Florida Gulf Coast slips by Rattlers
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida A&M University Baseball team let their Wednesday afternoon game with visiting Florida Gulf Coast University slip away in the late innings, suffering a bitter 7-6 loss at Moore-Kittles Field.
FAMU (10-17) was outhit, 14-8 by the visiting Eagles (19-11), keeping themselves in contention by holding the Rattlers to just one run in the first four innings, stranding five runners combined in the third and fourth innings.
The Eagles drew first blood in the fourth, scoring two runs on three hits, before the Rattlers rallied for a run in the bottom of the inning, leaving the bases loaded, after leaving two runners on in the third.
FAMU tied the game at 2-2 in the fifth when Michael Birdsong’s RBI grounder to second scored Blake Quillin, who reached on a lead off double, from third.
The Rattlers pushed ahead, 3-2 with a run in the sixth when Marlon Gibbs scored from third on a wild pitch, after reaching on a leadoff double.
FGCU tied the game i3-3 with a run in the seventh, but FAMU barged back in front, 5-3 on RBI singles by Jeremy Barlow and Ryan Hutson in the bottom of the seventh.
The game turned against the Rattlers in the eighth, as the Eagles pushed across a pair of runs on Colton Bottomley’s two-run single to tie the score a 5-5, before the Rattlers took their last lead at 6-5, on Blake Quillin’s RBI single, scoring Kendal Weeks.
In the top of the ninth, the Eagles pulled the game out, scoring two runs on Ryan O’Malley’s triple to left for a 7-6 lead.
FAMU got a leadoff single from Michael Birdsong, but pinch runner Logan Seymour was thrown out attempting to steal second when Ryan Hutson struck out, putting the Rattlers in a two out hole.
Jeremy Barlow followed with a full count walk, but Marlon Gibbs struck out to end the FAMU threat.
Quillin led FAMU with two hits and an RBI.
Reliever Brandon Fleming (0-3) was credited with the loss for FAMU, working one-and-two-third innings with two strikeouts, allowing the two fatal ninth inning runs .
The Rattlers return to MEAC play Saturday and Sunday with a critical series at Bethune-Cookman. Saturday’s doubleheader and Sunday’s single game will start at 1 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Stadium in downtown Daytona Beach…. Sunday’s game will air nationally on ESPN3 (1 p.m.) and ESPNU (6 p.m.).
For complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com
Navy holds off Coppin State
ANNAPOLIS, Md. ---The Coppin State baseball team battled back from an early deficit and displayed plenty of fight in dropping a tough 6-5 non-conference decision to the Naval Academy Wednesday afternoon at Max Bishop Stadium.
The Eagles nearly erased a four-run deficit and didn’t leave the state capitol without a fight. They had the tying run on base in the ninth inning and in scoring position. Coppin State turned in an effort to be proud of as it threw a major scare into the Patriot League hosts.
The Eagles bullpen quartet of William Grebenstein, Jhar Devilme, Michael Roberts and Dillon O’Brien allowed the Eagles to rally. They combined for six awesome innings of one-run four-hit ball.
Coppin State (6-16 overall) may have only been credited with four hits all afternoon, but it had plenty of activity on the bases thanks to the seven walks it received. Coppin State had at least one base runner in seven of the nine innings. Leading the Eagles on offense was Chris Godfrey and Rafael Eigenmann, who drew two walks each.
Jonathan Calvin scored CSU’s first run of the game in the second inning that gave the Eagles a 1-0 advantage following a triple. He scored on Miranda Bryant’s RBI groundout. After falling behind, 5-1, Coppin State showcased its heart, talent, ability to capitalize on opportunities by scoring twice in each the fifth and sixth innings to slice its deficit to 6-5.
Jack Kraft delivered a RBI single and Godfrey drew a bases-loaded walk to pull the Eagles to within, 5-3, in the fifth inning. After the Midshipmen got one back, the Eagles applied more pressure in the sixth inning. Hamlett, who also had a hit in the game, got the Eagles closer when he was safe on a fielders’ choice that scored Calvin. Colin Dower scored Coppin State’s final run of the game when he crossed the plate while Hamlett was engaged in a run down.
Coppin State returns to action this weekend when it travels a little further across the state to meet Maryland-Eastern Shore in a critical three-game Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) series. The Eagles and Hawks play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1:00 p.m. Coppin State won two out of three during the first series between these two teams.
Coppin State will host Norfolk State for doubleheaders on Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18 at Joe Cannon Field. Friday’s games start at 3:00 p.m. with Saturday’s game beginning at 12 p.m. In the doubleheaders, teams will play nine innings in the first game and seven innings in the second contest.
For complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com
Walks Cost Bethune-Cookman in 10-1 Miami Loss
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - A pair of extended innings made all the difference in Bethune-Cookman’s rematch with the No. 24 Miami Hurricanes, and free bases proved to be a crucial factor as B-CU fell to UM 10-1 on Wednesday night at Mark Light Field.
Although the game turned on the Wildcats, B-CU (15-16) struck first, and early, as Miami (18-12) starter Derik Beauprez provided the Wildcats three consecutive two-out walks in the top of the first. Third baseman Jordan Robinson put the Wildcats on the board with an opposite field RBI single to right field, bringing in second baseman Matt Noble.
While the Wildcats held the Hurricanes through the first two frames, starter John Sever opened with a leadoff walk in the third, allowing Sebastien Diaz to reach as the tie run. Dale Carey reached as a hit batter with one out. Both runners would come in on RBI singles from Tyler Palmer and Willie Abreu to push UM ahead 2-1.
A pair of two-out walks set the stage for a major scoring rift in the game, as the Hurricanes created separation with three consecutive RBI singles from Alex Hernandez, Carey and Palmer. Miami catcher Zach Collins capped off the six-run UM outburst with a three-run double into the left center alley, extending the deficit to 8-1
Entering in the fourth, reliever Michael Austin finished off the frame and pitched two additional innings without allowing a hit or a run. However, he too struggled with walks, allowing four to reach base on balls with two outs.
Relieving Austin, Byron Ferguson took B-CU the last two frames. However, three free bases with two outs in the eighth extended the Hurricanes’ lead. Diaz reached base on balls for one RBI and an RBI single for pinch hitter Ricky Eusebio took the UM lead to 10-1.
Diaz earned five of the 12 Miami walks with his eighth-inning reach, the most for a UM player since 1988. Of the dozen on the night, nine walks were earned with two outs away.
The Wildcats were not without opportunities, as eight of their 10 runners left on base made it to scoring position. However, Bethune-Cookman couldn’t come up with the big hit after the opening frame.
Throwing 3 2/3 innings, Sever (3-2) allowed eight Miami runs on eight hits and four walks. For Miami, Javi Salas (2-3), the losing pitcher in B-CU’s March 5 victory, earned the win, pitching three complete frames with two hits allowed and two strikeouts.
At the plate, Sams paced the Wildcats with a 2-for-4 performance, while Miamian Eros Modena went 2-for-3. Robinson was 1-for-4 with the RBI.
The Wildcats return to Daytona Beach for the weekend, wrapping up the 2014 home slate with a crucial Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) series versus Florida A&M. In addition, B-CU’s “Senior Day” will be held before the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, and Sunday’s finale is scheduled for ESPNU/ESPN3.com broadcast.
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com
High-Octane Offense propels NCCU to twinbill sweep
DURHAM, N.C. – Fans were treated to an offensive showcase by North Carolina Central University in a doubleheader sweep of Virginia State University on Wednesday night as the Eagles took game one 17-15 with a season-high 17 hits and took game two 12-6 behind another solid display at-the plate in nonconference action at the Durham Athletic Park.
In two games, both teams combined for 50 runs and 57 hits as the Eagles dug deep to outlast the Trojans.
Game one was a rollercoaster affair for the maroon and gray faithful as a controversial call at third base turned a 3-1 game into a 7-1 Trojan advantage in the second inning. With the bases loaded third baseman Joshua Markins hit a routine grounder to Tyson Simpson (Burgaw, N.C.) who tagged the runner heading to third for the final out of the frame, but the third base umpire somehow ruled that Simpson neither applied the tag or the runner stay inside the base path. That’s when Tyler Coleman cranked a grand slam to right center field to take a 7-1 lead.
The cardiac Eagles did not go away despite the 9-1 deficit to VSU heading into the bottom of the third inning. Tyler Murphy’s (Islip, N.Y.) RBI single along with Carlos Ortiz’s two-RBI in the next at-bat cut the deficit to 9-4 after three complete.
In the fourth inning, NCCU’s Andrew Wilson (Pilot Mountain, N.C.) came in the game on-the-hill and quieted the Trojan bats while the Eagle offense got revved up with three more runs as Simpson drilled a double down the left field line plating two runs to make it 9-7.
Fast forwarding to the sixth inning, Christian Triplett (Wilkesboro, N.C.) hit a towering shot to left field that put the Eagles up 10-9 sending the crowd into a frenzy.
It all seemingly fell apart in the top of the seventh when Virginia State plated six runs to take a 15-10 lead, but the cardiac Eagles would not die.
After a Simpson RBI single to make it 15-11 in the bottom of the seventh, NCCU scored the game’s final six runs in the bottom of the eighth as freshman Jared Kehagias (Sanford, N.C.) recorded his first career triple down the left field line to drive in a run, while Ortiz also doubled down the left field line to plate two runs prior to that. The maroon and gray went on to win game one 17-15, ending a four-game losing skid.
The second game was just as exciting as the Eagles took a 6-0 lead after the first two innings, but errors allowed Virginia State to knot the game up at 6-6 after three complete.
That’s when Triplett awoke the Eagle faithful in attendance as he crushed his first career grand slam to left field, putting NCCU back up 10-6.
Freshman backstop Conrad Kovalchik (Detriot, Mich.) drove in the final two runs of the game with a two RBI single to right field clinching the twinbill sweep with a 12-6 final tally.
As a team, the maroon and gray batted 16-for-26 (.615) at-the-plate with two outs and drove in 17 two-out RBI in two games. Both teams combined to leave 37 runners on base.
Simpson batted 6-for-7 (.857) with six runs scored three doubles and four RBI to lead the squad, but Triplett went 4-for-8 with three runs scored a double, two home runs and nine RBI.
Four Eagles recorded four hits our more in the doubleheader sweep as Carter Williamson (6-for-8; .750 BA) recorded a double, scored five runs and three RBI, and Kehagias (5-for-9; .556 BA) scored five runs with five hits, his first career triple, and three RBI.
Virginia State (17-13) Tyler Coleman led the Trojans with six RBI in two games, while David Markins recorded the most hits on the day going 4-for-9 (.444 BA) with an RBI.
NCCU (11-17-1, 6-5 MEAC) gets back into a huge conference series with North Carolina A&T beginning on Saturday, April 5 with doubleheader action set for 1:00 p.m. at the Durham Athletic Park.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com