Spartans, Rider Split Doubleheader to Open 2012 Baseball Season
NORFOLK, Va. - Rafael Colon ended the longest game in Norfolk State history with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the 14th to give the Spartans a 1-0 game one win, but Rider rebounded for a 5-3 win in game two of the teams' season-opening doubleheader on Friday at Marty L. Miller Field.
In game one, the teams battled through 13 scoreless innings before Colon played hero. Cameron Day and Chase Kyriacou led off the bottom of the 14th inning with back-to-back singles and moved to third on a sacrifice by Tyon Ore. Rider reliever Chris Taylor induced a shallow flyout by Chris Warren for the second out of the inning. But Colon followed with a hard line drive over the head of center fielder Brandon Cotten, whose diving attempt came up just empty as Day score the game's only - and winning - run.
Day and Colon finished both went 2-for-6 in the opener for the Spartans, who finished with nine hits as a team.
The story of the game on both sides was pitching. NSU starter Jordan Egan and Rider starter Mike Murphy matched each other one scoreless frame after another for the first seven innings. Egan allowed just five hits while fanning seven, while Murphy gave up three hits and fanned three.
Taylor, the fifth Broncs' pitcher of the game, took the loss, allowing three hits and one run in 1.1 innings.
NSU rode that momentum into the nightcap, scoring a run in its first two times up against Rider starter Kurt Sowa. Ryan Montgomery knocked in Mikey Bruno with a single in the bottom of the first. In the second, Ore led off with a single and scored on another base hit from Colon for a 2-0 NSU lead.
But the Broncs' offense finally awakened in the fourth inning off NSU starter Ryan VanAssche, striking for five runs and four hits. After an NSU error and a walk, Cotton got Rider on the board with an RBI double. Adam Wayman tied it with an RBI single, and Ken Kremer doubled to put the Broncs up 1. Justin Thomas had the final blow, a two-run single to make it 5-2.
Rider would not get another hit on the afternoon, but NSU couldn't overtake the Broncs. Two walks and a two-out error allowed Warren to score a run and get the Spartans within 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh and final inning, but Rider reliever Zach Mawson got the final out to preserve the win.
Sowa earned the win, allowing five hits and two runs, one earned, in five innings. He struck out eight. VanAssche pitched his second career complete game, allowing four hits and five runs, four earned, over seven frames. He walked two and fanned five.
For the complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com
Hornets Blanked By UNC-Greensboro In Season Opener
Dover, Del. (Feb. 17, 2012) --- Delaware State was held to two hits, while committing six errors in a 13-0 loss to North Carolina-Greensboro in the 2012 opener for the Hornets at UNCG Stadium this afternoon.
Kris Richards was 3-for-5 with a homer and three runs batted in to lead the Spartans' 12-hit attack.
Four UNCG pitchers held Delaware State to two singles. Catcher Cameron Cecil singled with two outs in the fourth inning for the Hornets' first hit. Centerfielder Troy Drummond had DSU's other hit when he singled with one out in the sixth.
Starter Jordan Elliott (0-1) allowed eight hits and seven runs, three earned, in 4.2 innings to take the loss for the Hornets. Aided by the six Delaware State errors, just three of UNCG's 12 runs were earned in the contest.
Starting pitcher Tyler Hollstegge pitched five shutout innings to earn the win for UNCG. He allowed one hit, while striking out four.
For the complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com
Nine-Run Second Inning Dooms NCCU In Opener
DURHAM, N.C. - A disastrous nine-run second inning and 14 walks issued ruined opening day for North Carolina Central as the visiting Bulldogs or UNC Asheville used that inning to cruise to a 13-3 win at the Durham Athletic Park on Friday afternoon.
The host Eagles did manage to muster two hits in the bottom of the second but could not drive them home, while UNCA added another run in the third making it 11-0.
The score stayed that way until the bottom of the fifth when the Eagle offense awoke. NCCU put up three runs on two hits that included a two RBI single by junior Luis Diaz (Geneva, N.Y.) that scored the first runs for the maroon and gray in 2012. A Carter Williamson (Roanoke, Va.) single to left center plated the third and final run of the day for the Eagles.
UNCA added two more runs in the top of the ninth and that's where the game ended as the Bulldogs were victorious 13-3.
Earning the win for UNCA, Ryan Dull, pitched four-and-two-thirds innings allowing only three earned runs with six strikeouts and just two walks, while Frye lasted only one-and-two-thirds innings allowing six hits and nine earned runs in the loss.
As a team, the Eagles walked 14 batters on the day compared to just five for UNC Asheville (1-0).
For the complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com
Rattlers Down Miss. Valley 5-2 In Game One, But Fall To Jackson State 15-6 In Game Two
JACKSON, Miss. (Feb. 17) - Florida A&M picked up their first win of the season as they defeated Mississippi Valley State, 5-2 in their first game of the Jackson State Invitational, but would then drop a 15-6 decision to tourney host Jackson State in the night cap, Friday afternoon at Robert Braddy, Sr. field .
FAMU (1-1) tallied a game high 11 hits as the Rattlers had four players to finish with two hits each, while MVSU (0-1) garnered five hits with Clay Perry finishing with a team high two hits.
David Duncan (1-0) picked up the win for the Rattlers as he gave up three hits, one earned run and striking out three in six innings of work, while Trey Lacy (0-1) received the loss for the Delta Devil as he gave up eight hits, three earned runs and striking out three in four innings.
Reginald Grant scored the Rattlers first run of the game on a Jarryd Reid's sacrifice fly to center field, giving FAMU a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
FAMU added to their lead in the of third inning as John Scott scored on a Reid single. Then Reid would score on Dylan West double, giving the Rattlers a 3-0 lead.
Nikolas Fangonilo scored the Delta Devils first run of the game on a Billy Linney single through the left side, cut the Rattlers lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the third inning.
Reid recorded his second RBI of the game as he doubled to center field scoring Cory Franklin, followed by a MVSU infielder's error scoring Jared Walker, giving FAMU a 5-1 lead in the top of the fourth.
MVSU scored their final run in the bottom of the fourth as FAMU held on for the 5-2 win.
In the night cap against Jackson State, FAMU would finish the game with ten hits as Franklin, Reid and Ryan Sheplak all finished with two hits each to lead the Rattlers.
JSU (1-0) pounded out 13 hits as Charles Epperson finished with finished with a game high four hits.
Quintavious Drains (1-0) picked up the win for the Tiger as he allowed nine hits, two earned runs and striking out nine in six innings on the mound, while Heath Blackburn (0-1) took the loss for the Rattlers as gave up five hits in two-thirds of a inning on the mound.
JSU would take a 9-1 lead into the top of the third inning.
FAMU would cut into the Tigers' lead in the top of the third innings as they scored two runs on a Franklin double scoring both Grant and Reid, cutting JSU's lead to 9-3
The Rattler would score three more runs in the top of the fifth as Sheplak singled down the third base line scoring both Justin Abney and Jarryd Reid, followed by a error by the Tiger outfield scoring Franklin, making the score 14-6 in favor of the Tigers.
JSU would score their final run in the bottom of the sixth for the 15-6 final.
For the complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com
North Carolina A&T Falls to Navy, 3-1
GREENSBORO, N.C.- North Carolina A&T got the tying run to the plate in the eighth inning following a leadoff double by junior third baseman Mark Nales, but the Aggies weren't able to compete the rally, and fell to Navy, 3-1 on Opening Day Friday afternoon at War Memorial Stadium.
The Aggies (0-1) started off the2012 campaign strong on the mound, as they allowed just one earned run against Navy and struck out seven total batters. Senior LHP Esterlin Paulino was up to his old habits for the Aggies, striking out six batters in 6.2 innings of work, allowing just two hits. Paulino fanned four of the first six batters he faced, and did not allow a man to reach base until the third inning. The Aggies also saw strong work from freshman RHP Joe Mackey, who tossed 2.1 scoreless frames with a walk, a strikeout and a pair of hits.
Navy did not get their first hit of the game until the fifth inning. The Aggies had batters reach base in the first three innings, but were unable to advance them past second.
The Midshipmen threatened in the fifth frame, as designated hitter Nikolai Simonsen reached on a fielding error by Nales. He advanced to second on a single to short by first baseman Kash Manzelli. Both runners moved into scoring position as right fielder Andrew Hahn grounded out to Aggie first baseman Kelvin Freeman. But then Paulino got shortstop David Wiedeman to pop out to second baseman Marquis Riley to end the inning and keep it a 0-0 game.
For the complete story, visit www.ncataggies.com
Seven in the Seventh Gives B-CU First Win of Beverlin Era
FT. MYERS, Fla. -Bethune-Cookman baseball got off to a great start, notching a win Friday at Florida Gulf Coast, 8-6. The Wildcats trailed early, but a huge seventh inning scoring spree put B-CU on top, where they would remain through the final out.
Early in the game, it was a slow grind, and the FGCU Eagles put shots just out of the infield to build up a 4-0 lead by the bottom of the fifth inning, while holding the Wildcats to just three hits.
But B-CU battled and stayed focused on the goal, first getting on the board in the sixth with an RBI triple for Alejandro Sanchez to right center field.
In the seventh, however, the Wildcats changed their offensive fortunes with a huge surge to take command of the game. Leading off with a solid single to shallow right, Josh Johnson was the first to score in the seventh, on a Brashad Johnson RBI single to left.
With bases loaded, David Lee's loop single just past the infielders into left proved to be a turning point in the game, batting in two runs to tie the game at 4-4. That quickly became a lead with runs scored by Nick Johnson and Lee. Jairo Acevedo's score, on a bobbled infield shot and overthrow, made it seven in the seventh inning, giving B-CU an 8-4 advantage.
The Eagles scored once more on a two-run homer in the bottom half, but the Wildcat defense held them to a single hit in the final two innings, including an amazing diving catch in left field by Lee, and two straight strikeouts from Acevedo to conclude just the fourth season-opening victory for B-CU in the last ten seasons.
For the complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com
UMES Falls To Gardner-Webb In Doubleheader To Open Season
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - UMES led in each end of the opening day doubleheader against Gardner-Webb, but fell 11-4 in game one and 8-4 in the second game on Friday.
Out of the gate with two outs and Tre-von Johnson on first in game one, Jeffrey Fleetwood drilled a fastball off the right-center field scoreboard for a two-run home run off Brock Wilson (1-0), giving UMES an early 2-0 lead.
Jacob Foreman (0-1) started the game with a 1-2-3 inning against Gardner-Webb, but ran into a tough second frame. With the bases loaded and two out, Ryan Hodge walked followed by a grand slam by Benji Jackson to give Gardner-Webb a 5-2 lead. The Bulldogs followed with two more off a two-run double from Adam McFarland for a 7-2 advantage.
The Bulldogs scored three more in the bottom of the third off a pair of errors and a Dusty Quattlebaum RBI double to go up 10-2.
In the top of the seventh, Fleetwood led off with a single, followed by a double by James Newsome for second and third with no out. Malik Wylie followed with an RBI ground out to bring in Fleetwood to cut the deficit to 10-3.
The UMES bullpen of Jesus Hernandez, Devin Repine and Alex Welch combined to allow just one run in five innings, giving UMES a chance to come back. Gardner-Webb got an RBI double in the seventh from Alex Newman to score Henry Rundio to lead 11-3.
The Hawks got a run back in the ninth off a Newsome RBI ground out to bring in Johnson, but could not close the gap and fell 11-4 in game one.
In game two, the Bulldogs struck first in the bottom of the second with a two-run double by Ryan Allen to give the home team a 2-0 advantage.
With one out in the fifth, UMES's bats got going. Byron Campbell singled up the middle, stealing second in the next at bat. Johnson followed by reaching on an error by the shortstop, bringing in Campbell for the team's first run. Fleetwood reached on an error by the first baseman, putting runners on second and third. Next batter, Newsome rocketed a ground ball into center to bring home two runs on the single and give UMES a 3-2 lead, advancing to second on the throw. He was followed by an RBI single by Wylie to bring home Newsome and push UMES's lead to two 4-2.
Gardner-Webb got a run back in the fifth with a MacFarland sac fly to bring in Rundio to get within one 4-3.
In the sixth, the Bulldogs pieced together three straight RBI hits by John Harris, Hodge and Allen in succession, with just two runs being earned, to take the lead 6-4.
After Harris got a seventh inning RBI sacrifice fly and Scott Coleman hit an RBI ground out in the next frame, UMES managed to get the tying run on deck in the ninth down four, but could not bridge the gap and fell 8-4.
Andrew Barnett (1-0) won game two in a relief appearance, throwing two and two-thirds innings, while Zachary Saca (0-1) got the loss.
For the complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com