. Jeff Schalk drove in both of the Blazers' runs, going 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.
Ryan Ruggles (4-2) pitched two innings, giving up four runs on six hits to take the loss for the Blazers. UAB used five pitchers in the contest. The Blazers' five hurlers combined for seven strikeouts and no walks.
Samford jumped on top early with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. With one out in the inning and the bases loaded, Lee singled up the middle to drive in Quinn and Hunter Swilling to give Samford the early 2-0 lead.
The Bulldogs added two runs in the bottom of the second inning to push their lead to 4-0. With one out in the inning, T.J. Dixon reached base on an infield single. With two outs, Quinn homered to left field for a four-run Samford lead.
The score stayed at 4-0 until UAB got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning. With one out in the inning, Griffin Gum singled up the middle. Schalk then homered to right field to cut the Samford lead to 4-2.
Neither team could score for the final three innings as Samford came away with the 4-2 win. Samford has now won 10 of its last 11 games against UAB. Samford improves to 24-19 with the win, while UAB falls to 23-19.
Samford will return to action Friday evening when the Bulldogs open a three-game Southern Conference home series with The Citadel. The teams are scheduled to play Friday at 6 p.m. CDT, Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 12 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field.