Spartans Split Two with Rider 

NORFOLK, Va. - Ross Cardwell went 2-for-3 with two runs batted in during the nightcap to help Norfolk State earn a split of a doubleheader with Rider on Sunday afternoon at Marty L. Miller Field.

Rider took game one 5-2, but the Spartans (2-3) took the second game 6-4.

Cody Ellis led NSU with a 4-for-7 day, recording two hits in each end of the doubleheader.

Game one started as a pitcher's duel between NSU's Justin Bhatti and Rider's Tyler Smith. Neither team notched a hit until the top of the fourth inning, when Rider struck first with three two-out singles off Bhatti. The last of those, by Ken Kremer, scored Jerry Mulderig to give Rider a 1-0 lead.

NSU answered with a two-out single of its own in the bottom of the fourth off the bat of Cardwell, tying the score. Rider, however, went back on top, 2-1, in the top of the fifth. A two-out NSU error prolonged the inning for Justin Thomas, whose RBI single gave the Broncs a short-lived lead. But the Spartans again had a response in the bottom of the fifth as Mikey Bruno lined a one-out RBI double down the third-base line, scoring Ellis, who reached on an infield single.

But the Broncs kept coming, tacking on three more runs thanks to a pair of walks and RBI singles from Nick Crescenzo, Ian Lindsay and Eric Strano in the sixth.

Smith got the win for the Broncs, allowing five hits and two runs in six innings. He walked two and struck out five. Chris Taylor, David Hafer and Sean Kuberiet each pitched a scoreless inning of relief, with Kuberiet working a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.

Bhatti (0-2) took the loss, allowing four hits and three runs - two earned - in five-plus innings. He walked two and fanned six.

Both teams started quickly in game two. Rider took advantage of an NSU error in the top of the first, scoring a pair of unearned runs off Spartan starter Richie Salter. Adam Wayman hit an RBI double and Greg Fazio a run-scoring triple.

But the Spartans came right back with four runs on five hits in the bottom of the first. Cardwell hit a tying two-run single, and both Tyon Ore and Ryan Montgomery hit two-out, run-scoring singles to give the Spartans their first lead of the day.

Both starting pitchers, Salter for NSU and Mike Murphy for Rider, settled down and matched scoreless frames in the second, third and fourth innings. But NSU added insurance with single runs in the fifth and sixth. In the fifth, Cardwell doubled to the track in right field and scored on Ellis' two-out single. In the sixth, Bruno walked to lead off the inning and scored on a Markel single.

NSU would need the runs, as a two-out error allowed a pair of Rider runs to score in the top of the seventh. But Spartan reliever Chris Horne got out trouble without further damage, securing the win.

Salter (1-1) got the win, allowing just the two unearned runs in 4.2 innings of work. He allowed six hits, walked none and struck out four. Horne pitched the final 2.1 innings to earn his first save of the year.

Cardwell, Ellis, Montgomery and Chase Kyriacou had two hits each in the nightcap for NSU.

For the complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com

UMES Falls To Tournament Host VMI 10-1

LEXINGTON, Va. - UMES was defeated by host VMI 10-1 on Sunday in day two of the tournament.  The Hawks fall to 1-3 overall while the Keydets go to 2-5.

After a Nick Dwyer RBI triple gave the home team an early 1-0 lead in the first, VMI struck hard in the second with two out off Zachary Saca (0-1). Sheldon Shifflett and Drew Bryan got back-to-back doubles, with the latter scoring on a Jordan Tarsovich single.  The Keydets added four more runs, capped by a Rod Dowdell two-run single, to go up 7-0 after two.

UMES got on the board in the next half-inning.  After Mike Escanilla reached on an error, Connor Breslin doubled off Jeremy Brown (1-0) to put runners on second and third.  Dylan Bell flew out to deep center for a sacrifice fly, scoring Escanilla and putting the score to 7-1 VMI.

But the host team responded with in the bottom of the third, adding to the score on a Rob Dickinson two-run single to push the Keydets up 9-1.

VMI put one more on in the fourth as Brandon Angus scored on a Cody Holder sacrifice fly.

On the pitching end, Will Turley made his UMES debut in the sixth.  Aided by two diving catches by Bell in that frame, Turley threw three scoreless innings in his first outing as a Hawk.

But the Hawks could not add more runs and fell to VMI 10-1.

The loss went to Saca, who had seven runs charged in 1.2 innings.  Brown picked up the victory, pitching the first three innings with a run and four strikeouts.

Bell finished the day 1-for-2 with his sacrifice fly.  Breslin and Stephen Bull each earned a hit in three at bats.

For VMI, Shifflett got three doubles and scored twice in four at bats.  Dickinson was 2-for-4 with a run and four RBI, while Dowdell had two hits in five at bats with two runs batted in.

For the complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com 

 

Mercer Completes the Sweep of B-CU in Sunday's Doubleheader

MACON, Ga. - Inconsistency plagued the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (2-6) as they fell to Mercer (6-1) in Sunday's doubleheader, dropping a hitter's melee in the early game, a 19-4 loss, and later coming up short in a pitcher's duel, 5-0. The two losses granted Mercer the series sweep.

Coming off of Saturday's 9-4 rally loss to Mercer, the Wildcats got to hitting early in the first game of the doubleheader, with three hits and Eros Modena scoring on a wild pitch to take the first inning lead.

However, in the bottom half, the Bears took advantage of a pair of walks, using back-to-back RBI hits to gain a 4-1 advantage; just a start to a scoring spree that would extend through the next four frames.

Mercer gained momentum early and used 19 hits, including five multi-run homers to gain a decisive 19-3 advantage by the close of the fourth inning, as the momentum snowballed for B-CU and 10 runs scored in the game with two outs down.

Starter Scott Garner (1-1) took the loss, carrying the lion's share of the Bears' output, allowing 12 hits and four walks for 14 runs. Reliever Chris Waltermire couldn't calm the Mercer bats either, surrendering six hits for five runs of his own.

Shaun McCarty led B-CU with 2-of-3 batting in the second game.

For the complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com 

 

Hornets Win Two; Post 3-0 Mark In Winthrop Tourney

Rock Hill, S.C.- Delaware State held off a late Winthrop rally for a 6-5 win in the final game of the Coca Cola Rock Hill Classic at Winthrop University Sunday evening. Earlier today, the Hornets defeated Army 6-5 in 10 innings to sweep three tournament games this weekend. DSU opened the tourney with a 5-0 victory over Winthrop on Saturday.

In the Sunday evening win over Winthrop, the Hornets had two three-run innings to open up a 6-1 lead. The Eagles were ahead 1-0 when DSU took the lead with three runs in the top of the second inning.

Aaron Nardone singled with one out to start the rally. The next batter, Joey Babuca, was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Hassan Evans followed with a triple to left center, scoring Nardone and Babuca to give the Hornets a 2-1 lead. Evans scored DSU's third run when D.J. Miller reached on a fielder's choice.

The Hornets tacked on three runs in the fourth to open up a five run lead. The fourth inning rally began with two outs on a single by D.J. Miller. J.P. Frey and Cameron Cecil followed with walks to load the bases. Miller and Frey scored on a wild pitch to give the Hornets a 5-1 lead. Cecil advanced to third on the wild pitch. Mike Alexander followed with a single to score Cecil, giving DSU a 6-1 lead.

Winthrop scored a run in the seventh and three in the eighth to pull to within 6-5.

Delaware State reliever Ryan Haas pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his first save. Haas entered the game with a runner on first with one out. He forced the first batter he faced to hit into a double play to clear the bases. Has recorded the final out on a fly ball to left field.

Hornet starter George Michael was the winning pitcher (1-0). Michael allowed seven hits and two runs, one earned, while striking out five in seven innings.

In the Army contest, the Hornets scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball in the top of the 10th inning and reliever Derek Marshallsea shut down the Knights in the bottom of the inning to give DSU its third straight win.

Nardone doubled to lead off the Delaware State 10th. Nardone advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Peter Broehl, and later scored on a passed ball to give the Hornets a 6-5 lead.

Marshallsea walked Army leadoff batter Daniel Cortes in the bottom of the 10th. Cortes made it to third base with two outs, but Marshallsea struck out Jacob Page looking on a 2-2 pitch to end the game.

Delaware State trailed 4-2 before scoring a run in the eighth and two in the ninth to take the lead. Army scored an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings.

Mike Alexander singled to lead off the Delaware State eighth. He stole second and advanced to third on a ground out by Haas. Eddie Sorondo followed with a ground out to first base, scoring Alexander to cut Army's lead to 4-3.

In the Hornet ninth, Miller was hit by a pitch with one out to start the rally. Justin Allen followed with a single to right field, advancing Miller to third. Frey followed with a suicide squeeze bunt. Miller scored on the play to tie the game at 4-4. The next batter, Cameron Cecil, doubled to right field, scoring Allen from second to give the Hornets a 5-4 lead. Delaware State left the bases loaded to end the inning.

Army tied the game in the bottom of the ninth when Marshallsea walked Page with one out to start the rally. The Army center fielder stole second and advanced to third on an infield single. He crossed the plate with the tying run on a two-out error by Cecil at third. Army loaded the bases with two outs but Marshallsea struck out Jon Crucitti to end the threat Marshallsea (1-1) allowed one hit and one unearned run in 2.1 innings to earn the win. He struck out two and walked two.

Frey was 3-for-5 with two runs batted and one batted in. Cecil, Alexander and Peter Broehl had two hits each for DSU (3-2).

Nardone was 5-for-11 with two RBI, while Frey was 6-for-13 with one RBI in the three tournament games.

For the complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com