SoCon BSB Championship: Game 12 - ETSU vs Samford - Highlights

Box Score

Greenville, SC

Baseball

Samford Bulldogs

Samford Bulldogs Baseball team

ETSU Buccaneers

ETSU Buccaneers Baseball team

SoCon

2025-05-25 12:00 AM (EDT) | Baseball | Samford Bulldogs vs. ETSU Buccaneers | #6385348 | COMPLETE

SoCon BSB Championship: Game 12 - ETSU vs Samford - Highlights (32cBIHLR34c)

Mercer Baseball

Mercer

Before you get some sleep, hear from @Reidfstrom 🗣️🎙️

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TK muscles one out to right field for the go-ahead run 💪

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Dev sent that to the 🌙😳

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What a moment @DevynMceachron 🧡

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Shep comes through and Graz shows off the wheels 💨

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Cole's final line of relief:

1.2 IP // 1 H // 0 R // 0 ER // 0 BB // 2 SO

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Yep, that'll do 👏

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UNCG Baseball

UNC Greensboro

North Carolina Greensboro

Starting the series right! 💪

UNCG puts up 9 runs with two home runs for an easy 9-5 victory! 😤

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Just how we drew it up ✍️

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Samford Baseball

Samford University

Head Coach @tdavid_4 talking after his team's 5-4 win over Little Rock Friday night.

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<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, SC – VMI senior slugger Grayson Fitzwater was named SoCon Player of the Week, and Western Carolina junior reliever Mason Snyder was named SoCon Pitcher of the Week following games played from March 2 to March 8. Fitzwater (Suffolk, VA / Nansemond River HS) powered the Keydets to a four-game sweep of Western Illinois, sizzling at the plate with a .727 batting average, 2.000 slugging percentage, and a prodigious 2.789 OPS. He went 8-for-11 at the plate with six runs scored, four home runs, two doubles, and nine RBI in the series, and struck out only once. Fitzwater drew seven walks – including five intentional passes – and still managed at least one hit in all four games. His performance in Friday’s opening doubleheader earned Fitzwater D1Baseball.com’s Mid Major LOUD! Performance of the Day on March 6. He went 2-for-3 in an 8-7 win, launching the tie-breaking homer in the eighth. In the nightcap, he went 4-for-4 with three home runs and five RBI, sparking a comeback from a 7-2 deficit and tying the game in the seventh before a walk-off home run by teammate Seth Buchanan. He finished the day with an .857 batting average (6-for-7), four home runs, seven RBI, and a galactic 4.168 OPS. Fitzwater’s big day limited his opportunities the rest of the series, with Western Illinois choosing to pitch around his incandescent bat. All five of his intentional walks were issued over the final two games. He finished 1-for-2 in each of those contests with an RBI to complete the series sweep. Fitzwater now has 47 career home runs, the most in VMI history. Three more homers would put him in the SoCon Top 10. Matt Raleigh (Western Carolina) is the current SoCon home run king with 68 to his credit from 1989-1992. The SoCon’s Preseason Player of the Year, Fitzwater, is batting .370 with six home runs, five doubles, and 22 RBI through 16 games. He is among the league leaders in slugging percentage, on-base percentage, and home runs so far this season, leading VMI to a 14-2 start. Snyder (Ocilla, GA / Irwin County HS) continued his strong early-season effort on the mound for the Catamounts, with two scoreless relief appearances in wins over No. 8 Georgia and Radford. In the win over the hot-hitting Bulldogs, Mason came on with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning after Georgia smashed a pair of home runs and a double to erase an early WCU lead. He coaxed a groundout to end the fourth, came through with a strikeout, and two clutch ground balls to strand a leadoff triple in the fifth to keep the deficit at one run. Teammate Mason Holton smashed a ninth-inning grand slam that gave WCU the lead for good in a 10-9 win. Snyder was strong again in a 10-0 win over Radford, picking up the win after pitching 4.0 innings of scoreless relief with a season-high seven strikeouts and only one walk. He came on in the fourth and finished the 7.0 inning game against the Highlanders. Snyder is 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA, 22 strikeouts, and three walks in 18.0 innings over five appearances, holding batters to a .153 average. VMI (14-2) will play its second road game of the season on Wednesday at Norfolk State. First pitch is set for 3:00. Western Carolina (10-6) plays at App State on Wednesday night at 6:00. Also nominated for Player of the Week: Nathan Conner (ETSU), Phillips Daniels (The Citadel), Eli Stephens (Mercer), Jake Barbour (UNCG), Mason Holton (Western Carolina), Cade Collins (Wofford) Also nominated for Pitcher of the Week: Cooper Jones (ETSU), Garrett Lambert (Mercer), Hunter Shuey (UNCG), Buddy Baker (VMI). 2025-26 SoCon Player of the WeekFeb. 16 – Andrew Quarless, R-So., Western Carolina (C, Winston-Salem, NC)Feb. 23 – Braydon Kersey, Jr., Mercer (DH/INF, Alpharetta, GA)Mar. 2 – Titan Kamaka, Sr., Mercer (SS, Orlando, FL)Mar. 9 – Grayson Fitzwater, Sr., VMI (1B, Suffolk, VA) 2025-26 SoCon Pitcher of the WeekFeb. 16 – Andrew Marble, Jr., Samford (RHP, Hurley, MS)Feb. 23 – Michael Harpster, Jr., ETSU (RHP, Lynchburg, VA)Mar. 2 – Bryce Coulter, Jr., The Citadel (RHP, Sumter, SC)Mar. 9 – Mason Snyder, Jr., Western Carolina (RHP, Ocilla, GA)</div>

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The Southern Conference

Southern Conference

Western Carolina

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<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, SC – Mercer senior Titan Kamaka was named SoCon Player of the Week and The Citadel junior Bryce Coulter was named SoCon Pitcher of the Week following the third week of the 2026 season. Kamaka (Orlando, FL / West Orange HS) led Mercer to a 5-0 record on the week, slashing .615 / .727 / .826 in a series sweep of Penn and a pair of midweek wins vs. Florida A&M. He drove in five runs, had three doubles, patiently drew seven walks, and scored three runs in five starts at shortstop. In the series finale vs. Penn, Kamaka went 4-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI to power a 10-5 win. Kamaka currently leads the SoCon with a .514 average on 19 hits through 14 games played. He has walked 13 times and owns a stellar .623 on base percentage. Kamaka had a perfect fielding week at shortstop and has only one error in 42 chances so far this season.  Coulter (Sumter, SC / Sumter HS) was terrific against No. 21 Florida State in his longest outing of the season. The junior righthander tossed 8.0 innings, scattered four hits, and struck out four Seminoles while allowing an unearned run. He left the game with the score tied and received a no decision when Florida State pushed across a run in the 10th inning. The start was a strong bounce back performance for Coulter, who lasted only three innings in a no decision vs. Marshall last week. He leads the Bulldogs this season with a 3.38 ERA among starters, and 16.0 innings pitched. Mercer (11-1) will put a nine-game win streak on the line Wednesday afternoon at Florida State, before returning home to host Alcorn State in a three-game series this weekend. The Citadel hosts Georgia Southern on Wednesday night, then hits the road for a three-game series at Kentucky this weekend. Also nominated for Player of the Week: Nathan Conner (ETSU), Jacob Dilley (UNC Greensboro), Owen Prince VMI), Jake Souders (Samford), Trey Spees (Western Carolina). Also nominated for Pitcher of the Week: Tadan Bell (ETSU), Ethan Nobles (UNC Greensboro), Aidan Hayse (Mercer), Clark Driscoll (VMI), Owen Austin (Western Carolina). 2025-26 SoCon Player of the WeekFeb. 16 – Andrew Quarless, R-So., Western Carolina (C, Winston-Salem, NC)Feb. 23 – Braydon Kersey, Jr., Mercer (DH/INF, Alpharetta, GA)March 2 – Titan Kamaka, Sr., Mercer (SS, Orlando, FL) 2025-26 SoCon Pitcher of the WeekFeb. 16 – Andrew Marble, Jr., Samford (RHP, Hurley, MS)Feb. 23 – Michael Harpster, Jr., ETSU (RHP, Lynchburg, VA)March 2 – Bryce Coulter, Jr., The Citadel (RHP, Sumter, SC) </div>

SoCon POW March 2 Baseball

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<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, SC – Mercer sophomore Braydon Kersey was named SoCon Player of the Week and ETSU junior Michael Harpster was named SoCon Pitcher of the Week following the second week of the 2026 season. Kersey (Alpharetta, GA / Alpharetta HS) showed off his versatility last week in four wins for the Bears, batting .400 with four runs scored, a double, two home runs, and 9 RBI at the plate, and picking up a save in two appearances out of the bullpen. Kersey’s first career home run came in the eighth inning of Friday’s series opener against preseason Ivy League favorite Columbia – a grand slam that put an exclamation point on Mercer’s comeback win over the Lions. He continued to shine the following day, going 3-for-5 with a double and another home run in a 20-6 victory. Kersey closed his weekend with two hits and a stolen base at the plate and came on to pick up the save in a 5-4 decision that capped the sweep. He also had a relief appearance in a midweek win over Georgia State, hurling a scoreless frame. Kersey is batting .296 on the season with 11 RBI in seven games played. Harpster (Lynchburg, VA / E.C. Glass HS) was sharp in his start against Sacred Heart, firing 5.0 no-hit, shutout innings to set the stage for a 26-3 win by ETSU. He struck out the side in the first inning and finished with nine strikeouts in the win. Harpster allowed only three batted balls to leave the infield and ended each of his five innings with a swinging strikeout. The junior righty has 13 strikeouts in 8.2 innings overall this season. Mercer (6-1) hosts Florida A&M in a two-game midweek series on Tuesday and Wednesday. ETSU (6-1) hosts App State on Wednesday in Johnson City. Also nominated for Player of the Week: Brantley Truitt (UNC Greensboro), Axel Melendez (ETSU), Zachary Hunt (The Citadel), Cole Cook (VMI), Wyatt Stanley (Western Carolina) Also nominated for Pitcher of the Week: Blayne Newman (Wofford), Noah Chapman (UNC Greensboro), Jess Ackerman (Mercer), Will Holmes (The Citadel), Hunter Sipe (VMI), Evan Myers (Western Carolina) 2025-26 SoCon Player of the WeekFeb. 16 – Andrew Quarless, R-So., Western Carolina (C, Winston-Salem, NC)Feb. 23 – Braydon Kersey, Jr., Mercer (DH/INF, Alpharetta, GA) 2025-26 SoCon Pitcher of the WeekFeb. 16 – Andrew Marble, Jr., Samford (RHP, Hurley, MS)Feb. 23 – Michael Harpster, Jr., ETSU (RHP, Lynchburg, VA) </div>

Baseball Players of the Week Feb. 23

East Tennessee State University

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<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, SC – Samford junior Andrew Marble was named SoCon Pitcher of the Week and Western Carolina redshirt sophomore Noah Quarless was named SoCon Player of the Week following the opening weekend of baseball around the league. Marble (Hurley, MS / East Central HS) was strong in his first start of the season for the Bulldogs, hurling 5.1 shutout innings with only one hit allowed. The righthander fanned four batters and walked one, limiting Belmont to an .059 batting average in a 10-1 victory. Samford took two of three in the series against the Bruins. He retired the first nine batters he faced before allowing a single in the top of the fourth. He recovered with another strikeout and got out of the inning unscathed. Marble retired the final five batters he faced before exiting with one out in the sixth. Quarless (Winston-Salem, NC / Reagan HS) leaned on the dramatic to power Western Carolina’s sweep of George Washington in Cullowhee. The Catamounts’ catcher delivered two walk-off hits in the series. He drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the opener and delivered a walk-off home run to complete a 7-5 comeback win. Came on as a pinch hitter in the finale, driving in the winning run on a walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth. Quarless finished the week with a .600 batting average, a .600 on base percentage and a 2.000 OPS with two sacrifice flies, three walks, three runs scored, and five RBI. He also threw out a runner with a nice throw in the opener. Samford (2-1) hosts Alabama in a midweek contest on Tuesday, February 17. Western Carolina (3-0) travels to USC Upstate on Tuesday. Also nominated for Pitcher of the Week: Carter Oliff (ETSU), Alec Bouchard (Wofford), Carter Burnette (Western Carolina), Collin Ewaldsen (Mercer), Peyton Dhein (VMI). Also nominated for Player of the Week: Cole Cook (VMI), Harrison Campi (Wofford), Henry Ferguson (ETSU, Luke Boykin (Samford), Chris Katz (Mercer). 2025-26 SoCon Pitcher of the WeekFeb. 16 – Andrew Marble, Jr., Samford (RHP, Hurley, MS) 2025-26 SoCon Player of the WeekFeb. 16 – Noah Quarless, R-So., Western Carolina (C, Winston-Salem, NC)</div>

SoCon Weekly Baseball Feb. 16

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<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, SC – Samford has been picked as the favorite to win the 2026 regular season title in the preseason Southern Conference baseball poll. Ballots were submitted by the league’s eight head coaches. The top of the poll was tight, with Samford garnering four first-place votes and 45 total points to edge Mercer (44 points) and ETSU (38 points). The Bears picked up three first-place votes and ETSU appeared first on one ballot. The coaches also selected the Preseason All-Conference Team and both a Preseason Player and Pitcher of the Year. Samford and Mercer each had seven choices overall to pace the All-Conference team, with the Bulldogs leading the way with six men on the first team. VMI first baseman Grayson Fitzwater (Suffolk, VA / Nansemond River HS) was named Player of the Year and Samford righty Mason Blasche(Hoover, AL / Hoover HS) earned Pitcher of the Year honors. Both were also named first-team All-SoCon. Fitzwater is the top returning slugger in the SoCon after batting .315 last season with 17 home runs and 65 RBI. The senior posted a 1.065 OPS, scored 53 runs, legged out 13 doubles and stole 11 bases in 13 attempts. He was a first-team All-SoCon selection in 2025. Blasche led the SoCon in wins last season, going 10-0 with a sparkling 3.24 ERA in 16 appearances (11 starts) for the Bulldogs. A second-team All-SoCon choice in 2025, Blasche fanned 56 batters and walked 13 in 72.1 innings of work. He also had one save. Blasche was 5-0 in SoCon contests. Nine players who earned All-SoCon honors last season appeared on the 2026 preseason All-SoCon team. In addition to Fitzwater and Blasche, ETSU relief pitcher Derek McCarley and outfielder Jamie Palmese, Samford catcher Cade Carr, second baseman Jeffrey Ince, and third baseman Parker McDonald, The Citadel outfielder TJ Anderson, and VMI outfielder Owen Prince built on their 2025 success with preseason accolades. All eight teams had at least one player on the preseason All-SoCon team. The 2026 regular season gets underway on Friday, February 13, with a full slate of action across the Southern Conference. All eight teams begin their season at home that day. 2026 SoCon Opening Day Schedule | Friday, February 13 (All Times Eastern)ETSU vs. Marist (Johnson City, TN) – 3:00 pmVMI vs. Delaware State (Lexington, VA) – 3:00 pmWestern Carolina vs. George Washington (Cullowhee, NC) – 4:00 pmUNC Greensboro vs. Kentucky (Greensboro, NC) – 4:00 pmThe Citadel vs. Liberty (Charleston, SC) – 4:00 pmSamford vs. Belmont (Homewood, AL) – 5:00 pmWofford vs. Mercyhurst (Spartanburg, SC) – 5:30 pmMercer vs. Troy (Macon, GA) – 6:00 pm Preseason Poll (first place votes in parentheses) 1.     Samford (4) – 452.     Mercer (3) - 443.     ETSU (1) – 384.     The Citadel – 305.     Western Carolina – 246.     UNC Greensboro - 167.     VMI - 148.     Wofford - 13 Preseason Player of the Year: Grayson Fitzwater, 1B, VMI (Sr., Suffolk, VA / Nansemond River HS)Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Mason Blasche, RHP, Samford (So., Hoover, AL / Hoover HS) Preseason All-SoCon First TeamSP – Mason Blasche, SamfordSP – Michael Harpster, ETSUSP – Garrett Lambert, MercerSP – Davis Wright, Western CarolinaRP – Derek McCarley, ETSURP – Champ Davis, WoffordRP – Collin Ewaldsen, MercerC – Cade Carr, Samford1B – Grayson Fitzwater, VMI2B – Jeffrey Ince, SamfordSS – Trent Turner, Western Carolina3B – Parker McDonald, SamfordOF – Jake Souders, SamfordOF – Bradley Garner, VMIOF – Jamie Palmese, ETSUDH – Trey Spees, Western Carolina Preseason All-SoCon Second TeamSP – Will Holmes, The CitadelSP – Noah Chapman, UNCGSP – Andrew Stanley, The CitadelSP – Jess Ackerman, MercerRP – Braydon Kersey, MercerRP – Owen Austin, Western CarolinaRP – Ryan White, Western CarolinaC – Phillips Daniels, The Citadel1B – James Layman, Wofford1B – Tristan Curless, ETSU2B – Tanner Hardin, WoffordSS – Titan Kamaka, Mercer3B – Brant Baughcum, MercerOF – Owen Prince, VMIOF – Axel Melendez, ETSUOF – TJ Anderson, The CitadelDH – Trey Higgins, Samford</div>

Baseball 2026 Preseason

SoCon_Baseball_Preseason

Nashville, TN

2025-05-31 02:00 PM (CDT) | Baseball | Wright State Raiders vs. ETSU Buccaneers | #6385707 | COMPLETE

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BASE Roundup - 5/31/25

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2025-05-30 01:00 PM (CDT) | Baseball | ETSU Buccaneers vs. Louisville Cardinals | #6385704 | COMPLETE

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Louisville rallies to knock off ETSU, 8-3, in opening game of Nashville Regional 5/30/25

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ETSU's Cooper Torres Named Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalist 5/27/25

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2025 ETSU NCAA Baseball Selection

<div class="payload-richtext">GREENVILLE, S.C. – ETSU captured the 2025 Southern Conference Baseball Championship with a thrilling 7-5 comeback victory over Samford on Sunday afternoon at Fluor Field. The Buccaneers overcame an early four-run deficit to claim their first SoCon tournament title. Samford exploded out of the gate in the first inning, plating four runs on three hits and taking advantage of an ETSU error. Jeffrey Ince led off with a single to center, followed by a walk for Cade Carr. Parker McDonald then hit an RBI single down the right field line, followed by Matthew Strand's RBI single to center. Two more runs crossed the plate courtesy of a throwing error by ETSU shortstop Cody Miller and a wild pitch. The Buccaneers answered back in the bottom of the first when Tristan Curless lifted a sacrifice fly to score Miller, who had reached base and stolen third, cutting the deficit to 4-1. Samford starter Brooks Rice and ETSU's Landon Crumbley matched zeros in the second and third innings before the Bulldogs extended their lead to 5-1 in the fourth inning when Gus Gandy doubled down the left field line and scored on Ince's RBI single up the middle. The turning point came in the fifth inning when Henry Ferguson singled up the middle to start the rally, and JD Yakubinis followed with a towering two-run homer to left-center field, his fifth of the season, cutting Samford's lead to 5-3. The Buccaneers delivered a four-run sixth inning as Grant Gallagher walked and advanced to second on a balk before Jamie Palmese tripled down the right field line to tie the game at 5-5. After Yakubinis drove in Palmese with an RBI single, Miller singled to put runners on the corners. Cooper Torres capped the rally with a two-run double to left-center, giving ETSU a 7-5 lead they would not relinquish. Crumbley earned the victory for ETSU, allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits over six innings while striking out four. Brady Frederick came in relief for the Buccaneers, shutting out Samford over the final three innings to earn his fourth save of the season. Frederick struck out three batters and allowed no hits, retiring nine of the 10 batters he faced. Walt Nadzak Award (Tournament Most Outstanding Player) Cooper Torres, Sr., DH, ETSU Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team) Tristan Curless, Sr., 1B, ETSU 2025 All-Tournament Team SP - Mason Blasche, SAM SP - Colton Cosper, MER SP - Alec Bouchard, WOF RP - Evan Steckmesser, SAM RP - Terry Busse, MER RP - Brady Frederick, ETSU C - JD Yakubinis, ETSU 1B - Jackson Harris, SAM 2B - Travis Elliott, CIT SS - Cody Miller, ETSU 3B - Aryan Patel, CIT OF - Brayden Corn, WCU OF - Axel Melendez, ETSU OF - Jake Souder, SAM DH - Cooper Torres, ETSU</div>

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2025 SoCon Baseball Championship Recap

2025 Baseball Championship

<div class="payload-richtext">ETSU 14, Samford 8 East Tennessee State erupted for 14 runs on 10 hits to overwhelm Samford 14-8 in the opening game of the SoCon Championship tournament. The Buccaneers showcased their offensive firepower with a pair of explosive innings that ultimately decided the contest. Samford struck first with a three-run opening frame, highlighted by Jackson Harris's RBI single and Matthew Strand's two-run double to right center. However, ETSU answered immediately with a five-run bottom of the first that featured small ball execution and timely hitting. Cody Miller and Cooper Torres both stole bases to set up the rally, while Axel Melendez delivered a crucial two-RBI single through the right side. The game's decisive moment came in the fourth inning when ETSU sent 11 batters to the plate and scored seven runs to break the game wide open. Tristan Curless launched a three-run homer to right center, and Melendez followed with his own three-run blast to right field, capping a six-hit inning that chased Samford starter Cameron Keshock. Cooper Torres led ETSU's offensive assault, going 2-for-2 with two runs scored, two RBIs, and two walks, including a solo home run in the seventh. Melendez finished with five RBIs on two hits, while Curless drove in three runs. For Samford, Harris collected three hits and two runs scored, while Cade Carr contributed three hits including a double. ETSU starter Michael Harpster earned the victory despite allowing five runs over five innings, striking out seven batters. Samford's Keshock took the loss after surrendering 12 runs (10 earned) in just 3.1 innings of work, walking four and hitting a batter. Mercer 11, The Citadel 10 Mercer utilized a three-run third inning and stellar relief pitching to defeat The Citadel 4-2 in a well-played championship tournament contest. The Bears advance with timely hitting and a dominant performance from their bullpen. After two scoreless innings, Mercer broke through against Citadel starter Anthony Hausner in the third. Michael Graziano led off with a single to left field, setting the stage for Ty Dalley's towering two-run homer to right field. Bradley Frye followed with an RBI double to left field, plating Brant Baughcum and giving the Bears a 3-0 advantage that would prove crucial. The Citadel answered in the fourth inning with a two-run rally of their own. Travis Elliott's single up the middle and Hausner's double to left field set up Thomas Rollauer's RBI single to center field. Lane Tobin's sacrifice fly brought home the second run, cutting Mercer's lead to 3-2. Terry Busse entered in relief of starter Jackson Gaspard and delivered 4.1 innings of shutout baseball, allowing just four hits while striking out four batters to earn the victory. Collin Ewaldsen closed out the ninth inning for his fourth save of the season, working around two singles to preserve the win. Mercer added an insurance run in the ninth when Frye doubled down the left field line and scored on Titan Kamaka's single up the middle, providing the final 4-2 margin. Frye paced Mercer's offense with three hits including two doubles, while Dalley's home run was his 19th of the season. For The Citadel, Hausner and Phillips Daniels each collected two hits, with Daniels recording two doubles. Mercer 4, The Citadel 2 Mercer utilized a three-run third inning and stellar relief pitching to defeat The Citadel 4-2 in a well-played championship tournament contest. The Bears (35-24) advance with timely hitting and a dominant performance from their bullpen. After two scoreless innings, Mercer broke through against Citadel starter Anthony Hausner in the third. Michael Graziano led off with a single to left field, setting the stage for Ty Dalley's towering two-run homer to right field. Bradley Frye followed with an RBI double to left field, plating Brant Baughcum and giving the Bears a 3-0 advantage that would prove crucial. The Citadel (31-26) answered in the fourth inning with a two-run rally of their own. Travis Elliott's single up the middle and Hausner's double to left field set up Thomas Rollauer's RBI single to center field. Lane Tobin's sacrifice fly brought home the second run, cutting Mercer's lead to 3-2. Terry Busse entered in relief of starter Jackson Gaspard and delivered 4.1 innings of shutout baseball, allowing just four hits while striking out four batters to earn the victory. Collin Ewaldsen closed out the ninth inning for his fourth save of the season, working around two singles to preserve the win. Mercer added an insurance run in the ninth when Frye doubled down the left field line and scored on Titan Kamaka's single up the middle, providing the final 4-2 margin. Frye paced Mercer's offense with three hits, including two doubles, while Dalley's home run was his 19th of the season. For The Citadel, Hausner and Phillips Daniels each collected two hits, with Daniels recording two doubles. No. 1 ETSU and No. 4 Mercer Will play in the championship game Sunday, May 24 at noon.</div>

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2025-05-24 12:00 AM (EDT) | Baseball | Mercer Bears vs. The Citadel Bulldogs | #6385346 | COMPLETE

2025-05-24 12:00 AM (EDT) | Baseball | Mercer Bears vs. Samford Bulldogs | #6385347 | COMPLETE

2025-05-24 12:00 AM (EDT) | Baseball | Samford Bulldogs vs. ETSU Buccaneers | #6385345 | COMPLETE

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BASE Recap May 24, 2025

<div class="payload-richtext">No. 3 The Citadel 11, No. 5 Western Carolina 10 GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Citadel rallied from an early deficit to defeat Western Carolina 11-10 in a high-scoring matchup in the 2025 Southern Conference Baseball Championship on Friday afternoon at Fluor Field. The Bulldogs overcame a 6-1 deficit with a five-run fifth inning to advance to the championship game. Anthony Hausner led The Citadel's 15-hit attack with three hits and three RBIs, including a two-run home run in the third inning. Matthew Lively contributed three hits and two RBIs with a pair of doubles, while Travis Elliott collected three hits to help fuel the offensive explosion. Western Carolina jumped out to an early lead behind strong performances from Brayden Corn and Jack Spyke. Corn went 2-for-3 with a home run, two walks, and three runs scored, while Spyke drove in two runs including a solo home run in the fourth inning. The Catamounts rallied for three runs in the ninth inning to make it close but fell just short. The pivotal fifth inning saw The Citadel score five runs to take a 9-6 lead. The rally was highlighted by Lively's two-run double and Aryan Patel's two-RBI single. Western Carolina answered with three runs in the sixth inning to tie the game at 9-9, but The Citadel responded with single runs in the seventh and eighth innings to secure the victory. George Derrick Floyd earned the win for The Citadel, pitching eight innings and allowing 11 hits while striking out five.No. 4 Mercer 8, No. 7 Wofford 6 GREENVILLE, S.C. – Mercer defeated Wofford in an 8-6 victory on Friday night at Fluor Field. The Bears jumped out to a commanding 7-0 lead in the first inning and held off a late Terriers rally to claim the conference title. Mercer's explosive first inning featured home runs by Brant Baughcum and Ely Brown, with Brown's two-run blast capping a seven-run outburst that put the Bears in control early. Baughcum led off the scoring with a solo home run to left center, while Brown followed later in the frame with his three-run homer after Titan Kamaka had walked and reached base. The Bears collected 12 hits in the victory, with Brown leading the offensive attack with a 3-for-4 performance and three RBIs. Parker Lester contributed two hits including an RBI double, while Michael Graziano added two hits and drove in one run. Wofford battled back throughout the game, getting home runs from Tyler Hare in both the second and eighth innings. Hare's two solo shots accounted for three of the Terriers' six runs. The Terriers scored twice in the fifth inning and added two more in the eighth to make it a two run contest but could not complete the comeback. Colton Cosper earned the victory for Mercer, pitching a complete game and allowing eight hits while striking out seven batters. Cosper threw 140 pitches in the championship effort.</div>

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BASE Recap 2 - 5/23/25

<div class="payload-richtext">ETSU 16, Western Carolina 13 ETSU advanced in the 2025 Southern Conference Baseball Championship with a 16-13 victory over Western Carolina at Fluor Field in Greenville, South Carolina. The high-scoring affair featured 29 total runs and 27 hits between the two teams. ETSU jumped out to an early lead, scoring single runs in the first and third innings before Western Carolina responded with two runs in the fourth on a Jack Spyke two-run homer. The pivotal fifth inning saw both teams explode offensively, with Western Carolina plating six runs to take an 8-2 lead. ETSU answer immediately with six runs of their own to tie the game at 8-8. Western Carolina briefly regained the lead with two runs in the sixth, but ETSU seized control with four runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to pull away. The Buccaneers' offensive attack was led by JD Yakubinis, who went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, while Cody Miller contributed two home runs and drove in two runs while stealing two bases. Western Carolina was led by Trent Turner who went 3-for-4 with a triple, a home run, and four RBIs. Jack Spyke added a home run and three RBIs in the losing effort. Western Carolina used eight pitchers and ETSU four. Brady Frederick earned the win for ETSU, while Evan Langston took the loss for Western Carolina. Andrew Ronne recorded the save for the Buccaneers. Samford 12, Wofford 7 Samford defeated Wofford 12-7 in the second game of the SoCon Baseball Championship, powered by an explosive eight-run fifth inning that broke open a close contest. Samford struck first with three runs in the opening inning, highlighted by Parker McDonald's three-run homer. In the fifth inning, Wofford cut the deficit to 3-1 on Tyler Hare's solo home run. However, Samford responded immediately with a decisive eight-run outburst in the bottom of the fifth. The rally featured multiple RBI hits, including a Cade Carr triple that drove in three runs and a Michael Gupton double that plated two more. The inning was aided by a Western Carolina error that allowed additional runs to score. Wofford mounted a comeback attempt in the sixth inning, scoring six runs to make it 11-7. The rally was capped by Niko Brini's two-out, three-RBI double. The Bulldogs added an insurance run in the eighth inning. Jake Souders led Samford's offensive attack with a 3-for-5 performance and two RBIs, while McDonald finished with three RBIs despite his early exit. For Wofford, Brini drove in three runs with two doubles, and Hare contributed a home run and one RBI. Miller Riggins earned the victory for Samford, while Branton Little suffered the loss for Wofford.</div>

2025-05-23 12:00 AM (EDT) | Baseball | Western Carolina Catamounts vs. ETSU Buccaneers | #6385153 | COMPLETE

2025-05-23 12:00 AM (EDT) | Baseball | Wofford Terriers vs. Samford Bulldogs | #6385152 | COMPLETE

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2025 BASE Tourney Recap 5/23

<div class="payload-richtext">No. 5 Western Carolina 10, No. 4 Mercer 3 Greenville, S.C. – Western Carolina defeated Mercer by a score of 10-3 in Southern Conference tournament action at Fluor Field on Thursday afternoon. The Catamounts took control early with a four-run first inning and never relinquished their lead. After Brayden Corn was hit by a pitch and Hayden Friese singled, the Catamounts capitalized on a Mercer error. Jack Spyke reached on a fielding error by third baseman Brant Baughcum that allowed Corn to score the game's first run. Mason Holton then delivered the decisive blow with a three-run homer to right center field, plating Spyke and Friese to give Western Carolina a commanding 4-0 lead. Wyatt Stanley followed with a triple to center field, though the Catamounts were unable to add to their advantage in the inning. The early offensive outburst proved costly for Johnson, who lasted just two-thirds of an inning while allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits with one walk and one strikeout. Western Carolina extended their lead with two more runs in the fourth inning. Trey Spees led off with a single, and Corn followed with his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to right center that made it 6-0. The Catamounts added another run in the fifth when Holton scored on an RBI single by Spees, pushing the advantage to 7-0. Mercer broke through against Western Carolina starter Davis Wright in the sixth inning. After Ely Brown was hit by a pitch and Parker Lester walked, David Falloon doubled to right center to drive in Brown for the Bears' first run. Lester then scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 7-2. The Bears added another run in the seventh when Ty Dalley doubled and eventually scored on a two-out RBI double by Bradley Frye, making it 7-3. Western Carolina put the game away with three runs in the ninth inning. Spyke singled to lead off, and after Holton sacrificed him to second, Stanley delivered an RBI triple. Noah Quarless then singled home Stanley, and Quarless scored when a wild pitch allowed the runners to advance, completing the 10-3 final score. Davis Wright earned the victory for Western Carolina, improving to 5-7 on the season. The right-hander worked 6⅓ innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Josh Ossiander, Ryan White, and Brandon Langley combined to finish the game for the Catamounts. Jeb Johnson took the loss for Mercer, falling to 4-5. The Bears used nine different pitchers in the contest, with Jess Ackerman providing the longest relief stint at 3⅓ innings. Western Carolina was led offensively by Friese, who went 3-for-5, and Stanley, who finished 2-for-4 with a triple and four total bases. Corn contributed a home run and was hit by two pitches, while Holton drove in three runs despite just one hit. For Mercer, Dalley led the way with a 3-for-5 performance, including a double. Frye and Falloon each collected RBI doubles in the losing effort. No. 7 Wofford 12, No. 3 The Citadel 4 Greenville, S.C. – Wofford defeated The Citadel by a score of 12-4 in Southern Conference Championship action at Fluor Field on Thursday evening. The Terriers broke open a close game with seven runs over the sixth and seventh innings to pull away from the Bulldogs. Wofford struck first in the opening inning when Ryan Wynn walked and advanced to second on a throwing error by Citadel pitcher Andrew Stanley during a failed pickoff attempt. Tanner Hardin then delivered an RBI double to right center field to give the Terriers a 1-0 advantage. The Terriers added another run in the second inning on an RBI single by Niko Brini that scored Andrew Mannelly, extending their lead to 2-0 through two frames. After three scoreless innings, Wofford pushed across two more runs in the fourth. Lucas Manning doubled to left field to score Mannelly, and Cade Collins followed with a two-run double to left center that made it 4-0 in favor of the Terriers. The Citadel broke through against Wofford starter Kenny Michaels in the fifth inning with a three-run outburst. Thomas Rollauer walked and Lane Tobin singled to put runners on base. After Matthew Lively singled to load the bases, Aryan Patel delivered a two-run ground-rule double down the right field line to score Rollauer and Tobin. Phillips Daniels then executed a sacrifice bunt that allowed Lively to score, cutting the deficit to 4-3. Wofford answered immediately in the sixth inning with three runs to regain control. After Mannelly was hit by a pitch and Manning singled, Collins singled to load the bases. Brini then cleared them all with a three-run double to right center field, pushing the Terriers' advantage to 7-3. The seventh inning proved decisive as Wofford added four more runs to put the game away. Tyler Bak singled and Hardin bunted him to second base. After Adam Haber's sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, Tyler Hare delivered an RBI single to center field. Mannelly followed with another RBI single, and Collins capped the rally with a two-run single to left field, extending the lead to 11-3. Wofford tacked on one final run in the eighth inning when Wynn singled and scored on a Bak RBI single, aided by a fielding error by The Citadel left fielder TJ Anderson. The Citadel managed one run in the ninth inning when Travis Elliott homered to left field, in the 12-4 final. Kenny Michaels earned the complete-game victory for Wofford, improving to 5-3 on the season. The right-hander worked all nine innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts while throwing 121 pitches. Andrew Stanley took the loss for The Citadel, falling to 5-3. Stanley lasted 3⅓ innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts. The Bulldogs used five different pitchers in the contest, with Yates Bland, Maddox Webb, Oliver Wood, and Conner Cummiskey all seeing action in relief. Wofford's offensive attack was led by Collins, who went 3-for-5 with four RBIs and a double. Hardin also collected three hits in five at-bats with an RBI double, while Brini finished 2-for-5 with four RBIs despite being caught stealing twice. Mannelly contributed two hits and scored four runs despite playing only six innings before being replaced by Ethan Belk. For The Citadel, Patel led the way with a 1-for-3 performance that included the crucial two-run double. Elliott provided the lone highlight with his solo home run in the ninth inning, and Lively collected two hits in three at-bats. 2025 SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.) May 21 (Wednesday) SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+) (Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.) Game 1: #5 Western Carolina 15, #8 VMI 1 Game 2: #7 Wofford 4, #6 UNCG 2 May 22 (Thursday) SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)  (Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.) Game 3: #5 Western Carolina 10, #4 Mercer 3 Game 4: #7 Wofford 12, #3 The Citadel 4 May 23 (Friday) SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)  (Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.) Game 5: No. 5 Western Carolina vs. #1 ETSU, 9 a.m. Game 6: No. 7 Wofford vs. #2 Samford, 12:30 p.m. Game 7: No. 4 Mercer vs. Loser Game 5, 4 p.m. Game 8: No. 2 The Citadel vs. Loser Game 6, 7:30 p.m. May 24 (Saturday) SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)  (Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.) Game 9: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 12 p.m. Game 10: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 3:30 p.m. Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 9, 7 p.m.   May 25 (Sunday) SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (SDN) Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.) Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 11, 12 p.m. Game 13: Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser^, 40 minutes after Game 12 ^ if necessary</div>

2025-05-22 12:00 AM (EDT) | Baseball | Wofford Terriers vs. The Citadel Bulldogs | #6385154 | COMPLETE

2025-05-22 12:00 AM (EDT) | Baseball | Western Carolina Catamounts vs. Mercer Bears | #6385155 | COMPLETE

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BASE Roundup - May 22, 2025

<div class="payload-richtext">No. 5 Western Carolina 15, No. 8 VMI 1Greenville, S.C. - Western Carolina scored 15 runs on 18 hits to defeat VMI 15-1 in seven innings Tuesday afternoon at Fluor Field. The result moves Western Carolina to 29-26 while VMI falls to 27-26.Western Carolina recorded 18 hits and scored in five of six innings at bat. The team's biggest inning came in the second, when they scored six runs to take a 6-0 lead.Brayden Corn finished 3-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs, and two runs scored. Elijah Smith also went 3-for-3, scoring three runs and drawing two walks. Eight Western Carolina players recorded at least one hit.Additional home runs came from Hayden Friese (solo) in the first inning and Noah Quarless (two-run) in the second inning.VMI managed five hits in the contest. Owen Prince led the team with a 3-for-3 performance. The Keydets scored their lone run in the fifth inning when Kazuya Jordan came home on a wild pitch.Dusty Revis earned the win for Western Carolina, improving to 7-5. He pitched five innings, allowing one run on four hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Evan Langston and Bryant Kimbrell combined for the final two innings.Jaxon Lloyd took the loss for VMI, falling to 4-4. He pitched one inning, giving up five runs on five hits. VMI used four pitchers total: Nathan Hawley, Marcus Van Alstine, and Caden Plummer also saw action.Western Carolina scored two runs in the first inning, six in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth, and six in the fifth. VMI's only scoring came in the fifth inning. No. 7 Wofford 4, No. 6 UNCG 2Greenville, S.C. - Wofford scored four runs on seven hits to defeat UNC Greensboro 4-2 Tuesday evening at Fluor Field. The result moves Wofford to 32-25 while UNC Greensboro falls to 21-33.Wofford scored three runs in the third inning and one in the fifth to build a 4-0 lead. Left fielder Brini led the offense with a 2-for-4 performance that included a home run and one RBI. Third baseman C. Collins also homered, going 1-for-3 with one RBI.Second baseman Hardin contributed with a 1-for-3 showing and two RBIs. The Terriers managed seven hits total and left four runners on base.UNC Greensboro recorded 12 hits but scored only two runs, both coming in the seventh inning. Center fielder B. Truitt went 2-for-4 with a triple and one RBI. Catcher J. Dilley finished 2-for-4 with one RBI and was hit by a pitch.Right fielder L. Holland had three hits in four at-bats, recording three singles. The Spartans left 13 runners on base and were 1-for-2 in stolen base attempts.Bouchard earned the win for Wofford, improving to 4-1. He pitched 6.1 innings, allowing two runs on nine hits with 10 strikeouts and one walk. Rasmussen recorded the save, his fourth of the season, pitching 2.2 innings and allowing no runs on three hits.D. Thompson took the loss for UNC Greensboro, falling to 2-4. He pitched 5.1 innings, giving up four runs on five hits with eight strikeouts and two walks. N. Chapman pitched 3.2 innings of relief, allowing no runs on two hits.Wofford scored all four runs in the first five innings, while UNC Greensboro's scoring was limited to the seventh inning. Each team committed one error in the game. 2025 SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.) May 21 (Wednesday) SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+) (Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.) Game 1: #5 Western Carolina 15, #8 VMI 1 Game 2: #7 Wofford 4, #6 UNCG 2 May 22 (Thursday) SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)  (Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.) Game 3: #5 Western Carolina vs. #4 Mercer, 3 p.m. Game 4: #7 Wofford vs. #3 The Citadel, 7 p.m. May 23 (Friday) SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)  (Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.) Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. #1 ETSU, 9 a.m. Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. #2 Samford, 12:30 p.m. Game 7: Loser Game 4 vs. Loser Game 5, 4 p.m. Game 8: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 6, 7:30 p.m. May 24 (Saturday) SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)  (Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.) Game 9: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 12 p.m. Game 10: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 3:30 p.m. Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 9, 7 p.m.   May 25 (Sunday) SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (SDN) Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.) Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 11, 12 p.m. Game 13: Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser^, 40 minutes after Game 12 ^ if necessary</div>

2025-05-21 12:00 AM (EDT) | Baseball | VMI Keydets vs. Western Carolina Catamounts | #6385150 | COMPLETE

2025-05-21 12:00 AM (EDT) | Baseball | Wofford Terriers vs. UNC Greensboro Spartans | #6385151 | COMPLETE

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Western Carolina, Wofford Advance at SoCon Baseball Championship

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced the 2025 baseball all-conference teams and individual honors on Tuesday, as voted on by the league's eight head coaches. East Tennessee State dominated the major awards, claiming four of the five individual superlatives. ETSU junior Cooper Torres was named the SoCon Player of the Year after a phenomenal season that saw him lead the league with a .370 batting average. ETSU right-hander Brady Frederick earned SoCon Pitcher of the Year honors, while ETSU head coach Joe Pennucci was selected as Coach of the Year. ETSU first-year player Axel Melendez was named SoCon Freshman of the Year, while Mercer shortstop Bradley Frye captured the Golden Glove Award as the conference's top defensive player. Torres, who started 52 games for the Buccaneers at second base compiled a .370 batting average with a 1.239 OPS, leading the conference in multiple offensive categories. Torres paced ETSU with 22 home runs and 66 RBIs while scoring 65 runs and logging a .774 slugging percentage. The Woodstock, Georgia, product reached base at a .465 clip and posted a .341 average with a 1.118 OPS in conference games. With a perfect 8-for-8 stolen base record, Torres becomes ETSU's first Player of the Year selection since rejoining the league in 2013. Frederick, a right-hander, compiled a 7-1 record with a stellar 2.10 ERA across 21 appearances out of the bullpen. Frederick allowed just 38 hits in 64.1 innings while striking out 63 batters and maintaining a WHIP of 0.85 and holding opposing batters to a .173 batting average. A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Frederick logged three saves this season. In conference play, Frederick maintained a 2.57 ERA and 4-1 record. Frederick becomes ETSU’s first Pitcher of the Year honoree since the award's inception. Pennucci guided the Buccaneers to a 38-15 overall and a 14-7 conference record while producing the SoCon Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and multiple All-Conference selections. This season ETSU upset No.1 ranked Tennessee, 7-6, on March 18 and a series win over Pittsburgh on March 7-9. Pennucci is ETSU's first Coach of the Year selection since returning to the SoCon. ETSU's Melendez hit .300 with a .900 OPS across 46 games. The freshman logged 18 walks against 24 strikeouts while tallying five home runs and 31 RBIs. The Cidra, Puerto Rico, native went 6-for-6 in stolen base attempts, and in conference play, maintained a .348 hitting average. Melendez becomes ETSU's third Freshman of the Year honoree, the last coming in 2022. Mercer's Frye anchored one of the conference's top defenses from the shortstop position, earning the inaugural Golden Glove Award. The Marietta, Georgia, native handled 229 total chances with 70 putouts and 149 assists for a .956 fielding percentage. The all-conference first team features representation from six institutions across the league, with ETSU leading the way with four selections including Torres, starting pitchers Carter Fink and Jace Hyde, and Jamie Palmese. Mercer placed three players on the first team with Frye, starting pitcher Colton Cosper, and outfielder Ty Dalley. Western Carolina’s Jack Spyke and Wyatt Stanley, UNCG’s Danny Thompson Jr. and VMI’s Grayson Fitzwater represent their schools on the first team. Maddox Webb of The Citadel, Parker McDonald and Michael Gupton of Samford round out the first-team selections. Samford led the second team with five selections including Mason Blasche, Miller Riggins, Josh Leerssen, Jeffrey Ince, and Cade Carr. ETSU’s Derek McCarley, Cody Miller, Grant Gallagher, and Lenny Montesano represent the Bucs on the second team. Dusty Revis of Western Carolina and Boston Torres and Owen Prince of VMI represent their respective institutions. Carter Rasmussen and The Citadel’s TJ Anderson complete the second team. All eight SoCon programs claimed at least one all-conference selection. The All-Freshman Team featured at least one athlete from each of the eight schools in the SoCon. Samford led the way with three selections, Mason Blasche, Gus Gandy, and Jake Souders. UNCG placed two on the all freshman team, JJ Parsons and Parker Wright, as did Western Carolina, Trey Spees and Wyatt Stanley, and Wofford, Cullen Condon and Tanner Hardin. Collin Ewaldsen of Mercer and Justin Spiegel of VMI join Melendez to represent their institutions on the All-Freshman team. The inaugural All-Defensive team included players from six teams with The Citadel placing a conference leading, four athletes on the team in Phillips Daniels, Garrett Dill, Travis Elliott, and Lane Tobin. ETSU was represented by Cody Miller and Tristan Curless while Mercer’s Frye and Titan Kamaka represent the Bears. Jacob Budzik of UNCG, Jeffrey Ince of Samford, VMI’s Owen Prince and Trent Turner of Western Carolina complete the all-defensive team. The SoCon Baseball Championship presented by Holston Gases will take place from Wednesday to Sunday at Fluor Field in Greenville, South Carolina. All eight league teams will be vying for the tournament title and the SoCon’s automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals. Player of the Year - Cooper Torres, ETSU Pitcher of the Year - Brady Frederick, ETSU Coach of the Year - Joe Pennucci, ETSU Freshman of the Year - Axel Melendez, ETSU Golden Glove Award (Defensive Player of the Year) - Bradley Frye, Mercer All Conference First Team SP - Carter Fink, ETSU SP - Jace Hyde, ETSU SP - Colton Cosper, Mercer RP - Maddox Webb, The Citadel RP - Danny Thompson Jr., UNCG RP - Brady Frederick, ETSU C - Jack Spyke, Western Carolina 1B - Grayson Fitzwater, VMI 2B - Cooper Torres, ETSU SS - Bradley Frye, Mercer 3B - Parker McDonald, Samford OF - Jamie Palmese, ETSU OF - Ty Dalley, Mercer OF - Michael Gupton, Samford DH - Wyatt Stanley, Western Carolina All Conference Second Team SP - Mason Blasche, Samford SP - Miller Riggins, Samford SP - Dusty Revis, Western Carolina RP - Derek McCarley, ETSU RP - Josh Leerssen, Samford RP - Carter Rasmussen, Wofford C - Cade Carr, Samford 1B - Jackson Harris, Samford 2B - Jeffrey Ince, Samford SS - Cody Miller, ETSU 3B - Grant Gallagher, ETSU OF - TJ Anderson, The Citadel OF - Boston Torres, VMI OF - Owen Prince, VMI DH - Lenny Montesano, ETSU All Conference Defensive Team Phillips Daniels, The Citadel Garrett Dill, The Citadel Travis Elliott, The Citadel Lane Tobin, The Citadel Tristan Curless, ETSU Cody Miller, ETSU Bradley Frye, Mercer Titan Kamaka, Mercer Jacob Budzik, UNCG Jeffrey Ince, Samford Owen Prince, VMI Trent Turner, Western Carolina All Conference Freshman Team Axel Melendez, ETSU Collin Ewaldsen, Mercer JJ Parsons, UNCG Parker Wright, UNCG Mason Blasche, Samford Gus Gandy, Samford Jake Souders, Samford Justin Spiegel, VMI  Trey Spees, Western Carolina Wyatt Stanley, Western Carolina Cullen Condon, Wofford Tanner Hardin, Wofford</div>

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BASE 2025 All Conference Release

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Citadel right fielder Thomas Rollauer, and UNCG starting pitcher Sam Murchison have been named the Southern Conference player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for all competition from May 12-18. The awards are selected by the league office. Rollauer hit .500 with seven runs on 10 hits and five RBIs this week. In a midweek matchup against Charleston Southern on Tuesday, May 13, the Atlanta, Georgia, product scored three runs on two hits and a walk and drove in two RBIs. He also recorded four stolen bases. In the first game of the weekend series against ETSU, he logged one run on two hits and logged an RBI in a 7-3 Bulldog victory. The next game of the series, the senior scored another run on two hits in a 7-3 win. On Saturday, the right fielder had a walk and scored another run as The Citadel dropped the final game of the series, 11-2. The Citadel (30-24, 12-9 SoCon) will play the winner of UNCG and Wofford at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, in the 2025 Southern Conference Baseball Championship at Fluor Field in Greenville, South Carolina. Murchison posted a pair of scoreless outings this week for the Spartans. In the mid-week 8-4 win over Longwood, the Siler City, North Carolina, native pitched the ninth inning and struck out two. Against Western Carolina in a 1-0 victory on Friday, the right-hander pitched a complete game, striking out seven and allowing just three hits. The senior recorded a perfect 0.00 ERA for the week and held opposing batters to a .097 batting average. UNCG (21-32, 9-12 SoCon) will play Wofford on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in an elimination game at the Southern Conference Baseball Championship.Also nominated for player of the week: Grant Gallagher (ETSU), Parker Wright (UNCG), Jackson Harris (Samford), Bradley Garner (VMI), Elijah Smith (Western Carolina), Tyler Bak (Wofford)Also nominated for pitcher of the week: George Derek Floyd (The Citadel), Brady Frederick (ETSU), Sam Murchison (UNCG), Miller Riggins (Samford), Davis Wright (Western Carolina), Carter Rasmussen (Wofford) 2025 SoCon Players of the Week Feb. 17 Ryan Wynn, So., SS, Wofford Feb. 24 Bradley Frye, Sr., SS, Mercer March 3 Mason Holton, Sr., INF, Western Carolina March 10 JD Yakubinis, R-Sr., C, ETSU March 17 Cade Carr, So., C, Samford March 24 Brayden Corn, Jr., OF, Western Carolina March 31 Boston Torres, So., OF, VMI April 7 Bradley Frye, Sr., SS, Mercer April 14 Blake Jacklin, Sr., OF, ETSU April 21 Jeffrey Ince, Jr., 2B, Samford April 28 Lane Tobin, Sr., SS, The Citadel May 5 TJ Anderson, Jr., LF, The Citadel May 12 Michael Gupton, Gr., CF, Samford May 19 Thomas Rollauer, Sr., RF, The Citadel 2025 SoCon Pitcher of the Week Feb. 17 Jay Miller, Jr., RHP, UNCG Feb. 24 Caden Plummer, Sr., RHP, VMI March 3 Colton Cosper, Sr., LHP, Mercer March 10 Brandon Langley, Jr., RHP, Western Carolina March 17 Champ Davis, Jr., RHP, Wofford March 24 Josh Leerssen, Gr., RHP, Samford March 31 Mason Blasche, Fr., RHP, Samford April 7 Miller Riggins, Sr, LHP, Samford April 14 Brady Frederick, So., RHP, ETSU April 21 Jace Hyde, So., RHP, ETSU April 28 Brady Frederick, So., RHP, ETSU May 5 Jake Colucci, Fr., RHP, UNCG May 12 Carter Rasmussen, Jr., RHP, WoffordMay 19 Sam Murchison, Sr., RHP, UNCG</div>

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BASE POW - May 19, 2025

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference has announced the seeding for the 2024 SoCon Baseball Championship presented by Holston Gases, which will be played at Fluor Field in Greenville, South Carolina. Regular-season champion ETSU has claimed the top seed in the tournament, which is slated for May 21-25. All eight Southern Conference teams will participate in the tournament, with seeds 5 and 8 participating in single-elimination game on Wednesday, May 21, at 3 p.m., and seeds 6 and 7 playing in a single-elimination game later that day at 7 p.m. for the right to advance to the double-elimination portion of the bracket. The championship game will take place Sunday, May 25, at 12 p.m., with a second game, if necessary, to begin 40 minutes after the completion of the first contest. The SoCon tournament will begin Wednesday with fifth-seeded Western Carolina (28-26, 10-11 SoCon) taking on No. 8 VMI (27-25, 6-15) for the chance to advance to face No. 4 seed Mercer (33-23, 12-9) on Thursday at 3 p.m., followed by sixth-seeded UNCG (21-32, 9-12) facing off against No. 7 seed Wofford (31-25, 8-13) in Wednesday’s second game for the chance to advance to face No. 3 seed The Citadel (30-24, 12-9) on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Citadel claimed the No. 3 seed after taking the two of the three games against ETSU during the squads’ regular-season meetings. VMI won two of the three games against Western Carolina in the regular season series and UNCG swept the Terriers earlier this season. No. 1 seed ETSU (38-15, 14-7) will see its first action at the tournament on Friday at 9 a.m. when it takes on the winner of game three. ETSU swept Western Carolina and VMI earlier this season, and took two out of three games against Samford, Mercer, and Wofford, but dropped the regular-season series with UNCG and The Citadel. The Bucs have won seven of their last 10 regular-season contests enroute to their third SoCon title, the first since rejoining the league. ETSU, which was picked fourth in the preseason poll by the league’s coaches, is seeking its first tournament title. No. 2 seed Samford (28-25, 13-8), enters the SoCon tournament having won four games in the last two weekend series. The Bulldogs take the field at the tournament for the first time on Friday at 12:30 p.m. against the winner of game four. Samford, which was also the second seed in 2024, swept UNCG and Wofford during the regular season. Two more Friday games take place at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The remaining teams will compete in a trio of games on Saturday, which are scheduled for 12 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., setting the stage for Sunday’s title game(s). All games will be broadcast live on ESPN+. The tournament winner earns the league’s automatic bid to a NCAA Baseball Regional. May 21 (Wednesday) SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+) (Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.) Game 1: #5 Western Carolina  vs. #8 VMI, 3 p.m. Game 2: #6 UNCG vs. #7 Wofford, 7 p.m. May 22 (Thursday) SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)  (Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.) Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. #4 Mercer, 3 p.m. Game 4: Winner Game 2 vs. #3 The Citadel, 7 p.m. May 23 (Friday) SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)  (Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.) Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. #1 ETSU, 9 a.m. Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. #2 Samford, 12:30 p.m. Game 7: Loser Game 4 vs. Loser Game 5, 4 p.m. Game 8: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 6, 7:30 p.m. May 24 (Saturday) SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)  (Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.) Game 9: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 12 p.m. Game 10: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 3:30 p.m. Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 9, 7 p.m.   May 25 (Sunday) SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (SDN) Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.) Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 11, 12 p.m. Game 13: Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser^, 40 minutes after Game 12 ^ if necessary</div>

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2025 Baseball Bracket Set

<div class="payload-richtext"><a href="https://citadelsports.com/news/2025/5/16/baseball-the-citadel-uses-big-sixth-inning-to-defeat-etsu-7-3.aspx">
 The Citadel Uses Big Sixth Inning to Defeat ETSU 7-3
 </a> The Bulldogs scored six runs in the sixth inning, clinching the series over ETSU 7-3 on Friday afternoon. TJ Anderson went 2-for-2 with a double, an RBI, and three walks. Thomas Rollauer recorded two hits, including a double and a single, and drove in two runners. Aryan Patel posted his team-leading 19th stolen base of the season, increasing the team's total to 100 stolen bases, the highest since 2010 when the Bulldogs stole 127. Andrew Stanley (5-2) secured the victory on the mound after pitching 6.2 innings, recording three strikeouts and allowing two earned runs. Derek McCarley (3-1) took the loss for ETSU after pitching 4.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits. <a href="https://etsubucs.com/news/2025/5/16/baseball-strong-sixth-inning-lifts-the-citadel-past-etsu-7-3.aspx">
 Strong Sixth Inning Lifts The Citadel past ETSU, 7-3
 </a> Four of ETSU's eight hits in the contest came from <a href="https://etsubucs.com/sports/baseball/roster/cody-miller/6667">
 Cody Miller
 </a> and <a href="https://etsubucs.com/sports/baseball/roster/cooper-torres/6670">
 Cooper Torres
 </a>. Miller went 2-for-5, while Torres went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run. The home run from Torres was his 22nd of the 2025 campaign. Torres is just the third Buccaneer hitter to ever hit 22 or more home runs in a single season joining Paul Hoilman (twice) and <a href="https://etsubucs.com/sports/baseball/roster/cameron-sisneros/6121">
 Cameron Sisneros
 </a>. <a href="https://etsubucs.com/sports/baseball/roster/axel-melendez/6677">
 Axel Melendez
 </a> knocked in ETSU's third run of the game with a single to round out the offensive leaders for the Bucs. <a href="https://vmikeydets.com/news/2025/5/16/baseball-vmis-offense-ignites-in-season-finale-against-wofford.aspx">
 VMI’s offense ignites in season finale against Wofford
 </a> VMI Baseball capped off the 2025 regular season with a 15-6 win over Wofford at Russell C. King Field Friday afternoon. The Keydets (27-25, 6-15 SoCon) put up stellar offensive numbers to storm past the Terriers, snapping a 10-game conference skid. With the win, VMI is guaranteed a winning record for the first time since 2014. This marks the third-straight season for head coach <a href="https://vmikeydets.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/sam-roberts/1404">
 Sam Roberts
 </a> and company with 25 or more wins, the first time in 17 seasons. <a href="https://woffordterriers.com/news/2025/5/16/baseball-drops-senior-day-tilt.aspx">
 Baseball Drops Senior Day Tilt
 </a> The Wofford baseball team fell behind early and could not overcome the initial deficit, dropping a 15-6 decision to VMI Friday afternoon at Russell C. King Field. The contest was the regular season finale as Wofford wraps up at 31-25 (8-13 SoCon) with VMI at 27-25 (6-15 SoCon). The game was also senior day for Wofford as the program's eight senior Terriers were honored pregame: <a href="https://woffordterriers.com/sports/baseball/roster/grant-comstock/8791">
 Grant Comstock
 </a>, <a href="https://woffordterriers.com/sports/baseball/roster/adam-haber/8794">
 Adam Haber
 </a>, <a href="https://woffordterriers.com/sports/baseball/roster/tyler-hare/8796">
 Tyler Hare
 </a>, <a href="https://woffordterriers.com/sports/baseball/roster/braden-hofmeyer/8798">
 Braden Hofmeyer
 </a>, <a href="https://woffordterriers.com/sports/baseball/roster/morgan-lunceford/8429">
 Morgan Lunceford
 </a>, <a href="https://woffordterriers.com/sports/baseball/roster/dylan-rhadans/8806">
 Dylan Rhadans
 </a>, <a href="https://woffordterriers.com/sports/baseball/roster/michael-sills/8808">
 Michael Sills
 </a>, and <a href="https://woffordterriers.com/sports/baseball/roster/david-wiley/8811">
 David Wiley
 </a>. <a href="https://uncgspartans.com/news/2025/5/16/murchison-deals-complete-game-shutout-to-lift-baseball-past-wcu-on-senior-day.aspx">
 Murchison Deals Complete Game Shutout to Lift Baseball Past WCU on Senior Day
 </a> Riding the arm of senior right-hander <a href="https://uncgspartans.com/sports/baseball/roster/sam-murchison/5606">
 Sam Murchison
 </a> on Senior Day, the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) baseball team won game two of a weekend set, 1-0, over the Western Carolina (WCU) Catamounts in The Southern Conference (SoCon) on Friday night at UNCG Baseball Stadium. With one conference game left in the regular season, UNCG and WCU are now tied at 9-11 in league play. Sunday's rubber match will determine the fifth seed for the 2025 SoCon Baseball Tournament, which begins next Wednesday. <a href="https://catamountsports.com/news/2025/5/16/baseball-davis-wright-strikes-out-11-in-pitchers-duel-defeat.aspx">
 Davis Wright Strikes Out 11 in Pitcher’s Duel Defeat
 </a> <a href="https://catamountsports.com/sports/baseball/roster/davis-wright/13669">
 Davis Wright
 </a> struck out a career-high 11 in a season-long 7.1 innings pitched on Friday night, but the Catamount offense was never able to get in gear as Western Carolina baseball dropped game two of its three-game Southern Conference series against UNC Greensboro in a 1-0 pitcher's duel at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. <a href="https://mercerbears.com/news/2025/5/16/baseball-eighth-inning-dramatics-power-bears-over-samford.aspx">
 Eighth Inning Dramatics Power Bears Over Samford
 </a> After a walk-off win in game one of the series on Thursday, Mercer used late-game heroics once again on Friday as a two-run eighth inning powered the Bears over Samford, clinching the series victory over the Bulldogs. <a href="https://mercerbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/brant-baughcum/11549">
 Brant Baughcum
 </a> played the hero for the Bears, as his go-ahead double proved to be the difference in the decisive eighth inning.  <a href="https://samfordsports.com/news/2025/5/16/samford-baseball-drops-game-two-at-mercer-6-5.aspx">
 Samford Baseball Drops Game Two At Mercer, 6-5
 </a> The Samford University baseball team took the lead in the eighth inning but was unable to hold it as the Bulldogs dropped a 6-5 decision in the second game of a three-game series at Mercer Friday evening at OrthoGeorgia Park. With the loss, Samford fell to 27-25 overall and 12-8 in Southern Conference play. Mercer improved its record to 33-22 overall and 12-8 in league play. The two teams are now tied for second place in the SoCon standings heading into Saturday's regular season finale.</div>

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BASE Roundup - 5/16/25

<div class="payload-richtext"><a href="http://catamountsports.com/news/2025/5/15/baseball-catamounts-hold-on-for-series-opening-8-6-win-at-uncg.aspx">
 Catamounts Hold On for Series-Opening 8-6 Win at UNCG
 </a> <a href="https://catamountsports.com/sports/baseball/roster/trent-turner/13660">
 Trent Turner
 </a> blasted a two-run home run to left field in the top of the ninth inning that doubled Western Carolina's advantage and, more importantly, provided a pair of insurance markers as the Catamounts had to withstand a ninth inning push by homestanding UNC Greensboro to earn the series-opening victory, 8-6, Thursday night at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. <a href="https://uncgspartans.com/news/2025/5/15/western-carolina-staves-off-baseballs-late-rally-in-series-opener.aspx">
 Western Carolina Staves Off Baseball’s Late Rally in Series Opener
 </a> The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) baseball team fell 8-6 in a weekend series opener against the Western Carolina (WCU) Catamounts in The Southern Conference (SoCon) on Thursday night at UNCG Baseball Stadium. With two conference games left in the regular season, UNCG is now 8-11 in league play for seventh in the SoCon while WCU improved to 9-10 and now sit alone in fifth. <a href="https://mercerbears.com/news/2025/5/15/baseball-cospers-career-night-fryes-walk-off-lead-bears-over-samford.aspx">
 Cosper’s Career Night, Frye’s Walk-Off Lead Bears Over Samford
 </a> In his final start at OrthoGeorgia Park, Mercer left-hander <a href="https://mercerbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/colton-cosper/11530">
 Colton Cosper
 </a> had a performance for the record books, striking out a career-high 11 in eight shutout innings before fellow senior <a href="https://mercerbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/bradley-frye/11533">
 Bradley Frye
 </a> walked it off in the bottom of the ninth with a single, leading the Bears to a 2-1 win over Samford. <a href="https://samfordsports.com/news/2025/5/15/baseball-bulldogs-fall-in-pitcher-duel-at-mercer-2-1.aspx">
 Bulldogs Fall In Pitchers’ Duel At Mercer, 2-1
 </a> The Samford University baseball team dropped a hard-fought pitchers' duel in the first game of its three-game series at Mercer, 2-1, Thursday evening at Ortho Park. With the loss, Samford fell to 27-24 overall and 12-7 in Southern Conference play. Mercer improved its record to 32-22 overall and 11-8 in SoCon games. <a href="https://citadelsports.com/news/2025/5/15/baseball-strong-outing-from-floyd-leads-bulldogs-to-7-3-victory-over-etsu.aspx">
 Strong Outing From Floyd Leads Bulldogs to 7-3 Victory Over ETSU
 </a> <a href="https://citadelsports.com/sports/baseball/roster/george-derrick-floyd/10092">
 George Derrick Floyd
 </a> pitched seven innings, striking out six batters in a 7-3 series-opening win over ETSU on Thursday afternoon. The Citadel's victory over ETSU marks the first time since 2013 that the Bulldogs completed a season without being swept on the weekend. Matthew Lively highlighted the Bulldogs' offense, going 3-for-4 with an RBI. <a href="https://etsubucs.com/news/2025/5/15/baseball-the-citadel-takes-game-one-from-etsu-7-3.aspx">
 The Citadel takes game one from ETSU, 7-3
 </a> The ETSU baseball team dropped the opening game of its series at The Citadel on Thursday afternoon by a score of 7-3. Thursday's loss moves ETSU's overall record to 37-14 and moves its SoCon record to 13-6. Seven of the nine hitters in ETSU's starting lineup tallied at least one hit in the contest. <a href="https://etsubucs.com/sports/baseball/roster/cooper-torres/6670">
 Cooper Torres
 </a> collected the lone two-hit day by a Buc, which was his 24th multi-hit game of the 2025 campaign. <a href="https://woffordterriers.com/news/2025/5/15/baseball-claims-series-over-vmi-with-7-6-win.aspx">
 Baseball Claims Series Over VMI with 7-6 Win
 </a> Despite a late push by VMI, the Wofford baseball team remained steadfast Thursday evening, scoring two in the eighth to flip the script and secure a 7-6 win at Russell C. King Field. The Terriers improve to 31-24 (8-12 SoCon) as the Keydets drop to 26-25 (5-15 SoCon). Wofford has clinched the series. <a href="https://vmikeydets.com/news/2025/5/15/baseball-keydets-eighth-inning-surge-not-enough-in-thursdays-loss.aspx">
 Keydets’ eighth inning surge not enough in Thursday’s loss
 </a> VMI Baseball suffered its second-straight one-run loss against Wofford at Russell C. King Field Thursday evening. The Keydets (26-25, 5-15 SoCon) took the lead after a four-run eighth inning, but the Terriers rebounded with a pair of runs to recapture the lead and seal the game. With the loss, VMI is set as the eighth seed in the upcoming Southern Conference Championship.</div>

SoCon Baseball News

Headlines

SoCon Announces Baseball Weekly Honors

SoCon Announces Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week

SoCon Announces Baseball Honors Following Opening Weekend

Samford Picked to Win 2026 SoCon Baseball Title

ETSU Baseball’s historic season comes to an end with a 7-5 loss to Wright State in the Nashville Regional

Louisville rallies to knock off ETSU, 8-3, in opening game of Nashville Regional

ETSU's Cooper Torres Named Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalist

ETSU Baseball to take on Louisville at NCAA Nashville Regional

ETSU wins 2025 Southern Conference Baseball Championship

No. 1 ETSU, No. 2 Samford advance to Sunday's Championship Game

The Citadel, Mercer advance in the 2025 Southern Conference Baseball Tournament

No. 1 ETSU, No. 2 Samford Win at SoCon Baseball Tournament

No. 5 Western Carolina, No. 7 Wofford

Western Carolina, Wofford Advance at SoCon Baseball Championship

SoCon Baseball Postseason Awards Announced

SoCon baseball player, pitcher of the week announced

2025 Southern Conference Baseball Championship Bracket Set

Friday's Baseball Roundup

Thursday's Baseball Roundup

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