Saturday, February 21
Texas State Tallies First Win with 7-5 Triumph over Wichita state
WICHITA, Kan. – Texas State was in control most of the day in the final game of the series against Wichita State, and broke the game open with three runs in the seventh inning to help the Bobcats to a 7-5 victory over the Shockers for Texas State's first win of the season.
The Bobcats were first on the board with a run in the opening inning. Cody Lovejoy scored on a David Paiz double to left field to give Texas State the first lead.
Wichita State answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, but the Bobcats came back to score three runs in the top of the fourth. Paiz started the scoring in the inning when he came across on a throwing error from Wichita State on a sacrifice bunt from Theodore Hoffman. After that, Granger Studdard singled up the middle to score Hoffman and Ben McElroy for a 4-1 lead in the fourth. Unfortunately, Wichita State answered yet again, tying it with three runs in the bottom of the fourth.
With it tied, Colby Targun broke the game open with one swing of the bat in the seventh. After consecutive singles from Lovejoy and Cedric Vallieres, McElroy earned his team-leading sixth walk of the season. With bases loaded, Targun knocked a double to right field to clear the bases and put the Bobcats up, 7-4. Wichita State was able to salvage a run in the eighth, but Cory Geisler shut the Shockers down after that to get Texas State's first save of the season.
At the plate, Paiz went an impressive 3-for-4 with a run, an RBI, a double and a walk. Meanwhile, Lovejoy, Vallieres and McElroy all tallied two hits in the game while McElroy added two walks. Targun and Studdard rounded out the offense with a hit each.
The Bobcats return home next to host No. 3 Houston on Tuesday at Bobcat Ballpark. It will be Goldy Night, as Texas State honors Major League Baseball All Star Paul Goldschmidt with a formal jersey retirement ceremony.
Appalachian State Splits Saturday with Canisius
Story to Follow
A-State Splits Doubleheader with No. 7 Louisville
EMERSON, Ga. (2/21/15) – The Arkansas State baseball team won the first game of a doubleheader against seventh-ranked Louisville 4-1 to clinch a series victory, but the Cardinals avoided the sweep with a 14-8 win in the finale Saturday afternoon at Perfect Game Park South in Emerson, Ga.
The series victory is the first time Arkansas State (4-2) has won a series against a ranked opponent since defeating No. 18 Western Kentucky two games to one in Jonesboro during the 2010 season.
Tanner Ring began the scoring in game one with a solo home run that just barely snuck over Louisville (3-3) left fielder Mike White’s glove to give A-State a 1-0 edge. Neither team would score again until the bottom of the fourth.
Joe Schrimpf was hit by a pitch with one out to start the fourth inning rally and Jeremy Brown followed with an infield single to put runners at first and second. Ty White doubled both runners home with a double to right center to give the Red Wolves a 3-0 lead. White was later cut down at home trying to score on a ground ball to second, but Tim Seldomridge, who registered his first collegiate hit on a bunt, scored on an errant pickoff throw to extend A-State’s lead to 4-0.
Louisville threatened in the top of the sixth inning when they loaded the bases with one out and Corey Ray at the plate. Ray smoked a line drive right at A-State second baseman Joe Schrimpf that was caught for the second out and then flipped to the shortstop Brown to double off Sutton Whiting for the final out of the inning.
The Cardinals’ last threat occurred in the top of the ninth when reliever Collin Nord allowed a single to begin the inning. Colton Kibler relieved Nord and hit the first batter he faced before a fly out to center field became the first out of the inning. A balk advanced the runners to second and third and a single scored one run to bring Louisville within 4-1. However, Kibler got a pop up to second and struck out back-to-back pinch hitters to seal the 4-1 win for Arkansas State.
Sophomore Tyler Zuber threw eight innings and allowed no runs on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts in his second career start to earn his first win of the season. Zach George and Brown led the Red Wolves with two hits apiece and George also stole his second base of the season.
The second game started in favor of the Red Wolves as well when Matt Burgess doubled to lead off the top of the second inning and was brought home by a Schrimpf single to give A-State a 1-0 lead. Louisville walked the bases loaded and then a wild pitch Schrimpf to score with two outs for a 2-0 advantage. George knocked in two more runs with a clutch hit to center and A-State ended the inning leading the game 4-0.
The Red Wolves tacked on another run in the third inning after Levy led off with a single and was knocked in by another Burgess double for a 5-0 edge. Louisville scored in the bottom half, despite not getting a hit off A-State starter Jon Glidewell in the inning, on a balk to make the margin 5-1.
A-State responded in a big way in the top of the fourth as a single an error put runners on first and second with no outs. Austin Baker knocked both guys in with a single after a sacrifice bunt and later scored on a wild pitch himself as the Red Wolves took an 8-1 lead and appeared poised for the sweep.
However, Louisville wouldn’t go down without a fight and made the score 8-3 in the bottom half of the fourth when Devin Hairston homered to left field. The Cardinals added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on a single and sacrifice fly and were all of a sudden down 8-5.
Derek Birginske came on in relief in the seventh inning and got the first two outs rather easily, but hit a batter and walked before Ray tied the game up on a home run to center field. The eighth inning started much the same as Chandler Hawkins relieved Birginske and got the first two hitters out. Hawkins allowed a two-out double and walked the next hitter to bring Ryan Summers to the dish.
Hawkins struck Summers out on three straight pitches but the last pitch was in the dirt and Summers reached base after stepping on Levy’s hand, which allowed the ball to roll further away after the A-State catcher had blocked it. Sutton Whiting hit a blooper for a double down the right field line to plate two runs and give the Cardinals a 10-8 advantage they wouldn’t surrender. Four runs later the inning ended and Louisville’s Brendan McKay struck out the side in the top of the ninth to clinch the 14-8 win for the Cardinals.
McKay earned the win after holding the Red Wolves scoreless in four innings of relief. He only allowed two hits and struck out eight batters with no walks. Glidewell, pitching for the first time since the 2012 season, was effective as he tossed 5.1 innings and allowed four runs on three hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Hawkins took the loss for the Red Wolves in relief. George led the Red Wolves with three hits in game two, while Baker and Burgess each registered two-hit performances.
Arkansas State’s next scheduled game is set for Feb. 24 in Oxford, Miss., as the Red Wolves travel to Ole Miss for a 3 p.m. first pitch and fans can watch the contest on ESPN3/SEC Network+. The Red Wolves next home game is Wednesday, Feb. 25 against Southeast Missouri State with first pitch set for 6 p.m. from Tomlinson Stadium.
Troy Rallies late to Defeat North Florida
Pensacola, Florida – The Troy University baseball team scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to claim a 2-1 victory over North Florida on Saturday at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium in the Cox Diamond Invitational.
Trailing 1-0, Bert Givens led off the home seventh with a double down the left field line. A batter later, Clay Holcomb reached on an error and Trevin Hall was intentionally walked before Cameron Sanders entered as a pinch hitter and earned a full-count walk to drive home the tying run. With two outs, Nick Masonia ripped a single into left field to give the Trojans the lead.
Grant Bennett (2-0) was stellar in his second start allowing one run on just three hits in seven innings of work. Jeremy McGowan tossed a scoreless eighth and Marc Skinner pitched the ninth to earn his first save of the season.
North Florida scored its lone run in the second inning after a pair of Troy errors allowed a runner to reach and eventually score.
The win marked the 700th NCAA victory for head coach Bobby Pierce; he is now just 11 wins shy of passing Chase Riddle as Troy's all-time winningest coach.
Troy will take on Nicholls at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The game will be broadcast live on WTBF 94.7 FM and streamed on TroyTrojans.com.
Freshman's Key Hit Helps Panthers to 11-9 Win, Doubleheader Split with UMass-Lowell
ATLANTA -- Freshman Will Johnson's two-run triple broke a 2-2 tie and started an eight-run sixth inning that sent Georgia State to an 11-9 victory over UMass Lowell in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday at the GSU Baseball Complex. The River Hawks took Game 1, 5-3, as the Panthers' ninth-inning rally came up short.
The four-game series concludes with a 1 p.m. game Sunday.
With the game tied at 2-2 in the sixth inning, Johnson came to the plate with two outs and two on. After ripping a ball down the third base line that was ruled foul, the rookie from North Atlanta High School delivered an opposite-field triple to the right field corner, bringing home two runs and giving the Panthers the lead for good. Johnson finished the doubleheader with three hits, three RBI and two runs scored.
Another freshman, Jack Thompson, then singled home Johnson. After three straight walks extended Georgia State's lead to 6-2, Matt Rose's sharp single, plus a misplay by the left fielder, cleared the bases. Joey Roach added an RBI-single, and the Panthers led 10-2 after six.
Georgia State (4-3) took an 11-3 lead into the ninth and held on for the 11-9 victory after the River Hawks (1-2) managed six runs off relievers Alex Prescott and Michael Lelko.
Ryan Blanton led off the game for Georgia State with a solo home run, his first of the season, and drove in the Panthers' second run with a sacrifice fly.
Wayne Wages (1-0) earned the victory with 1.1 innings in relief of starter Cole Uvila, who allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits with five strikeouts in five-plus innings.
In game one, UMass Lowell pitchrs Kevin Veilluex and Brendan Shea kept the Panthers off balance for much of the game, but Georgia State had a chance to tie or win the game in the ninth.
With the Panthers trailing 5-1, Cam Sperry led off the bottom of the ninth with his first homer of the season. After Johnson was hit by a pitch, Blanton doubled to right center to put runners at second and third. Pinch hitter Rhett Harper was called out on strikes on a close pitch, and Justin Jones brought home a run with a groundout for the second out. Caden Bailey walked to load the bases and bring the Panthers' top player Matt Rose to the plate. Rose sent a ball deep to left field, but the ball was caught at the warning track for the final out.
Cajuns Split with Stony Brook on Saturday
LAFAYETTE, La. – The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team split a doubleheader Saturday with Stony Brook falling in the first game 4-1, but battled back to win 2-1 in the rubber match to take its home opening series at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field.
With the victory in the second game of the doubleheader, head coach Tony Robichaux moves one win away from claiming his 1,000th career victory as he has compiled a 999-649-1 record in 29 seasons.
“The pitchers did a good job today of coming in with intent,” Robichaux said. “We needed (Greg) Milhon to stand up in the second game, and he stood up. He had great stuff today and came back and pitched with intent. That’s what we’ve got to do. From Bacon to Zaunbrecher to the second game, that’s a lot of zeros. The bullpen threw really well and we got two out of three.”
Milhorn allowed just one run on three hits in a no decision going seven innings with four strikeouts in the second game of the day. Freshman Dylan Moore went on to claim his first career victory for the Ragin’ Cajuns (4-3) in the contest closing the door on the Seawolves (2-4) throwing two scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts.
In game one, sophomore starter Chris Charpentier was tabbed with his second loss of the season after surrendering three runs (two earned) on three hits in two innings with three walks.
Will Bacon and Nick Zaunbrecher were lights out in relief in the contest combining to allow just one unearned run over seven innings.
Stony Brook’s Daniel Zamora was the winner in the afternoon contest limiting the Cajuns to just one run on four hits in six innings while striking out seven. Edwin Corniel was the losing pitcher of record in the nightcap giving up the go ahead run in the bottom of the eighth to fall to 0-1 on the year.
Offensively, Brian Mills led the way going 3-for-5 on the day and scored a run as the squad had 11 hits combined in the doubleheader.
The Seawolves had 12 hits on the day including nine in the opening game of the doubleheader led by Jack Parenty who was 2-for-8 on the day and drove in a run.
Stony Brook plated three runs in the third inning and one in the fourth to jump out to a 4-0 lead in the first game.
Louisiana would get on the board in the sixth on an Evan Powell RBI single to center, but the squad was unable to scratch across anymore runs in the contest falling 4-1.
In the second game, the Ragin’ Cajuns took their first lead of the day on an RBI single to left center by catcher Nick Thurman scoring Greg Davis from second. Davis reached a fielder choice and then stole second.
Stony Brook evened the contest in the top of the sixth on a RBI single to right by Robert Chavarria scoring Jeremy Giles from third.
The Seawolves threatened in the top of the seventh putting runners on second and third with two outs, but Milhorn got Giles to ground out to third to end the inning and keep the contest tied.
Tyler Girouard came through with the game-winning hit in the bottom of the eighth as he roped a single up the middle to plate the speedy Mills from second. Mills walked to leadoff the inning and then moved to second on a sac bunt by Blake Trahan.
Louisiana returns to action on Tuesday at 6 p.m. as the Cajuns host in-state foe McNeese State in the final game of a four-game stint at the “Tigue”. Following the mid-week contest with Cowboys, the Cajuns head to Birmingham, Ala. to face the Alabama Crimson Tide in a three-game series.
West Virginia Evens Series with Eagles
STATESBORO, Ga. – The West Virginia Mountaineers scored in all but two innings on Saturday to even the series with a 12-4 win over the Georgia Southern Eagles at J.I. Clements Stadium.
West Virginia (3-2) tallied 14 hits and hit three home runs a day after being held to five hits in the series opener.
The Mountaineers took a 2-1 lead in the third inning and added five runs over the middle three innings to lead 7-3 after six frames. They closed the game with five runs in the final three innings.
The WVU offense backed a quality start from Ross Vance, who allowed three runs over 6.1 innings. Vance (1-1) struck out nine batters and walked just one to earn his first win of the season. Conner Dotson held Georgia Southern (4-2) to a run over the final 2.2 innings and struck out seven batters.
Eagle starter Adam Kelly was lifted in the third inning after walking Taylor Munden. Kelly (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing two runs – one earned – on two hits.
The Eagles finished with 11 hits, including Chase Griffin's first home run of the season. Griffin tallied three hits on the day, while Dalton Busby doubled twice in three plate appearances.
GS scored first in the contest on a two-out single by Hunter Thomas in the first inning.
The Mountaineers tied the game in the next inning on a Justin Fox home run. WVU took the lead in the third inning after Ray Guerrini scored on a wild pitch.
Munden hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning to put the Mountaineers up 10-3.
The three-game series concludes tomorrow with the rubber match set for noon. Freshman left hander Connor Simmons will take the bump for the Eagles, and the Mountaineers will counter with righty Chad Donato.
No. 28 Arkansas Blanks South Alabama
MOBILE, Ala. – Four Arkansas pitchers combined to shut out the University of South Alabama baseball team 7-0 Saturday at Stanky Field.
Razorback right-hander Jackson Lowery (1-0) allowed just one hit with a pair of strikeouts in three scoreless relief innings to earn the win. Lowery, Lance Phillips and Parker Sanburn combined for six scoreless relief innings with only two hits allowed. Jaguar right-hander Ryne Long (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing three runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and one walk in 4 2/3 innings pitched.
Arkansas (4-1) took the first lead of the game in the top of the fourth on an RBI double down the right-field line by Rick Nomura, and doubled its lead one batter later on an RBI groundout to second by Brett McAfee. The Razorbacks then pushed their lead to 3-0 on a two-out RBI single to right field by Bobby Wernes.
Arkansas added four additional runs later in the final three frames, highlighted by a pair of runs in the top of the eighth.
Tyler Spoon went 3-for-5 with two doubles, one RBI and a run scored to lead Arkansas at the plate. Ben Gann finished 2-for-2 to lead USA offensively.
"We got five hits tonight and hit another seven on the nose," head coach Mark Calvi said. "We walked nine times, and we had our leadoff man on six or seven times out of nine. We had our opportunities. Our guys were swinging the bats. Our pitchers have done a nice job as far as not issuing walks. We gave up a few too many hits, but we just need to play cleanly. Our told our guys that we need to keep playing hard. If they continue to work and learn from some failures, it will pay dividends later.
"We play the best teams we can and try to win every single game. It didn't turn out our way the last two nights, but I thought our approach to the game tonight was good. Our guys came out and competed against a guy who is 90-95, and one of the better arms in the SEC. We hung in there and hit 12 balls on the screws, but some of the bounces didn't go our way tonight. Ryne Long really battled for us. The guys came out of the bullpen and threw strikes for the most part, which they have done all year long."
The Arkansas defense turned five double plays in the game, and turned in its second consecutive game without a fielding error.
"They (Arkansas) play solid defense, put good swings on good pitches and they have good arms," Calvi said. "Our guys have seen some really good pitching (this weekend), but that's why we tried to put together this tournament. We want our guys to see and face the best, and you go out there and try to match up with and beat the best."
South Alabama (4-2) will return to action when it hosts No. 22 Central Florida (6-0) at 2 p.m. Sunday at Stanky Field. Arkansas will take on Maryland (4-1) at 10 a.m. Sunday prior to the USA-UCF contest.
Mavericks Split on Final Day of UTA Hilton Invitational
ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington wrapped up the final day of the UTA Hilton Invitational with a split after facing Michigan State and Houston Baptist at Clay Gould Ballpark on Saturday.
"I thought overall it was a good weekend winning two out of three," UT Arlington coach Darin Thomas said. "I thought we pitched it extremely well. We had a shutout, gave up one run against Michigan State and gave up two runs in the second game and that's as good as you can ask for."
The Mavericks hit .200 on the day while recording 13 hits and five runs. Freshman Christian Hollie stepped up his game on the final day of the invitational, registering a .429 BA with three hits, one double and one triple. Hollie served as a catalyst for the Mavericks offense against Michigan State, going 2-of-3 at the plate with one run.
UTA also received strong support from their pitching staff, allowing only three runs. Brad Vassar picked up his first career win against Michigan State when he went six innings with five hits and one earned run while striking out two batters. In the second game of the day, Reid Petty made it through four innings on the mound while giving up four hits, one earned run and striking out five HBU batters.
UT Arlington 3, Michigan State 1
The Mavericks took a lead in third inning against Michigan State when a throwing error by the Spartans made room for Christian Hollie to score from second base while putting Travis Sibley on first. In the next at bat, Levi Scott hit a single to left field and was able to reach second on an error by the right fielder. Sibley was also able to score on the play, reaching home on the errant throw by the right fielder.
Michigan State made things interesting in the fourth inning as they combined a double with a ground out to put a runner on third base with one out, but the Spartans were only able to come away with one run when MSU recorded a sacrifice fly and a pop fly to end the inning.
Looking to be in control of the game heading into the ninth inning, UTA was feeling the pressure as relief pitcher Colin Tornberg had the bases loaded with one out on the board. However, Tornberg and the Mavs got out of that jam when a ground ball to Darien McLemore at second allowed the junior infielder to tag out one runner and make the throw to first, completing the game with UTA on top 3-1.
The Mavericks scored their three runs on seven hits with two errors while the Spartans registered one run on seven hits with three errors committed.
Houston Baptist 2, UT Arlington 1
Houston Baptist got on the board first in the second inning when an error by the Mavericks cleared the way for the Huskies to score from third and take a one-run lead.
With Christian Hollie at the plate and two outs on the board in the third inning, Hollie hit his first career triple to bring Eric Tate in from second and tie the game at one run apiece.
After a pair of scoreless innings, Houston Baptist regained control of the game in the sixth inning when a double to left center brought in another runner for the Huskies.
Sibley led off the ninth inning with a single to center field that was followed up with a strike out and a pop fly, bringing freshman RJ Williams to the plate with two outs. Williams kept the game alive with his single up the middle, but the Mavericks struck out in the next at bat, giving the Mavs their fourth loss of the season with a 2-1 decision.
UTA recorded one run on six hits with two errors while Houston Baptist put up two runs on nine hits while committing one error.
The Mavericks will return to action on Feb. 25 against Abilene Christian with first pitch at Clay Gould Ballpark set for 6:30 pm.