No. 1 Georgia Blanks Le Moyne, 12-0
ATHENS -- Top-ranked Georgia scored double-digit runs for the 11th time and held Le Moyne to just two hits in a 12-0 win over the Dolphins Wednesday at Foley Field.
The Bulldogs' 14th straight win to start the season ties the second longest winning streak in school history.
"It was great pitching today by both sides," said head coach David Perno. "They were really on the hunt and we were able to come through. A fourteen game winning streak is impressive, but you really have to win the SEC games. Nothing we have done up to this point is really going to help us other than the confidence that it has built inside these guys."
Chase Hawkins (1-0) worked 5.0 innings and gave up just one hit. The freshman from Snellville, Ga., held Le Moyne (2-8) without a hit until two outs in the fifth.
Colby May had three hits and two RBI, Rich Poythress and Chase Davidson both homered, and Joey Lewis also added a pair of hits including his SEC-leading 10th double. Poythress finished with five RBI and leads the league with 32 this season. Michael Demperio had a hit, two walks and scored three runs.
Steve Esmonde, Jeff Walters and Michael Palazzone pitched the final four innings and combined to allow one hit.
For the 11th time this season, Georgia scored in the first inning as Demperio drew a one out walk, then advanced to third on a throwing error by the Le Moyne pitcher and eventually scored on an RBI single by May.
The Bulldogs added another run in the third when Johnathan Taylor led off the inning with a single, stole second then scored on May's second RBI single of the game.
Georgia pulled away with six runs in the fifth. Demperio walked again with one out, followed by May's third hit and a two-run single by Poythress to give Georgia a 4-0 lead. Poythress recorded his second stolen base of the season, then scored on a single by Bryce Massanari. Joey Lewis' had Georgia's fourth straight single before Chase Davidson hit his second home run of the season to push the lead to 8-0.
The Bulldogs tacked on four more runs in the eighth off singles by Matt Cerione, Lyle Allen and Demperio and a three-run home run by Rich Poythress, his second in as many days.
Derek Zielinski (0-1) took the loss for Le Moyne after allowing four runs on five hits in 4.1 innings.
Georgia begins its SEC title defense this weekend with a three-game series at Alabama. Trevor Holder will start Friday's game for the Bulldogs scheduled for 7:35 p.m. Eastern.
BURNS, CAMPBELL, KAPTEYN PACE UK TO WIN OVER INDIANA
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Junior first baseman William Campbell accounted for a two-run, game-tying home run in the fourth inning and drove in the go-ahead RBI in the sixth, to lead No. 29 Kentucky to its school-record 29th consecutive home non-conference win, edging the Indiana Hoosiers 8-7, on Wednesday evening at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Kentucky (11-2) has now won nine consecutive games after posting the win over the Hoosiers, who entered the preseason as the Baseball America pick to win the Big Ten. UK got clutch hitting and pitching from its newcomers, as Campbell finished 1-for-2 with a career-high three RBI and two runs scored. Freshman third baseman Andy Burns added a 2-for-4 day, tallying two RBI, bringing his season average up to .359. Freshman Braden Kapteyn closed the door on IU with a hitless ninth inning – picking up his second save of the year – adding a 2-for-5, one RBI performance at the dish, extending his team-best hit streak to eight games.
Burns, a native of Fort Collins, Colo., continued his hot start to the season with a 2-for-4 night including two RBI. The infielder was the next batter up in the sixth after Campbell was hit by a pitch and delivered a big two RBI single through the left side. Burns would later come home to score on sophomore Chris Bisson's (pronounced: BEES-own) double into right center field, which extended Bisson's hit steak to eight games.
Kentucky returns to action with its first Southeastern Conference series of the season, a three-game set at No. 4 LSU. First pitch Friday is slated for 8 p.m. ET at the new Alex Box Stadium. Fans can catch the action live on the Big Blue Sports Network (radio), with the Voice of UK Baseball, Neil Price, calling the action. Fans in Lexington can hear the games live on WLAP 630-AM. UK will utilize the starting rotation of James Paxton (3-0, 3.63 ERA) Friday and Chris Rusin (2-1, 3.63 ERA) Saturday, with Sunday's starter to be determined.
The Wildcats used six pitchers in the game, starting with sophomore Mike Kaczmarek, who got his first starting assignment of the season. The Orlando Park, Ill., native, lasted 2.2 innings, giving up two runs, none of which were earned. The lefty struck out four batters, while walking none and lowering his ERA to 3.86. He was replaced on the mound in the third inning by junior Tyler Henry, who went 2.1 frames for the Wildcats allowing two earned runs on four hits striking out one batter. In the ninth, UK Head Coach Gary Henderson turned to Kapteyn – a 6-foot-4 right-hander, to close the game. Kapteyn, who started at designated hitter, got a first pitch ground out to start the inning and made quick work of the next two Hoosier batters securing Kentucky's win.
The Hoosiers got on the board first in the second inning on a RBI single through the left side of the infield by Chris Hervey. With one out in the inning, Tyler Rogers singled down the right field line advancing to second when Kaczmarek threw the ball away on a pick-off attempt to first. Rogers advanced to third when Cody Webber grounded out to Campbell at first and later scored on Hervey's single.
Indiana (5-7) scored on an error in the third inning when Jerrud Sabourin scored on an error by Chris Wade. With one out, the Hoosiers received back-to-back singles by Sabourin and All-American catcher Josh Phegley. After a fly out to deep left center field by Alex Dickerson, Kipp Schutz grounded a ball to short that got a bad hop and popped up and hit Wade in the chest, scoring a run and booting Kaczmarek from the game. Junior Tyler Henry came in and got the next batter to strike out and end the inning.
The Wildcats bats came alive in the third inning when Kapteyn got an RBI single to right field that scored two runs. With Bisson on first and two outs, Johnson got hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second for Kapteyn. The infielder hit a rope single to right center field easily scoring Bisson, and after the right fielder misplayed the ball, the speedy Johnson was waved in by third base coach Brad Bohannon, scoring before the ball could get there. It was Kapteyn's seventh RBI on the season, tying the game at 2-2 going into the third inning.
Kentucky took a lead in the fourth inning on the first career homer by Campbell. Chad Wright started the inning for Kentucky when he reached on a high chopper back to the pitcher, who couldn't field the ball. Two outs later, with Campbell facing a hitter's count of 3-1, the junior hit an opposite-field shot between the deck and the monster in right field. Burns was the next Kentucky batter and sent a high fly ball all the way to the right field warning track before finally being caught, ending the inning with Kentucky up 4-2.
In the next half inning, the Hoosiers tied the game getting RBI from Dickerson and Schutz. The inning started on a single up the middle by Evan Crawford who later advanced to third on a single by Phegley. Dickerson was the next batter and he sent a hard hit single up the middle that plated Crawford and moved Phegley to third. Then Schutz sent a deep sacrifice fly to left field scoring Phegley and tying the game at four. After Henderson came out to talk to Henry, the junior righty got out of the inning getting Webber to ground out to short.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Wildcats grabbed a lead with an RBI from Campbell, Burns and Bisson. The inning started when Nidiffer walked and then Chad Wright reached first on a bunt single. Both runners moved into scoring position when Wade laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt. Frazier then walked loading the bases for Campbell who picked up his third RBI of the game when he was hit by a pitch. Indiana then changed pitchers turning to the righty Joey O'Gara, who gave up a two-run single to Burns and then a RBI double to Bisson giving Kentucky an 8-4 lead.
Indiana loaded the bases in the eighth inning when Darnell gave up a lead-off double, then walked a guy and gave up a single into center. With no outs and the bases loaded, pinch hitter Wes Wilson grounded into a double play, scoring a run. After Darnell hit Crawford to put runners on the corners, Sabourin hit an infield single through the left side to cut the Kentucky lead to two. With runners on first and second and Indiana's All-American Phegley up to the plate, Henderson went to submarine reliever Nick Kennedy. On a full count, Phegley hit a lazy pop up down the left field line that found a hole in front of left fielder Troy Frazier, scoring Crawford. The next batter sent a hard hit ball right back at Kennedy who knocked the ball down, composed himself and threw a strike to first to get out of the inning with Kentucky still up one, setting the stage for Kapteyn to shut the door in the ninth.
BASEBALL BULLDOGS RALLY TO SWEEP VALPARAISO
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Luke Adkins drove home the game-winning run with a hard hit ground ball in the bottom of the ninth inning as Mississippi State snuck past Valparaiso 5-4 in college baseball action Wednesday night at Dudy Noble Field.
The Bulldogs rallied from a 4-0 deficit with four runs in the eighth inning and the game-winning score an inning later. MSU swept the day's activity, after rolling to a 9-2 victory in the doubleheader opener.
MSU improved to 10-4 and snapped a three-game losing streak by winning Wednesday's opener. Meanwhile, Valaparaiso fell to 4-8 overall after suffering its sixth and seventh straight defeats.
In the MSU eighth inning, Russ Sneed started things with a leadoff single. Ryan Collins followed with a smash hit through the left side of the infield. An RBI-single by Luke Adkins broke up the shutout.
The Crusaders then replaced starting pitcher Alex Barry, who had allowed only two hits through seven innings of shutout work.
After a strikeout, a wild pitch scored Ryan Collins. Reliever Steve Godawa then got a groundout before issuing a two-out walk to Mark Goforth. Connor Powers followed with a two-run double off the right field wall.
An inning later, Sneed again started things with a leadoff double off new Valparaiso pitcher Jarad Miller. A sacrifice bunt by Collins advanced Sneed before the fielder's choice at second base hit by Adkins scored pinch runner Nick Hardy with the game-winner.
Drew Hollinghead had a career-long six innings of mound duty. Hollinghead allowed one hit and no runs, with two walks and three strikeouts. Hollinghead worked in relief of starter David Hayes, who pitched two-plus inning and was chased during the Crusaders' four-run third inning.
Senior lefty Jared Wesson (1-0) struck out the side in the ninth inning to record the win. Miller (0-1) retired the final batter in the eighth inning before suffering the defeat in the ninth inning.
Each team finished with seven hits. Adkins and Sneed were multiple hitters for the Bulldogs, while Kyle Muhlsteff paced Valpo's attack with a three-run double during the third inning. A follow-up RBI-single by David Klein capped the scoring for the visitors.
In the opener, MSU's Jet Butler tied a school record by hitting three doubles. Butler finished with four hits and four RBIs as the Bulldogs rolled to victory.
MSU built an early lead by scoring four runs in the first inning and three more scores in the second inning.
Such offense would be more than enough for the MSU pitching duo of Ricky Bowen and Lee Swindle. Bowen (1-0) worked a season best five innings, allowing four hits and two runs (both earned) to garner the victory. Swindle struck out seven in four innings of shutout relief to earn his first career save.
MSU finished with 11 hits. Scott DeLoach and Jason Nappi joined Butler as multiple hitters.
Valpo finished with seven hits. Steven Scoby and Ryan O'Gara each had multiple hits for the Cavaliers. Starting pitcher Bryce Shafer (2-1) worked 5-1/3 innings and took the defeat.
MSU will open Southeastern Conference play this weekend when South Carolina comes to Dudy Noble Field. Game times are 6:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Tigers Run Winning Streak To Nine Straight With 11-7 Win Over Western Kentucky On Wednesday Night
AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburn jumped out to an 11-0 lead after just two innings, padding its home run total with three on the night to up the season total to 33, en route to an 11-7 win over Western Kentucky on Wednesday at Plainsman Park. Freshman Dexter Price picked up his third straight midweek win to move to 3-0 on the year as Auburn (11-4) has now won nine straight games for the first time since the 2004 season.
"I thought we were ready to play early. We put up 11 runs in the first two innings and then we went flat from there on out offensively," Auburn Head Coach John Pawlowski said. "I challenged the team again and we have a lot to learn as we go through the course of a season, but a win is a win and we will certainly take it."
Trent Mummey, who entered the game as the national leader in runs scored with 29, added a run on two hits and a walk, smoking his team-best eighth home run of the season to lead off the bottom of the first, his third lead-off home run in the last six games. The home run also extended his hitting streak to a personal-best 14 games.
Still in the first, Joseph Sanders singled and Hunter Morris doubled him in before Brian Fletcher homered to right center, his fifth of the year, to put Auburn up 4-0 with just one down in the inning. Kevin Patterson followed Fletcher's shot with a deep drive of his own, depositing his third home run of the season into the Western Kentucky bullpen in right-center.
Auburn was not done with its first-inning scoring as Casey McElroy doubled and came home on Justin Hargett's single for a 6-0 lead. With the six runs in the first, Auburn has now outscored its opponents 24-3 in the first inning.
Not content to be up six, Auburn capitalized on three base hits, two hit batters and a walk to put five more on the board in the second. Sanders led off the inning with a double, his fifth of the season, and Ben Jones was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. A walk to Fletcher loaded the bases for Patterson, whose single through the right side scored two, knocking Western Kentucky starter Kes Carter (1-1) out of the game after just 1 1/3 innings with Auburn up 8-0.
Bart Carter relieved him and hit the first hitter he faced in Tony Caldwell to reload the bases before Casey McElroy's sac fly to center made it 9-0. A double by Hargett scored Patterson and Caldwell, charging Kes Carter with 10 runs on nine hits and a walk to take the loss.
Auburn's offense went silent from there, collecting just two hits over the final six frames, with both coming in the eighth inning, while Western Kentucky (9-4) started to make some noise, knocking in three runs on a pair of home runs in the fourth and then scoring another in the sixth as WKU's cleanup hitter Chad Cregar smoked his second home run of the night and eighth of the season, effectively ending Price's night after 5 1/3 innings and Auburn up 11-4.
"We jumped out early and had a bunch of good swings but we kind of flat-lined after that," Hargett said. "Luckily we had enough runs to keep us ahead for the rest of the game. We got the job done and it's good to get the win."
Price and fellow Auburn hurler Ty Kelley surrendered 11 hits combined and were tagged for six earned runs but were aided defensively by a season-high three double plays, two of which ended innings.
With two on and none out in the ninth, Rus Harper relieved Kelley, allowing both of his inherited runners to score along with another run for the final margin.
The last time Auburn won as many as nine straight games was in 2004 when it ran off 10 consecutive wins from Feb. 22 – March 9.
Auburn's 33 home runs this season ranks 26th all-time in Auburn history and the team still has 40 regular season games remaining on its scheAuburn will begin Southeastern Conference action this weekend in Knoxville, Tenn., for a three-game set with the Volunteers. Game times are set for 6pm, 3pm and noon CT from Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
BUKVICH LEADS NO. 14 OLE MISS TO 3-0 SHUTOUT OF AUSTIN PEAY
OXFORD, Miss. -- Brett Bukvich picked up his second win of the season as the senior southpaw turned in a solid performance to lead the Rebel pitching staff Wednesday as No. 14 Ole Miss (9-3) shutout Austin Peay (5-8) by a score of 3-0 at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.
Bukvich (2-0) worked 6.0 scoreless innings and allowed only two hits while recording six strikeouts and walking only one batter. Freshman Kyle Barbeck then turned in 2.0 innings of scoreless work and allowed only one hit, while freshman David Goforth stuck out the side in order in the ninth to pick up the save and preserve the shutout victory.
Governor starter Ryne Harper (2-1) suffered the loss as he allowed three runs on one walk with six strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work.
"It was a really good night for us, certainly it was a good night on the mound with Bukvich, Barbeck and Goforth," said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. "All three pitched extremely well. It was a tough night for offense and a tough night to put big innings together. I am proud of our guys for putting that big inning together in the third off their ace."
Ole Miss scored first, pushing tree runs across in the third as the Rebels used four hits and took advantage of a throwing error from the left fielder to take the early lead on the Governors. Back-to-back singles from Kevin Mort and Taylor Hightower opened the inning before Jordan Henry singled to left field. The Austin Peay left fielder threw a wild ball across the infield, allowing Hightower to score from first and Henry moved to third on the play. Henry then scored on a single through the left side from Matt Smith to give Ole Miss a 3-0 lead.
That was all the scoring the Rebels would need as the pitching staff held the Governors off the board the rest of the way in the first shutout of the season for Ole Miss.
Kevin Mort and Jordan Henry led the Rebels at the plate as Mort was 2-for-3 with a run scored and Henry was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Ole Miss will return to action this weekend when the Rebels open Southeastern Conference play at Vanderbilt. Ole Miss and the Commodores will take the field at 6 p.m. on Friday.
Dugas' Four-Hits Leads Tide to Win over Samford, 11-6
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama held a comfortable lead through six innings, but needed some late-inning offense to finally put away the Samford Bulldogs, 11-6, on Wednesday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Freshman center fielder Taylor Dugas had four hits and reached base five times to pace the Crimson Tide's 19-hit attack. Kent Matthes, Cody Trotter and Ross Wilson all had home runs for Alabama, which has homered in all 13 games this season. Third-baseman Jake Smith had three hits and four RBI in the win.
"Things are coming around," Dugas said after the game. "We came out ready to play today and put some quality at-bats together and we did a good job of that tonight."
Alabama (9-4) held a 7-1 lead after six innings, before Samford took advantage of a season-high six walks and three hit batters by the UA pitching staff, and three errors on defense, to narrow the gap to 7-6 in the eighth inning.
Samford (5-8) scored two runs in the sixth inning, aided by two walks and a hit batter against freshman Tyler White and an error on shortstop Josh Rutledge that would have ended the inning. A hit batter and walk loaded the bases in the seventh and Stephen Bennett's two-run single off Casey Kebodeaux made it a 7-5 game.
In the eighth, David Schulze delivered an RBI single off Austin Evans and the Bulldogs had two runners on base before Evans got Trey Hayes to fly out to left field.
After leaving eight men on base in the first seven innings, including seven in scoring position, Alabama put the game away with a four-run, eighth inning, highlighted by Wilson's three-run home run.
Dugas led off with a single to left and moved to second when Rutledge's sacrifice bunt attempt hit the first base bag for a base hit. Matthes flied out to center and both runners tagged to bring Wilson to the plate. The sophomore second baseman drove a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall to give UA a 10-6 lead. Trotter followed with a base hit and moved to third base when Kyle Moore reached on an error by third baseman Bronson McGriff. Smith followed with an RBI single to cap the scoring at 11-6.
Sophomore right-hander Nathan Kilcrease (1-1) held the Bulldogs to one run and three hits in four innings of work for the win. He added six strikeouts and one walk. Evans, who retired four of the six batters he faced, earned his first career save on the mound.
Samford starter Kyle Putkonen (0-1) was charged with the loss, after allowing six runs and nine hits in three-plus innings.
Alabama struck first and to no surprise it was another Matthes home run in the first inning to put the Tide up 2-0. Dugas led off the game with a four-pitch walk and scored on Matthes' NCAA leading 11th home run of the season off the batter's eye in dead center field.
The Crimson Tide made it a 3-0 in the second inning when Smith ripped a one-out single to left and scored on Dugas' two-out double to right-center field.
Samford scored its first run in the third inning when Stephen Ballard was hit by a pitch and moved around the bases on a single and wild pitch, before scoring on a Vin DiFazio throwing error.
Alabama added three more runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 6-1 lead. Matthes singled and scored on DiFazio's double to left field and Smith added a two-out, two-run double to put the Tide up by five runs.
Trotter slammed the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the fifth inning to the right of the scoreboard in left-center field, his second home run of the season, to give the Tide a 7-1 lead.
Alabama will host top-ranked and defending Southeastern Conference champion Georgia this weekend, in the SEC opener for both teams. The series opener is Friday, March 13, at 6:35 p.m. (CST). The series continues Saturday, March 14, at 4:05 p.m. (CST) and Sunday, March 15, at 2:05 p.m. (CST). Tickets for the Georgia-Alabama series are available at www.RollTide.com.
TENNESSEE DROPS 13-10 DECISION TO LOUISVILLE IN EXTRA INNINGS
Tennessee dropped a 13-10 decision to the No. 30 Louisville Cardinals in their first extra inning game of the season Wednesday afternoon at Robert M. Lindsay Field at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Louisville right fielder Josh Richmond's three-run home run in the top of the 11th inning gave UL the victory after the Volunteers forced extra innings with a single run in the bottom of the ninth.
"We didn't play as good as we have but our fight was great," head coach Todd Raleigh said. "The biggest thing was our starting pitching the last two days has not gotten us very deep and when you start freshmen that is what happens. And when you combine that with four games last weekend, two this week and conference coming up, that handcuffed us a little bit. We just got to our bullpen too quick"
Right-hander Matt Ramsey (0-1, 5.62 ERA) went 2-1/3 innings for the Vols, allowing three runs on three hits while walking one and striking out three. Ramsey pitched scoreless ninth and 10th innings before surrendering the game-winning hit in the 11th.
Second baseman Cody Grisham's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth tied the game at 10-10 and sent the game into extra innings. Junior Jeff Lockwood doubled to center field with two outs and was replaced by pinch runner Will Locante. Locante then scored on Grisham's third hit of the day. Grisham finished the day 3-for-5 with four RBI, including his first home run of the season.
UL reliever Gabriel Shaw earned the victory after pitching the final two innings, shutting out the Vols on only one hit.
The Cardinals took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. First baseman Andrew Clark hit an RBI double to right center field to drive in second baseman Adam Duvall, who previously reached on a walk. Clark then advanced to third on a fly ball and scored on a wild pitch.
The Volunteers did not stay down long, scoring three runs in their half of the first inning. For the second time in two games, right fielder Josh Liles led off the game with a home run to left field. P.J. Polk and Kentrail Davis then followed with singles and Blake Forsythe walked to load the bases. Cody Hawn then grounded out to the first baseman, scoring Polk from third. Tyler Horne then singled through the right side to score Davis, giving the Vols a 3-2 lead.
Louisville tied the game at 3-3 with one run in the top of the second. Richmond singled, advanced to third on a single off the bat of center fielder Drew Hayes and the scored on an error.
The Cardinals took a 6-3 lead with three runs the visitor half of the third. After Clark and third baseman Chris Dominguez reached base on a walk and a hit by pitch, left fielder Phil Wunderlich doubled to left field, scoring Clark from second. Catcher Jeff Arnold then sent a two-RBI double to right field to send Dominguez and Wunderlich across the plate.
Grisham cut the Cardinals' lead to 6-5 with a solo home run over the wall in left field. Shortstop Zach Osborne scored on the home run after reaching base on a fielder's choice.
Tennessee tied the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth inning. Grisham drove in his third run of the game with an RBI single to right field that drove in Horne.
The Volunteers took an 8-6 lead in the bottom of the seventh. UT broke the 6-6 tie on an RBI single off the bat of Hawn. Davis scored after reaching on a walk. Forsythe then scored from third on a wild pitch.
Louisville scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning to take a 10-8 lead. Wunderlich led off the inning with a home run to right field. Richmond followed with a double to left field. Shortstop Ryan Wright singled him in to tie the game at 8-8. Then after putting runners on first and second, Cardinal second baseman Adam Duvall ripped a two-run double to right center field, scoring Wright and center fielder Drew Haynes.
Tennessee added a run in the eighth inning to cut Louisville's lead to 10-9. Liles singled to left field, stole second base and advanced to third on an error. Davis then drove Liles in an RBI single to right field. Davis went 3-for-5 on the day with a RBI and two runs.
Tennessee starting pitcher Steven Gruver pitch 2-2/3 innings, allowing six run on five hits while walking two and striking out four. Junior right-hander Aaron Tullo gave up two runs on three hits through 4-2/3 innings. Tullo walked one and struck out five. Left-hander Bryan Morgado faced one batter in the eighth before being replaced by Danny Wiltz. Wiltz pitched two-thirds of an inning, surrendering one hit. Ryne Simpson pitched the final two outs of the 11th inning.
Louisville pitcher Mike Nastold lasted two innings in his second start of the season. The freshman surrendered three runs on four hits while walking two. Six other Cardinal relievers saw action out of the bullpen.
The Tennessee Volunteers open Southeastern conference play this weekend when they host the Auburn Tigers for a three-game weekend series. Games time are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
GAMECOCKS FALL 16-8 TO WOFFORD
Columbia, S.C. -- Wofford scored 11 unanswered runs in the sixth, eighth and ninth innings on its way to a 16-8 win over 17th ranked South Carolina on Wednesday evening at Carolina Stadium. The Terriers improve to 6-6 on the year while the loss drops Carolina to 10-2 for the season. South Carolina returns to action this weekend with the first weekend of SEC play at Mississippi State. First pitch for the opener is 7:30 pm. ET on Friday evening.
Wofford was strong at the plate the entire night with 17 hits against seven Carolina pitchers. Michael Gilmartin, Jake Williams, Kyle Behrendt and James Foster all tallied three hits. Behrendt went 3-for-5 with five RBI on the night. Mac Doyle was also 2-for-4 with three RBI and Williams also drove in three runs as the Terriers beat the Gamecocks for the first time since the 2006 season in Wofford. Along with 17 hits, the Terriers were able to reach base on four walks as well as seven hit by pitches. The seven hit by pitches were the most in school history at Carolina.
Justin Dalles went 2-for-3 with two runs to lead Carolina at the plate. He homered along with DeAngelo Mack, Casey Rihn, Nick Ebert, and Jeffery Jones. The five home runs for Carolina were the most by the Gamecocks in a game this season.
Wofford reliever J.D. Osborne picked up the win after 0.2 innings of work. The loss went to South Carolina reliever Nolan Belcher. He is 0-1 on the year. Belcher allowed two runs on two hits and one walk in the four batters he faced in the sixth inning.
Wofford got on the scoreboard first with an unearned run in the top of the third inning. Konstantine Diamaduros flew out to deep right field for the second out of the inning. On the play, Josh McKinney advanced to third base and was able to score from there due to an errant throw by outfielder Jackie Bradley, Jr.
South Carolina bounced back in the bottom half of the third to take a 3-1 lead as Justin Dalles roped a three-run homer. Scott Wingo singled and Nick Ebert walked to set the stage for Dalles. With a 3-1 count and two outs, Dalles launched his fourth homer of the year over the left centerfield wall. South Carolina has now homered in all 12 games this season.
The Terriers struck back in the top of the fourth though and tied the game at 3-3. Jake Williams led off with a triple off the right field wall and scored on Kyle Behrendt's RBI groundout. Mac Doyle then followed with a solo home run to left center. Wofford regained the lead in the top of the fifth inning with two more runs. Diamaduros was hit by a pitch and Williams doubled to give the Terriers runners on second and third with no outs. Both players would then score off a pair of sacrifice flies to right field by Behrendt and Doyle.
Trailing 5-3, South Carolina would use the long ball to regain the lead with three home runs in the bottom of the fifth to gain a 7-5 lead. DeAngelo Mack and Nick Ebert went back-to-back to right center to tie the game. After Justin Dalles was hit by a pitch by Wofford reliever Bobby Streisel, the Gamecocks went ahead on a two-run homer by pinch hitter Jeffery Jones. It marked Jones' first career homer in a Carolina uniform.
Wofford once again didn't waver and answered in the top of the sixth with a four spot of its own to regain a two-run lead. James Foster singled to open the inning and scored on a one-out RBI base hit from Josh McKinney. The Terriers would then load the base with one out as Michael Gilmartin singled and Diamaduros was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. The Terriers tied the game on a bases loaded walk to Jake Williams and went ahead 9-7 on Behrendt's two-run single to left field. After a scoreless seventh, the Terriers put across seven more runs in the final two innings. Diamaduros and Doyle had RBI singles in the eighth inning. The ninth would see Williams reach base again with a RBI base hit with the bases loaded that was misplayed by center fielder Whit Merrifield allowing all three runners on base to score. Williams scored the 16th and final run of the game for Wofford on Behrendt's fifth RBI of the game.
South Carolina tallied its final run of the game on a solo homer from Casey Rihn in the bottom of the ninth inning.
NINTH-INNING HOMER LIFTS CAJUNS OVER LSU, 10-9
BATON ROUGE -- A seven-run LSU comeback was cut short in the top of the ninth when Louisiana-Lafayette first baseman Scott Hawkins blasted a solo homer to give the Cajuns a 10-9 win on a rainy Wednesday night at Alex Box Stadium.
The third-ranked Tigers (11-3) were down 8-1 in the fourth inning after two three-run homers by Louisiana-Lafayette (6-7-1), but the Tigers clawed back to within two runs at 9-7.
In the bottom of the eighth, Sean Ochinko blasted a two-run homer to tie the game at 9-9. It was Ochinko's fourth game in a row with a homer and his sixth of the season.
"We dug ourselves a big hole being down 8-1," LSU coach Paul Mainieri said. "I give our kids credit for hanging in there and fighting back. We got some good pitching late in the game that allowed us to have a chance. After Ochinko came through with the big home run to tie the game, I had a feeling we were going to get it done."
Holding the Cajuns scoreless through two innings of relief was senior Louis Coleman, who gave up no runs and struck out five.
Offensively the Tigers pounded out 13 hits and were led by designated hitter Jared Mitchell, who finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, third baseman Tyler Hanover, who finished 2-for-4 with three RBI, and Ochinko who went 3-for-5 with three runs scored.
LSU trailed 3-0 before they ever stepped to the plate after Cajuns left fielder Travis Whipple hit a three-run homer off LSU starter Nolan Cain in the top of the first. It was the first career home run for Whipple.
The Cajuns increased their lead to 4-0 in the second when pitcher Alex Fuselier reached first on a throwing error by shortstop DJ LeMahieu, scoring center fielder Kyle Olasin.
In the bottom of the second, the Tigers responded when Hanover hit a sacrifice fly to deep left field to score Micah Gibbs, who led off the inning with a single.
Heavy rain in the area halted play for 58 minutes before the start of the third inning with Louisiana-Lafayette ahead 4-1.
The Cajun's second three-run homer came off the bat of catcher Thad Griffen in the third inning off LSU reliever Spencer Mathews to put the Cajuns on top 7-1.
In the fourth, Fuselier tripled to right before scoring on a two-out single by Lee Smith to make the score 8-1.
LSU responded to cut the lead to 8-2 in the bottom of the fourth when Hanover collected his second RBI of the game when he doubled off the wall in right, scoring Gibbs and advancing Mitchell to third.
The next batter, Ryan Schimpf, hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Mitchell and advance Hanover to third to make the score 8-3.
The Cajuns went up 9-3 in the fifth inning after a throwing error by Gibbs, who was trying to nab an advancing runner at third after a wild pitch.
After three consecutive singles by Blake Dean, Ochinko and Gibbs respectively, Mitchell was hit by a pitch that scored Dean and cut the deficit to 9-4 in the fifth. The next batter, Derek Helenihi hit a slow ground ball towards second that was able to score Ochinko and make the score 9-5.
In the seventh, Ochinko led off with a single followed by a double by Mitchell two batters later. The next batter, Helenihi singled in Ochinko to make the score 9-6. Hanover then grounded out to third, but Mitchell scored cutting the LSU deficit to 9-7.
Freshman Matty Ott (1-1) got the loss for the Tigers after surrendering the game-winning homer to Hawkins. Ott finished the inning strong, striking out two batters and allowing no other hits.
Razorback baseball rained out Wednesday
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas baseball team's game at Centenary was rained out Wednesday.
There is no make-up date at this time.
The Razorbacks return to Baum Stadium Friday for the Southeastern Conference opener hosting Florida. The first pitch Friday is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
For more information about Arkansas baseball, log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com.