Trojans Break Away With 15-Run Win Over Fort Wayne
LITTLE ROCK – A 19-hit day powered Little Rock baseball past Fort Wayne by a score of 17-2 in the series opener on Friday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field.
Hunter Owens had the big offensive performance for Little Rock (3-6) as he went 4 for 5 with five RBIs, three runs and a double. Cameron Knight went a perfect 4 for 4 and walked twice as the designated hitter. Ty Gunter was 3 for 5 with two RBIs, a double, a run and one walk. Zach Baker went 3 for 4 with four runs, a double, one RBI and two walks. Danny Mitchell Jr. was the fifth Trojan to have multiple hits as he went 2 for 5 with two runs, a double and an RBI. Getting a couple RBIs of his own was Kale Emshoff as he went 1 for 4 with a double.
Freshman right-hander Carter Brown (1-0) earned his first win of the year in his first collegiate start. Brown went 6.0 innings, struck out seven and allowed just two runs on two hits and three walks. After Brown exited the game, Cody McGill, Zach Ours and McKinley Moore allowed nothing and struck out five out of the bullpen.
"I'm proud of Carter Brown for settling in and throwing over the plate through the sixth inning," head coach Chris Curry said. "After that, I thought our bullpen was outstanding. They were just throwing the ball over plate."
After the Mastodons (3-6) went down in order to begin the game, the Trojans came out swinging with seven runs on seven hits and an error in the bottom of the first. Mitchell Jr. and Baker hit back-to-back doubles to get the game started as Mitchell Jr. scored the game's first run. With runners on the corners, Owens singled through the left side to score Baker. With bases loaded, the Trojans grounded into a double play, but Dalton Thomas was able to score from third. Emshoff earned both of his RBIs on a double as Gunter and Owens scored. Emshoff scored as Bryce Dimitroff reached on a throwing error. Little Rock batted around as Mitchell Jr. delivered on an RBI single through the right side for his second hit of the inning.
Fort Wayne got on the scoreboard in the second inning with two runs on one hit. With two on base, Zak Kellogg tripled to score the Mastodons' only two runs of the game.
Little Rock made it 8-2 in the bottom of the second with an RBI single by Gunter as Thomas scored his second run of the afternoon.
The Trojans kept the pressure on in the bottom of the third with two runs on four hits and an error. Little Rock grounded into another double play, but Dimitroff scored on the play. An RBI single by Owens put Little Rock up 10-2. That would be all for Fort Wayne starter Jake Weber (0-1) as he allowed 10 runs (seven earned) on 13 hits and two walks through just three innings.
After a scoreless fourth inning, the Trojans put up two more in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings. Owens and Gunter had a pair of RBI singles in the fifth, and Owens took his fifth RBI of the game in the sixth with a two-RBI double in the sixth.
Little Rock capped off its hit parade with three more runs on one hit in the bottom of the eighth. With bases loaded, Baker scored on wild pitch for the Trojans' 15th run of the game. A sacrifice fly to right by Riley Pittman scored Keegan Meyn before Owens scored his third run of the game on a wild pitch.
The Trojans have now put up 11 or more hits in three consecutive games and in five of nine games this season. The last time Little Rock scored 17 runs in a game was last season at ULM.
"Obviously, we're pleased with the results, however, there were a lot of mistakes that happened during the game that we have to correct," Curry said. "We still have to eliminate those mistakes that are getting us beat in tighter games. However, we challenged them before the game, and they answered that challenge. I'm curious to see how we play all weekend."
Little Rock will face Fort Wayne in a doubleheader on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for noon at Gary Hogan Field.
No. 18 Coastal Rallies to Beat San Francisco; Cunningham Sets CCU Record
CONWAY - Coastal Carolina senior pitcher Alex Cunningham set a school record with 14 strikeouts, but the 18th-ranked Chanticleers needed three runs in the eighth to claim a 7-5 victory over San Francisco in game two of the Tidelands Health Classic at Spring Brooks Stadium Friday afternoon.
Cunningham did not factor in the decision, leaving the game after 6.2 innings and trailing 4-3. He allowed six hits and four runs with just one walk.
The Chants improve to 6-5 and will play a doubleheader Saturday in day two of the Tidelands Health Classic, facing Winthrop at 1:30 and Albany at 5 pm. The Dons fall to 7-4.
Coastal grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Cory Wood hit a leadoff single and, two batters later, sophomore Peyton Isaacson hit his first career home run.
The Dons responded in kind to tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the second. Dominic Miroglio singled and Grady Bate followed with a home run to left field.
Jordan Gore broke the deadlock in the fifth with a solo home run to left-center field. The blast put CCU up 3-2 and was the Conway product's first as a Chanticleer.
However, San Francisco again answered with a home run in the sixth to tie the game once again as Nico Giarratano lined one over the right field fence. Then, the Dons took a 4-3 lead in the frame as Miroglio homered.
In between the home runs in the sixth, Cunningham recorded his 13th strikeout to tie the CCU single-game record. After the second home run, Cunningham ended the inning with a strikeout to set a new school standard with 14. The previous mark was 13, held by Steven Carter versus Winthrop (4/2/04) and Ron Deubel versus Richmond (2/28/98). Cunningham had at least two strikeouts in six innings, including two frames with three.
San Francisco pushed its advantage to 5-3 in the seventh. With two out, Matt Sinatro walked, stole second and scored on an RBI single from Tyler Villaroman.
The Chants tied the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth. Wood Myers singled, stole second and scored on an RBI double from Kevin Woodall Jr. Seth Lancaster then welcomed new Dons' pitcher Joey Steele with an RBI double of his own. Ewing then singled to left to drive in Lancaster for the 7-5 lead.
Cole Schaefer (1-0) got the win. The senior worked 1.1 innings and allowed three hits and one run. Austin Kitchen earns a save for the second time in as many games.
Joey Steele (0-1) suffered the loss in relief. He allowed four hits and three runs in 1.2 innings.
Osby, Friend Lead Baseball Past Seton Hall
PENSACOLA, Florida – Daren Osby tossed six solid innings and Justin Friend hit a 3-run home run to lead Troy past Seton Hall, 6-3, Friday afternoon in the opener of the Cox Diamond Invitational at Blue Wahoo Stadium.
Knotted at two in the bottom of the fifth inning, Friend hammered an 0-1 fastball over the wall in right-center field to put Troy (6-3) in front. Troy improved to 6-0 on the season when scoring first, and it was the Trojans' fifth win in their past six games.
Osby (2-1) struck out five and allowed just two runs – one earned – to pick up his second straight victory. The junior right-hander scattered six hits over his six innings and issued just one walk.
The Trojans jumped in front in the third inning on a sac fly from Joey Denison, but quickly found themselves in a 2-1 hole after Seton Hall (3-5) plated a pair of runs – one unearned – in the top of the fourth.
Troy responded in its half of the frame as the Trojans loaded the bases with nobody out. Following a strikeout, Steven Whitaker punched the ball up the middle of the infield to plate a run and tie the game.
Brandon Lockridge extended his hitting streak to nine games as he went 2-for-5 in the game, while Friend and Denison also had a pair of hits for the Trojans. Mike Caputo led the Pirates with three hits in four at-bats, while Matt Toke and Mike Alescio both added a pair of hits.
As they have all season long, the Trojans got quality work from their bullpen. Andrew Crane, Lance Johnson and Marc Skinner all picked up holds before Cory Gill closed out the game by striking out the side in the ninth for his second save of the season.
Shane McCarthy (0-2) was tagged with the loss for Seton Hall as he allowed five runs – four earned – on eight hits over six innings of work; he walked three and struck out three.
Quotable
"Daren (Osby) was great today," Troy head coach Mark Smartt said. "I thought he was good early and then when we got the big 3-run homer to catch the lead he went to another gear and was really good. You need a good Friday night start and he gave us that. Our bullpen was good enough, and we made a couple mistakes defensively, but worked around them. So, all-in-all I'm real pleased with the first day win and it sets us up for a good weekend."
Sound "Smartt" With Your Friends
Justin Friend's 3-run homer in the fifth inning was Troy's seventh home run through the first nine games of the season. The Trojans didn't hit their seventh home run until the 28th game of the season last year.
Moments that Mattered
• A one-out single and double in the top of the second inning put Seton Hall in position to stake an early lead. However, Daren Osby responded with a strikeout and a grounder to end the threat. Troy has not lost a game this season when scoring first and the Trojans struck one inning later to grab the first lead of the game.
• Tied 2-2 in the fifth, Joey Denison drove a one-out single into right-center field and one out later Trevor Davis drew a seven-pitch walk to bring Justin Friend to the plate with two on and two out. Friend, who had homered in both Sun Belt Tournament games last season, launched an 0-1 fastball deep over the wall in right-center for his first home run of the season to give Troy a 5-2 lead.
• Cory Gill struck out the side in the ninth inning around a walk and an error that brought the tying run to the plate. Gill, who earned his second save of the year, has now struck out 11 batters in 7.2 innings this season.
Up Next
Troy will take on Sun Belt Conference rival South Alabama in a non-conference match up. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. from Blue Wahoo Stadium; the Trojans have won eight of the last 11 games against their in-state foes. The game will be televised live by Cox Sports Television.
SPERRY HR, 4 RBI LEAD RALLY IN 10-6 WIN OVER NKU
orgia State downed Northern Kentucky
in the opening game a three-game series Friday at the GSU Baseball Complex.
Sperry's two-run blast to deep right center, his first of the season, started the Panthers six-run seventh that broke a 4-4 tie. Two batters later,
Jarrett Hood came off the bench for a pinch-hit, solo homer, his first, to put GSU ahead 7-4.
The Panthers (5-3) then loaded the bases, and Justin Jones drew a hit by pitch, and then Romero Greer delivered a run-scoring single for a 9-4 lead.
Sperry brought home the final run of the inning with a bases-loaded walk to put the Panthers in command, 10-4.
After falling behind 4-0 early, Georgia State got on the board in the third inning as Luke Leonard led off with a single and came home on an RBI
single by Justin Jones. The Panthers inched closer with two runs in the fifth as Jones came around to score from second base on a wild pitch, and
then Sperry drove in a Romero Greer with a sacrifice fly.
Ryan Blanton tied the game in the sixth as he tripled off the wall in right field to bring in Will Kilgore, who drew a leadoff walk.
Georgia State starter Bryce Conley (2-1) allowed four runs in the first three innings but then settled in and retired 12 of 14 batters in the
fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings with five strikeouts. His final line saw him allow four runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and no
walks in seven innings.
"I'm proud of our team for never giving up and grinding out this win by playing all nine innings," head coach Greg Frady said. "Tonight, I felt like we won the back six innings of the game after the first three didn't go our way. I really want to compliment Bryce Conley. He had a rough start to the game, but he never panicked and he found himself and put us in position to win."
Rhett Harper recorded the final five outs for the Panthers.
NKU (1-7) starter Trey Ganns allowed three runs on six hits in 4.2 innings but did not figure in the decision. Ganns also had two hits and two RBI for
the Norse.
The series continues with a 2 p.m. game Saturday.
Texas State erupts for 18 runs in big win over Richmond
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State baseball team posted a season high in runs to defeat Richmond 18-3 Friday night at Bobcat Ballpark.
In the first ever meeting between the programs, the Bobcats erupted for a season-high 17 hits and added a quality start on the mound to keep the Spiders (3-5) at bay.
TXST got the night started with a pair of markers in the first inning. A bases-loaded double from sophomore Jonathan Ortega in the bottom of the second began a spree of three runs in the second, four in the third and sixth in the fourth that saw the Bobcat lead swell to 15-2.
Sophomore Jacob Almendarez had an RBI sacrifice fly in the eighth, and junior Derek Scheible added his team-best third home run of the season to push the run total to 18.
Ortega matched his career highs in hits (5-for-6) and doubles (2), while also blasting a home run, scoring twice and registering a career-best seven runs batted in. Scheible finished 3-for-5 with three RBI and four runs scored, and Almendarez drove in a pair of runs.
Junior Luke Sherley, making his first appearance this season, finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Junior Theodore Hoffman went 2-for-5 with two RBI, two runs scored and his second homer of the season. Juniors Jaylen Hubbard and Travon Benton both scored a career-high three runs.
Sophomore Anthony Pagano (1-1) earned his first-career victory on the mound after conceding just two runs (one earned) on three hits in a career-high 6.0 innings. He also fanned a career-best six batters and walked just one.
True freshmen Broc Bosse and Shane Daughety pitched out the remaining three innings. Bosse tossed 2.0 frames and allowed one run on two hits, while Daughety logged a perfect ninth.
The Spiders utilized six pitchers overall in the contest. Layne Looney (1-1) started and left after conceding five runs on three hits across 2.0 innings. He struck out four and walked three. At the plate for the visitors, Vinny Capra had two of their five hits after finishing 2-for-4. Daniel Brumbaugh scored twice.
The two teams are slated to continue their series at 4 p.m. March 4. Be sure to check TxStateBobcats.com or @TxStateBaseball on Twitter for schedule changes due to impending weather.
Three-Run Seventh Lifts @AStateBaseball to Series-Opening Win
JONESBORO, Ark. (3/3/17) – The Arkansas State baseball team used a three-run seventh inning for a come-from-behind 5-4 win over Cincinnati Friday night in the series opener at Tomlinson Stadium in Jonesboro.
A-State (7-4) came into the bottom of the seventh trailing the Bearcats (3-5) by a score of 4-2 with Cincinnati turning the game over to reliever A.J. Kullman. The 6-8 right-hander got Jeremy Brown to ground out to third to begin the inning, but Casey Vaughan doubled down the right-field line to give the Red Wolves a base runner. Kullman hit two consecutive batters to load the bases before walking in a run by issuing a base on balls to Grant Hawkins to bring the Red Wolves within 4-3.
Drew Tipton stepped up to the plate, but struck out on a 1-2 pitch that grazed the outside corner to bring up Joe Schrimpf with two outs. Schrimpf was up for the challenge as he punched an 0-1 pitch into right-center field for a single to score Alex Howard and Jake Bakamus to give A-State a 5-4 advantage, their first of the game.
Tanner Kirby, who pitched a scoreless seventh, tossed a perfect eighth, but got into trouble in the top of the ninth when the Bearcats put runners on first and second with two outs. However, the Maumelle, Ark., native was able to strike out A.J. Bumpass on a pitch in the dirt to end the game and secure the win for the Red Wolves.
Kirby improved to 2-0 on the season with three scoreless innings after allowing two hits with four strikeouts and a walk. Starter Bryan Ayers allowed four runs on four hits with four walks and seven strikeouts, but didn’t factor in the decision. Kullman took the loss for Cincinnati to fall to 2-1 on the year after relieving Andrew Zellner, who lasted six innings and gave up two runs on two hits with nine punch outs against one walk.
Cincinnati struck first on a Connor McVey single that plated Jace Mercer from first base on a hit-and-run play in the top of the third. R.J. Thompson stepped up to the plate and hit an opposite-field, two-run homer to right to put the score at 3-0. Thompson finished 2-for-3 at the dish with three RBI.
A-State struck back in the bottom of the fourth when Brown hit his second home run of the season, but first one over the fence, to left field to Schrimpf, who was hit by a pitch earlier in the frame. However, the 3-2 deficit soon became 4-2 when Thompson ripped a run-scoring single to left field in the top of the fifth.
The Red Wolves return to action against Cincinnati Saturday afternoon at Tomlinson Stadium. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. Fans can listen to the game on 95.3 FM The Ticket and online at 953TheTicket.com, but it will not be streamed on the Red Wolves Digital Network due to the women’s basketball game against South Alabama.
Mavs Sweep Friday Twinbill
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Will Olson and Quintin Rohrbaugh each collected three hits and Noah Vaughan belted a three-run home run, leading UTA to a series-clinching 8-6 win at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to sweep a series-opening double-header on Friday night at Chapman Field.
The clubs traded crooked numbers and errors early, as the teams scored 14 runs and had nine errors combined through the first six innings. TAMU-CC jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, before the Mavs answered with a five-run second inning. The Islanders got a run in the third but UTA's three-run fourth helped fend off a two-run frame in the fifth for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
The game was the second of a series-opening doubleheader on Friday at Chapman Park, with UTA posted a 7-3 win in the opener.
ON THE MOUND
UTA (4-7) started junior righty Trae Patterson (1-1) in his third career start. Patterson tossed 5.2 innings, working around traffic throughout the night as the UTA defense committed six errors behind him, he walked two and allowed seven hits. Overall he was tagged with six runs – just three earned – striking out three.
With the go-ahead run on base in the sixth inning, UTA turned to lefty Adam Meyer to get a key out and strand the runner. Meyer stranded both runners and worked the final 3.1 shutout innings for his second career save, allowing just a hit with three strikeouts. Combined with his dominating outing over the final 1.1 innings in the first game of the doubleheader, Meyer worked 4.2 shutout relief innings on Friday, closing out both wins.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (1-9) turned to righty Chris Cooper for the start. Cooper worked four innings, allowing eight hits and eight runs, walking two and striking out five. He was relieved in the fifth by David Worrell, who tossed three innings in relief. Cole Carter tossed the final two frames.
LEADING THE MAVS
Olson and Rohrbaugh each had three hits, with Olson's three-hit game setting a new career high. Rohrbaugh drove in two runs with Vaughan's three-run homer setting a new career high in RBI for the sophomore outfielder, who scored two runs. UTA also got two hits from Omar Salinas and hits from Brady Cox, Colton Turner ad Easton Johnson, with Aaron Funk drawing a walk and driving in a run.
HOW THEY SCORED
The Islanders scored three two-out runs on two UTA errors and a pair of hits in the bottom of the first inning. Itchy Burts singled with one out and Nick Anderson drew a walk. After Patterson got the second out, Dawson Yates ripped a two-run double, with the third run scoring on a throwing error.
In the second inning, UTA plated five runs on four hits to take a 5-3 lead. Vaughan led off by reaching on an error, with Turner and Salinas loading the bases with singles. Johnson then chopped a ball to the left side that went for an error and scored Vaughan. Funk followed with a full-count walk with the bases loaded to fie the game and score Turner. Williams hung a sacrifice fly to leftfield to give the Mavs a 4-3 lead with the run from Salinas, Johnson and Funk plated after Rohrbaugh delivered a two-run single to left.
In the third inning, TAMU-CC plated a run after Anderson led off with a single and Dalton Stark scored him with an RBI double.
The Mavs plated three runs in the fourth inning, as Olson singled with one out and Rohrbaugh reached on a two-out single. Vaughan followed with a three-run homer over the rightfield fence for a four-run lead. It marked Vaughan's third homer of the year.
TAMU-CC plated two runs in the fifth inning, taking advantage of two UTA errors and two base hits.
NEXT
The series is scheduled to conclude on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT at Chapman Park. With weather forecast for the day on Saturday, if the game is impacted by inclement weather, the series will conclude on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Cajuns Baseball Defeats Southern Miss 3-1 In Russo Park Debut
LAFAYETTE, La. – The No. 16 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team scored three unanswered runs to defeat Southern Miss 3-2 on Friday night in the squad's debut at Russo Park in front of a packed house of 5,250.
The victory improves the Ragin' Cajuns to 5-3 on the year, while the Golden Eagles are handed their second defeat of 2017 to fall to 7-2.
"It was just a great night for our fans," head coach Tony Robichaux said. This all starts with the support of our president to make this night happen. I was glad we were able to cap tonight off with a quality Division I baseball game for our fans. Our fans saw good pitching, good defense and timely hitting. That's what makes up a good quality Division I baseball game."
Junior left-hander Gunner Leger posted his second straight quality start limiting Southern Miss to one run on four hits in six innings of work to improve to 2-1 on the season. Leger didn't allow a free pass while striking out a season-best eight strikeouts.
The Louisiana bullpen was outstanding as Wyatt Marks and Dylan Moore combined to toss three scoreless innings to close out the contest. Marks went two innings with four strikeouts, a walk and one hit. The junior has not allowed an earned run in 11 innings this season and is tied for the team lead with 19 strikeouts.
Moore moved one save back of the Sun Belt Conference career record in the outing tallying his third save of the season and 30th of his career. Hugh Adams holds the record posting 31 saves at FAU from 2009-13.
"It was big for Dylan to get those three strikeouts in the ninth," Robichaux added. "He did start off a little shaky, but he stood tall and got the job done. I'm glad for him, and hopefully that will build some confidence for him."
USM starter Hayden Roberts was handed his first loss of the year after giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts in 6.1 innings.
Offensively, the Golden Eagles edged the Cajuns 6-5 in hits. Designated hitter Daniel Keating led the way for Southern Miss going 2-for-3 and scored a run.
Senior first baseman Alex Pinero extended his hit streak to seven games going 2-for-4 with a double and scored a run. Kennon Fontenot also moved his streak to five games in the contest.
The Golden Eagles struck first plating a run in the top of the second on a sacrifice fly to right field by second baseman Storme Cooper to take a 1-0 advantage.
The lead would be short lived though as right fielder Steven Sensley led off the bottom half of the inning by driving a 1-0 pitch from Roberts over the wall in centerfield to tie the contest at 1-all. Later in the inning, Fontenot drove a two-out triple into the gap in right center to plate catcher Handsome Monica and put the Ragin' Cajuns in front 2-1.
Southern Miss' best scoring opportunity came in the top of the sixth as USM twice had runners in scoring position. With runners on the corners and one out, third basemen Joe Robbins fielded a ball hit by Taylor Braley and cut down first baseman Dylan Burdeaux at the plate to preserve the lead. After Keating was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Leger clamped down and got centerfielder Matt Wallner to ground out to first to end the threat.
Louisiana added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh to extend the lead to 3-1 when second baseman Brenn Conrad was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and two outs.
The Golden Eagles looked to rally in the ninth putting the first two runners on to start the frame, but Moore shut the door with three straight punch outs to end the contest.
The two teams are back in action tomorrow at 2 p.m. as the Cajuns look to clinch the series. Sophomore right-hander Nick Lee (2-0, 0.69 ERA) takes the mound for Louisiana, while Southern Miss will counter with sophomore lefty Kirk McCarty (2-0,1.46 ERA). Fans can watch the contest for free on RaginCajuns.com. The game will also be broadcast on KPEL 96.5-FM with Jay Walker making the call.