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Wofford Wins to Advance at SoCon Baseball Championship
No. 5 Seed Terriers will meet Samford in Sunday’s Title Matchup
No. 3 ETSU 12, No. 7 Mercer 4
GREENVILLE, S.C. – No. 3 seed ETSU erupted for eight runs in a decisive seventh inning to defeat No. 7 seed Mercer, 12-4, on Saturday at the Southern Conference Baseball Championship presented by Holston Gases at Fluor Field.
With the win ETSU (36-19) advanced to face fifth-seeded Wofford (38-18) for the right to meet No. 2 seed Samford (35-20) in the 2024 SoCon Championship title round on Sunday at noon. Mercer sees its season end at 29-29.
ETSU took advantage of early Mercer miscues to claim a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Tommy Barth drew a one-out walk on four pitches and went to second on a wild pitch. He crossed the plate when Cameron Sisneros reached on an error.
The Bucs added to their lead with two outs in the second inning. Noah Webb got it started with a single to left field on an 0-2 pitch. He went to third on Jamie Palmese’s single through the right side and after Nick Iannantone was intentionally walked, Barth belted a three-run home run over the left-field wall to give ETSU a 4-0 lead after two innings.
After Conner Todaro opened the third frame by getting by a pitch, Mercer’s Parker Lester quickly got the Bears on the scoreboard with his 15th home run of the season.
The Bears got two runners on base in the fifth after Todaro and Lester drew back-to-back one-out walks. Todaro went to third on a fly out to right field and pulled Mercer within 4-3 when Ty Dalley doubled down the left field line.
Mercer’s Bradley Frye rippled a two-out double to the gap in left center field in the top of the seventh to get the tying run in scoring position, but the Bears were unable to capitalize.
ETSU got the insurance runs it needed and more in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Palmese and Iannantone each singled to open the bottom of the frame. Following Barth’s successful sacrifice bunt, Sisneros was intentionally walked to load the bases. On an 0-1 count Cody Miller singled to center field to bring home both Palmese and Iannantone, giving the Bucs a 6-3 edge. ETSU added five more runs with one out and one with two outs to take a 12-3 lead into the eighth inning.
Mercer notched a solo run in the top of the ninth to finish out the scoring.
Palmese finished the game with three singles in four at-bats. He added two RBIs and scored a run. Webb was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and scored twice. Miller was also 2-for-4 with two RBIs and scored a run. Barth notched a single, a walk, three RBIs and scored twice.
Frye was 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and a walk. Prince and Dalley each added a double and a walk while Lester drove in a pair of runs.
ETSU freshman pitcher Michael Harpster (8-1), a second-team all-conference selection, drew the starting nod for the Bucs but did not factor in the decision. He allowed three runs on three hits over 4.1 innings. The right-hander struck out four and walked three. Redshirt sophomore Derek McCarley improved to 4-2 on the season after working 4.1 innings on the mound. The left-hander gave up one run on four hits. He fanned six batters and issued four walks.
No. 5 Wofford 13, No. 3 ETSU 10,
GREENVILLE, S.C. – No. 5 seed Wofford posted three four-run innings enroute to a 13-10 win over No. 3 seed ETSU on Saturday at the Southern Conference Baseball Championship presented by Holston Gases at Fluor Field.
With the win Wofford (39-18) advanced to face No. 2 seed Samford (35-20) for the second time in less than 24 hours in the 2024 SoCon Championship title round on Sunday at noon. ETSU sees its season end at 36-20.
Samford is seeking its second straight tournament title and fourth in six seasons. Wofford is looking for its second overall title and its first since 2007. The Terriers are the first five-seed to reach the title contest since Mercer in 2018.
Wofford got on the scoreboard with a run in the top of the first inning. Marshall Toole ripped a ground-rule double down the right field line and crossed the plate with the game’s first run when Brice Martinez singled to right field.
ETSU evened the score with a run in the bottom of the inning. Iannantone and Tommy Barth both singled and the Bucs scored on Cameron Sisneros’ sacrifice fly to right field.
The Terriers quickly regained the lead in the top of the second. Lucas Manning and Andrew Mannelly both reached base on back-to-back one-out singles and both came around to score. Dixon Black later blasted a two-run homer beyond the center field fence to give Wofford a 5-1 advantage.
ETSU’s Blake Jacklin tripled to lead off the bottom of the second and crossed the plate with the Bucs second run of the night when Jamie Palmese lifted a fly ball to center field.
An inning later, the Bucs rallied to tie the score at 5-5. Iannantone reached base for the second time of the night with a lead-off walk. Barth then doubled to right center field and Cameron Cisneros followed with his league-leading 23rd home run of the season.
The Terriers used a two-run homer off the bat of Jack Renwick, a double by Martinez and a two-run single in the top of the fourth inning to regain a 9-5 advantage.
Wofford sent seven batters to the plate in the sixth inning and parlayed four singles and a double into four runs enroute to building a 13-5 lead. The Bucs answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. Palmese doubled with one out and scored on Iannantone’s two-out single. Barth brought Iannantone home with a tripe to center field.
ETSU chipped away at the Terriers’ lead with two runs in the eighth. Palmese walked to open the inning and went to third when Iannantone notched his third hit of the contest by singling through the right side. He scored on Barth’s groundout to second. Iannantone followed with the Bucs’ second run when Sisneros singled.
With the Bucs down to their final three outs, Ashton King singled and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. He scored when Palmese singled to cut the Wofford lead to three but ETSU was unable to get any closer.
Martinez was 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Manning was also 3-for-5 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored. Toole finished 2-for-6 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Wiley was 2-for-5 with three RBIs. Renwick was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, a home run and two runs scored.
Iannantone posted three hits, two walks and four runs scored. Barth added three hits, including a double and a triple. He drove in two runs and scored a run.
Wofford senior Mike Eggert (9-3) earned the win after going 5.2 innings on the mound. The right-hander allowed seven runs on 10 hits, while striking out four and walking three. Freshman Alec Bouchard earned his fifth save of the season by holding ETSU to three runs on four hits over the final 3.1 innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked two.
2024 SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
May 22 (Wednesday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 1: #5 Wofford 8, #8 The Citadel 3
Game 2: #7 Mercer 19, #6 VMI 14
May 23 (Thursday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 3: #5 Wofford 12, #4 Western Carolina 1
Game 4: #7 Mercer 7, #3 ETSU 4
May 24 (Friday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 5: #5 Wofford 5, #1 UNCG 2
Game 6: #2 Samford 9, #7 Mercer 7
Game 7: #3 ETSU 10, #1 UNCG 7
Game 8: #7 Mercer 10, #4 Western Carolina 8
May 25 (Saturday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 9: #2 Samford 10, #5 Wofford 1
Game 10: #3 ETSU 12, #7 Mercer 4
Game 11: #5 Wofford 13, #3 ETSU 10
May 26 (Sunday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (SDN)
Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 12: #2 Samford vs. #5 Wofford, 12 p.m.
Game 13: Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser^, 40 minutes after Game 12
^ if necessary
GREENVILLE, S.C. – No. 3 seed ETSU erupted for eight runs in a decisive seventh inning to defeat No. 7 seed Mercer, 12-4, on Saturday at the Southern Conference Baseball Championship presented by Holston Gases at Fluor Field.
With the win ETSU (36-19) advanced to face fifth-seeded Wofford (38-18) for the right to meet No. 2 seed Samford (35-20) in the 2024 SoCon Championship title round on Sunday at noon. Mercer sees its season end at 29-29.
ETSU took advantage of early Mercer miscues to claim a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Tommy Barth drew a one-out walk on four pitches and went to second on a wild pitch. He crossed the plate when Cameron Sisneros reached on an error.
The Bucs added to their lead with two outs in the second inning. Noah Webb got it started with a single to left field on an 0-2 pitch. He went to third on Jamie Palmese’s single through the right side and after Nick Iannantone was intentionally walked, Barth belted a three-run home run over the left-field wall to give ETSU a 4-0 lead after two innings.
After Conner Todaro opened the third frame by getting by a pitch, Mercer’s Parker Lester quickly got the Bears on the scoreboard with his 15th home run of the season.
The Bears got two runners on base in the fifth after Todaro and Lester drew back-to-back one-out walks. Todaro went to third on a fly out to right field and pulled Mercer within 4-3 when Ty Dalley doubled down the left field line.
Mercer’s Bradley Frye rippled a two-out double to the gap in left center field in the top of the seventh to get the tying run in scoring position, but the Bears were unable to capitalize.
ETSU got the insurance runs it needed and more in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Palmese and Iannantone each singled to open the bottom of the frame. Following Barth’s successful sacrifice bunt, Sisneros was intentionally walked to load the bases. On an 0-1 count Cody Miller singled to center field to bring home both Palmese and Iannantone, giving the Bucs a 6-3 edge. ETSU added five more runs with one out and one with two outs to take a 12-3 lead into the eighth inning.
Mercer notched a solo run in the top of the ninth to finish out the scoring.
Palmese finished the game with three singles in four at-bats. He added two RBIs and scored a run. Webb was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and scored twice. Miller was also 2-for-4 with two RBIs and scored a run. Barth notched a single, a walk, three RBIs and scored twice.
Frye was 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and a walk. Prince and Dalley each added a double and a walk while Lester drove in a pair of runs.
ETSU freshman pitcher Michael Harpster (8-1), a second-team all-conference selection, drew the starting nod for the Bucs but did not factor in the decision. He allowed three runs on three hits over 4.1 innings. The right-hander struck out four and walked three. Redshirt sophomore Derek McCarley improved to 4-2 on the season after working 4.1 innings on the mound. The left-hander gave up one run on four hits. He fanned six batters and issued four walks.
No. 5 Wofford 13, No. 3 ETSU 10,
GREENVILLE, S.C. – No. 5 seed Wofford posted three four-run innings enroute to a 13-10 win over No. 3 seed ETSU on Saturday at the Southern Conference Baseball Championship presented by Holston Gases at Fluor Field.
With the win Wofford (39-18) advanced to face No. 2 seed Samford (35-20) for the second time in less than 24 hours in the 2024 SoCon Championship title round on Sunday at noon. ETSU sees its season end at 36-20.
Samford is seeking its second straight tournament title and fourth in six seasons. Wofford is looking for its second overall title and its first since 2007. The Terriers are the first five-seed to reach the title contest since Mercer in 2018.
Wofford got on the scoreboard with a run in the top of the first inning. Marshall Toole ripped a ground-rule double down the right field line and crossed the plate with the game’s first run when Brice Martinez singled to right field.
ETSU evened the score with a run in the bottom of the inning. Iannantone and Tommy Barth both singled and the Bucs scored on Cameron Sisneros’ sacrifice fly to right field.
The Terriers quickly regained the lead in the top of the second. Lucas Manning and Andrew Mannelly both reached base on back-to-back one-out singles and both came around to score. Dixon Black later blasted a two-run homer beyond the center field fence to give Wofford a 5-1 advantage.
ETSU’s Blake Jacklin tripled to lead off the bottom of the second and crossed the plate with the Bucs second run of the night when Jamie Palmese lifted a fly ball to center field.
An inning later, the Bucs rallied to tie the score at 5-5. Iannantone reached base for the second time of the night with a lead-off walk. Barth then doubled to right center field and Cameron Cisneros followed with his league-leading 23rd home run of the season.
The Terriers used a two-run homer off the bat of Jack Renwick, a double by Martinez and a two-run single in the top of the fourth inning to regain a 9-5 advantage.
Wofford sent seven batters to the plate in the sixth inning and parlayed four singles and a double into four runs enroute to building a 13-5 lead. The Bucs answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. Palmese doubled with one out and scored on Iannantone’s two-out single. Barth brought Iannantone home with a tripe to center field.
ETSU chipped away at the Terriers’ lead with two runs in the eighth. Palmese walked to open the inning and went to third when Iannantone notched his third hit of the contest by singling through the right side. He scored on Barth’s groundout to second. Iannantone followed with the Bucs’ second run when Sisneros singled.
With the Bucs down to their final three outs, Ashton King singled and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. He scored when Palmese singled to cut the Wofford lead to three but ETSU was unable to get any closer.
Martinez was 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Manning was also 3-for-5 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored. Toole finished 2-for-6 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Wiley was 2-for-5 with three RBIs. Renwick was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, a home run and two runs scored.
Iannantone posted three hits, two walks and four runs scored. Barth added three hits, including a double and a triple. He drove in two runs and scored a run.
Wofford senior Mike Eggert (9-3) earned the win after going 5.2 innings on the mound. The right-hander allowed seven runs on 10 hits, while striking out four and walking three. Freshman Alec Bouchard earned his fifth save of the season by holding ETSU to three runs on four hits over the final 3.1 innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked two.
2024 SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
May 22 (Wednesday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 1: #5 Wofford 8, #8 The Citadel 3
Game 2: #7 Mercer 19, #6 VMI 14
May 23 (Thursday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 3: #5 Wofford 12, #4 Western Carolina 1
Game 4: #7 Mercer 7, #3 ETSU 4
May 24 (Friday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 5: #5 Wofford 5, #1 UNCG 2
Game 6: #2 Samford 9, #7 Mercer 7
Game 7: #3 ETSU 10, #1 UNCG 7
Game 8: #7 Mercer 10, #4 Western Carolina 8
May 25 (Saturday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 9: #2 Samford 10, #5 Wofford 1
Game 10: #3 ETSU 12, #7 Mercer 4
Game 11: #5 Wofford 13, #3 ETSU 10
May 26 (Sunday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (SDN)
Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 12: #2 Samford vs. #5 Wofford, 12 p.m.
Game 13: Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser^, 40 minutes after Game 12
^ if necessary