Buffalo Downs Spartans in Home Opener
NORFOLK, Va. – Third baseman Mike Burke drove in four runs on three hits, including a solo home run, to lift Buffalo past Norfolk State 7-1 in the first day of the Spartan Baseball Classic at Marty L. Miller Field on Friday afternoon.
Buffalo got a strong pitching performance from starter Mike McGee and Cory Folk, who combined to limit NSU to one hit. McGee pitched five innings for the win, while Folk pitched the last four for the save.
Burke hit a three-run double in the third and hit one of two Buffalo (1-0) solo homers in the fifth. That made a winner out of McGee, who went five innings and allowed just one hit, shaking off some control issues.
Justin Bhatti allowed eight hits and seven runs, all earned, in five innings of work. Newcomers Jonathan Mauricio and Stephen Butt combined to pitch four scoreless innings of relief after Bhatti departed.
McGee (1-0) fanned seven and allowed just one hit in five innings to earn the win. He walked five batters, hit one and balked twice. Folk pitched four hitless innings, walked one and fanned four.
Burke was the only player for either team to record more than one hit.
There will be three games played tomorrow as part of second-day action at the Spartan Classic. Buffalo faces Villanova at 10 a.m., followed by Quinnipiac vs. Villanova at approximately 2 p.m. The nightcap, slated for a 6 p.m. start, will feature NSU against Quinnipiac.
For complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com
Coppin State opens season with loss to Kent State
ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Coppin State baseball team finally got an opportunity to face some live pitching and play a real game. Competing in the Winthrop Tournament, the Eagles dropped their season opener, 5-0, to Kent State Friday afternoon.
Despite the loss, the Eagles displayed encouraging traits such as putting consistent pressure on the Kent State pitchers and playing decent defense for most of the game.
John Kraft, Ian Arciaga, John Walls and Colin Dower all had singles for the Eagles (0-1 overall). Kraft was on base twice as he drew a walk. Pitchers Anderson Burgess and Jhar Devlime each struck out a pair of batters each while on the mound.
Coppin State will return to action Saturday at 12:00 p.m. when it battles Winthrop.
For complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com
NCCU drops series opener to Niagara
DURHAM, N.C. – A number of missed opportunities and a gem of a pitching performance by Niagara’s Jordan Schwartz with 12 strikeouts was the recipe for a bad night for North Carolina Central University as the Eagles dropped a 7-1 decision to the Purple Eagles in game one of the four-game series on Friday evening from the Durham Athletic Park.
Niagara (1-3) earned its first win of the year and was led by the top three batters in the lineup as they combined for six of the nine hits and were credited with six of the seven RBI in the victory. Fuhrman finished the night 3-for-4 with a home run, two triples, four RBI, and two runs scored. Schwartz’s (1-1) final line was 6.2 innings pitched, allowed seven hits, one earned run, two walks and 12 strikeouts.
NCCU (0-2-1) was led by Carlos Ortiz, who finished 2-for-4, with a run scored as he was the lone Eagle to amass more than one hit. Senior righty Terry McNabb took the loss to move to 0-1 on the year, threw 6.0 innings, gave up five earned runs but struck out eight while just walking one batter.
Doubleheader action is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m. from the Durham Athletic Park as the maroon and gray look to get back on track.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com
Big sixth leads Marshall to win over A&T
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Senior right-hand pitcher Tyler Boone no-hit Marshall through five innings. But in the sixth while his no hitter was still going, he was trailing in the game.
The Herd went on to score four runs in the sixth which eventually led to a 6-2 win over the Aggies at War Memorial Stadium Friday night. Cameron Jergens had two hits for A&T and Luke Tendler hit a two-run homer in the eighth.
But the game turned in the sixth when Boone opened the inning by walking Sergio Leon. He then hit Corey Bird with a pitch. Chase Vogelbach tried to advance the runners, but a Boone decision to try to throw out Leon going to third, allowed Vogelbach to reach and load the bases.
Shortly after Boone was called for balk, allowing the first Herd run to score. An RBI sacrifice to right field by Andrew Dundon brought Bird home for a 2-0 Herd lead. It wasn't until Eric Escobedo singled to left that the Herd picked up its first hit as Escobedo's RBI scored Vogelbach. Cory Garrastazu followed with another hit and TJ Diffenderfer closed out the scoring in the fourth with a sac fly to center field.
Boone (0-1) threw 108 pitches and struck out seven over seven innings. Josh King (1-0) picked up the win for the Herd after pitching six scoreless innings and striking out six.
The two teams play again Saturday at 6 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.ncataggies.com
Bethune-Cookman Late-Inning Comeback Falls Just Short Against Florida Gulf Coast
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Florida Gulf Coast snapped a three-game Bethune-Cookman win streak in the series and delivered the Wildcats their third consecutive 2014 loss, fending off a late-inning comeback on Friday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, and holding on for the 5-4 win in the series-opening contest.
The Wildcats (1-3) started a furious rally on the long road back from a 5-0 deficit in the eighth, scoring four runs in the frame. Second baseman Matt Noble led off the inning with a single through the left side of the infield, later crossing the plate along with Clay Middleton on a bases-loaded fielding error.
Breaking out of a five-inning pitcher’s duel, the Eagles (4-2) jumped out to a late 5-0 advantage, scoring three runs in the top of the sixth, and adding a pair in the top of the eighth.
In the final frame, the Wildcats moved into position to force extra innings or pull ahead, advancing the tie run into scoring position. However, FGCU reliever Brady Anderson, who allowed all four runs in the eighth, put away the final two Wildcats batters to halt the B-CU rally and secure the 5-4 FGCU win.
Bethune-Cookman’s Keith Zuniga had a quality start, recording a season-high eight strikeouts in six innings pitched, with no walks. However, extended at-bats through the middle innings escalated his pitch count, and the Eagles capitalized to hand Zuniga (1-1) his first career loss.
Freshman Riley O’Brien made a solid closing effort for the Wildcats, allowing no hits in 1.1 innings, to preserve the comeback opportunity.
Senior first baseman Eric Sams led the Wildcats at the plate, batting 2-for-3 on the night.
For Florida Gulf Coast, starter Michael Murray (1-0) earned the win, pitching 7.2 innings, allowing six hits with nine strikeouts. Offensively, designated hitter Kevin Young paced the Eagles, batting 2-for-4 with two RBI.
The Wildcats and Eagles return to action on Saturday (Feb. 22) for game two of the three game series. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Friday’s contest started later than originally scheduled due to a rain delay in the late afternoon.
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com
Georgia Southern Too Much For UMES in Series Opener
STATESBORO, Ga. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team was unable to tame a vicious offensive attack by Georgia Southern on Fright night, as the Hawks fell to the Eagles, 23-0, J.I. Clements Stadium. The game is the first of four for UMES against GSU, who came into the game with two victories over Georgia and one over Georgia Tech.
The Hawks collected three hits but gave up a season-high 23 hits by the Eagles
The Hawks had two players hit safely in the game as sophomore third baseman Connor Breslin was 2- for-2 with a walk, while senior Nick Cooper came off the bench to record one hit.
GSU's Sam Howard picked up the win after fanning 12 and allowing two hits in seven innings. Drew Kelly struck out two in a scoreless eighth, while Clint Taylor struck out three Hawk hitters looking to end the contest. GSU collected 23 hits and player errorless baseball on the day.
The two teams will engage in a doubleheader tomorrow, Feb. 22, beginning at 4 p.m. UMES will send junior Chipper Smith to the hill, while Georgia Southern will counter with righty Josh Wirsu.
For complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com