Savannah State rallies to sweep North Carolina A&T
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- North Carolina A&T could not hold on to a four-run lead Sunday as Savannah State completed a three-game sweep of Aggies baseball with a 13-11 win at War Memorial Stadium.
The loss keeps the Aggies (15-29, 8-13 MEAC) in fifth place in the MEAC. They are now a game and a half behind Savannah State (18-26, 9-11) for the fourth and final MEAC tournament seeding out of the southern division. Junior Lester Salcedo led the Aggies by going 3-for-5 with three runs driven in. Brandon Wilkerson added two hits and two RBI.
Salcedo gave the Aggies a big boost toward a much-needed victory when he hit a three-run RBI double in the fourth to give A&T an 8-5 lead. The Aggies added a run to its lead in the fifth as Bo McMillan, hitting .049, hit an RBI single into right field to score Brandon Wilkerson who led off the inning with a single.
But the Tigers tore that lead down in the sixth. The big blow was a two-run blast over the trees in left field by Tigers designated hitter Tre Sikes that tied the game at 9. The Tigers scored four more runs in their eighth as Lee Moore hit a pinch-hit double down the right field line for two runs. Aaron Hoffer finessed his way out of a run down to score another run and Mike McHugh registered an RBI ground out to give the Tigers a 13-9 advantage. The Aggies did post two runs in the eighth and put the tying run on in the ninth thanks to a double by Stefan Jordan.
But Dylan Hipp and Luke Tendler both flied out to end the game. Sikes led the Tigers by going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. Kevin Herlihy, who picked up the save, went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI.
A&T returns to action Wednesday when they face Campbell in Buies Creek, N.C., at 6 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.ncataggies.com or www.ssuathletics.com
Crucial Errors Costly for Bethune-Cookman in 3-2 11th-Inning Loss at College of Charleston
CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (20-26) grinded out another extra innings contest for the third consecutive time in the series finale at College of Charleston (31-13) on Sunday, falling to the Cougars in the 11th, 3-2, after rallying to take the lead in the eighth at Patriots Point.
The Cougars got on the board early after an outfield error poised CofC designated hitter Ben Boykin at third, giving CofC the 1-0 first inning lead on a Carl Wise bloop single.
The Cougars held the Wildcats without a hit until the fifth inning and maintained the one-run shutout until the eighth frame. Third baseman Jordan Robinson beat out a one-out bunt to reach base in the top of the inning and center fielder Jake Welch made it count, sending a 1-2 pitch from CofC starter Tyler Thornton over the left field monster for a two-run homer and the 2-1 B-CU advantage.
CofC responded in the bottom half, capitalizing on an infield error to put runners at the corners. First baseman Nick Pappas followed with a sacrifice fly to deep left field, tying the score at 2-2.
In the 11th, a one-out double for Pappas gave CofC excellent scoring position, and the Cougars converted, claiming the 3-2 walk-off win on Brandon Glazer’s line drive single into left field.
Sunday’s finale marks three consecutive extra-innings contests for the Wildcats. B-CU is on a four-game losing streak, however, five of the last six games have been decided by a single run.
For the Wildcats, Michael Austin (0-4) takes the loss, throwing one and two-thirds innings. Starter Gabriel Hernandez went seven innings with five strikeouts and one unearned run before yielding to Scott Garner, who was making his first appearance in 32 days and pitched two innings with an unearned run. For the Cougars, reliever Eric Bauer (4-0) collects the win, throwing two and two-thirds innings.
The Wildcats have a midweek non-conference tilt with Florida Atlantic scheduled for Wednesday (Apr. 30) in Boca Raton, Fla., before closing out the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) slate on the road next weekend at Savannah State.
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com
Coppin State honors seniors as Eagles edge Hawks
ANNE ARUNDEL, Md. – The Coppin State baseball team enjoyed a glorious sun-splashed afternoon.
The day started with Coppin State paying tribute to seniors Chris Godfrey, Darryl Martinez and Frank Mewborn in a festive pre-game ceremony. Then it concluded with jubilant blue-shirted Coppin State players rushing out of the dugout like an ocean tidal wave and burying Michael Wright underneath a celebratory dogpile near first base.
Wright delivered a one-out single to rightfield past a drawn-in infield that lifted Coppin State to a dramatic 4-3 victory over Maryland Eastern Shore in a riveting Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) game at Joe Cannon Stadium Sunday afternoon. Wright’s hit scored Jonathan Calvin, who was on third base, and Jeffrey Fitch, who was on second base, and capped an amazing three-run ninth inning rally for the Eagles (10-29 overall, 8-13 MEAC).
The Eagles have endured plenty of misfortune this season, but through all the ups and downs, they have remained positive while confidently believing their breakthrough is around the corner. While Wright had the decisive hit, the Eagles got everybody’s best in salvaging a game from this three-game set against UMES and winning the season series, 5-4.
Coppin State’s bullpen of Shane Davies and Michael Roberts was awesome as it tossed 4.2 innings of scoreless ball after Anderson Burgess was forced to leave the game early. They held the fort down and ultimately gave the Eagles the chance to end the day happy.
With the Eagles down to their final three outs, the classic theme from “Rocky” played between innings. Whether or not that inspired the Eagles, nobody will ever know, but the Eagles did deliver plenty of haymakers in the form of three straight singles from Alex Brown, Calvin and Fitch before Wright applied the knockout with the Eagles’ fourth consecutive single.
Fitch and Wright were a dynamic duo at the top of the Coppin State lineup. They combined for four of the Eagles seven hits with two each. Fitch extended his career-best hitting streak to eight with his fifth multi-hit game of the season. For Wright, it was his second multi-hit game of the season. They have benefitted from spending countless hours working with assistant coach Jerome Dunning in the batting cages long after practice has ended.
In addition to starting the Eagles’ ninth inning rally with a one-out single, Brown threw out three potential bases stealers to also help keep Coppin State close. Maryland Eastern Shore was paced by Byron Campbell, who drove in a pair of runs and starting pitcher Chipper Smith, who pitched 8.1 innings.
For complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com or www.umeshawks.com
Eagles storm back to take series from Florida A&M
DURHAM, N.C. – Through the first five innings, Florida A&M seemed to be on a path to ruin Senior Day, but North Carolina Central University’s “Cardiac Eagles” did it again. Trailing 11-4 heading into the bottom of the fifth, the maroon and gray scored the next 11 runs in the game to take the rubber match between the two to win the series 15-11 on Sunday afternoon at the Durham Athletic Park.
For the second straight game, the much-improved Rattler program jumped out to a 5-0 lead, but the Eagles would not die.
In the bottom of the third, freshman Carlos Ortiz crushed his fourth home run of the year to right field to finally get NCCU on the board at 5-1 after leaving men stranded through the first two innings.
The Rattlers responded with a two-run bomb to left centerfield by Michael Birdsong to make it 7-1 heading to the bottom of the fourth.
Sophomore Christian Triplett revved up the Eagle offense with a one-out double, followed up by a Zack Lee two out walk, when Ortiz did it again with a bomb to right field, his fifth of the year, to make it 7-4 to bring the home faithful to their feet.
Florida A&M’s potent offensive attack recovered to strike four more runs on the board in the top of the fifth to take a commanding 11-4 lead on the maroon and gray as senior Bennie Robinson ripped a single to drive in two runs with the bases loaded for the Rattlers.
FAMU did not score the rest of the day, while the Cardiac Eagles were just getting cranked up.
In the bottom of the fifth with NCCU trailing 11-4 sophomore James Dey followed up senior Carter Williamson’s single with his first career home run to trim the margin to five at 11-6. After redshirt junior Eric Kimber and freshman Jared Kehagias were retired to put two outs on the board, Triplett’s single
Followed up by a Kory Wood walk began another three run two out rally for the maroon and gray as Lee registered a two RBI single as well as Tyson Simpson ripped an RBI single and the lead diminished to just two at 11-9.
FAMU threatened to score for the sixth consecutive inning, but the Eagles tightened up in the sixth with the bases loaded while Kimber’s second career triple to left centerfield allowed the maroon and gray to tie the game at 11 after six complete.
After a second straight scoreless inning, the Eagles put the Rattlers away for good in bottom of the seventh with four runs to take a 15-11 lead, highlighted by Triplett’s two RBI single and Wood’s RBI single as well.
NCCU led 15-11 heading down the stretch and sophomore righty Andrew Vernon closed the game to earn the win with his 3.0 innings of work with four strikeouts in the comeback win.
Ortiz finished the day 4-for-5 with two home runs, four RBI, and three runs scored, while Triplett went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBI, and two runs scored.
Florida A&M’s Birdsong went 3-for-4 with a home run, four RBI, and two runs scored to led the Rattler offense in the loss.
During the weekend, the maroon and gray hit seven home runs as a team and batted .326 as Williamson led the Eagles going .533 at-the-dish (8-for-15) with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored, while Ortiz batted .467 (7-for-15) with three home runs and six RBI along with six runs scored.
NCCU (17-26-1, 12-10 MEAC) has clinched a berth into the MEAC Tournament which will take place on May 15-18 at Marty Miller Field in Norfolk, Va. with the only question remaining is which seed the maroon and gray will be. The Eagles could technically earn at least a share of the Southern Division title, stay tuned for more updates.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com or www.famuathletics.com
Hornets Top NSU 16-8, Complete Series Sweep
DOVER, Del. – Justin Allen and Charles Dailey knocked in four runs apiece as host Delaware State completed a three-game MEAC sweep of Norfolk State, 16-8, on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field.
Allen and Dailey, the Nos. 8 and 9 hitters, respectively, in DSU’s lineup, combined to go 5-for-7 with five runs scored and eight batted in as the Hornets (24-13, 13-6) again outslugged NSU (15-24, 11-10). DSU took the season series from the Spartans, 7-2.
Outfielder Chase Kyriacou went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer for the Spartans. He had six RBI in the three-game series.
DSU jumped out to a 7-0 lead after three innings on NSU starter Josh Vales (1-5). The Spartans scored six unanswered after that to make it a ballgame, but the Hornets gradually pulled away.
Allen hit a two-run single in the Hornets’ four-run second and Dailey hit a three-run triple in the third to stake DSU to a 7-0 lead.
The Spartans responded with two runs in the fourth and four in the fifth to get within a run of DSU. In the fourth, Cody Ellis led off with a single and scored on a base hit by Justin Burrell. Andre’ Moore later plated Burrell with a groundout.
The hits kept coming from NSU in the top of the fifth. Zach Markel led off with a double and Cameron Day followed with a single. Both scored on Kyriacou’s three-run homer to left. NSU kept the rally going as Ellis singled and scored on one of Robert Reaume’s two doubles in the game, cutting the Hornets’ lead to 7-6.
But DSU’s high-powered offense wasn’t done, either. D. J. Miller led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo homer off Vales. After a trio of walks, Cameron Cecil added a two-run single and Mike Alexander tacked on a sacrifice fly to push DSU’s lead to 11-6.
NSU added two more in the sixth and Ellis’ run-scoring single and Burrell’s RBI groundout. But the Hornets scored five more combined in the sixth, seventh and eighth frames to put the game away. Allen hit an RBI triple in the sixth and a run-scoring single in the seventh.
Hornets’ right hander George Michael (5-1) was the beneficiary of his team’s offensive outburst. He allowed 10 hits and six runs (five earned) over five innings to pick up the win. He walked two hitters and struck out four.
Vales (1-5) took the loss, allowing 11 hits and nine runs in four-plus innings.
Allen was 3-for-3 with four runs scored and four RBI for DSU. Dailey went 2-for-4 with four RBI. Cecil and Miller both went 3-for-5.
In addition to Kyriacou’s big day, Ellis and Day both went 3-for-5 for NSU. Reaume was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and Burrell was 1-for-3 with two RBI.
The Spartans play their final MEAC Northern Division regular-season series next Saturday and Sunday at Maryland Eastern Shore.
For complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com or www.dsuhornets.com