BB: USAC: USA South Athletic Conference

[narch]

the eagles nip the monarchs 7-6 today...no box score yet, but i stayed for a couple of innings - it was back & forth through the middle innings with mu up 2-1, eu tying it 2-2, mu going up 3-2, eu taking a 4-3 lead - i left with the monarchs down 4-3

game story
box score

[NCWC]

Here is the article from the AU website:

Late surge lifts Bishops over Cougars
March 29, 2008

DANVILLE, Va. – North Carolina Wesleyan College's baseball team scored two runs in the eighth and added another in the ninth to claim a 3-0 victory over Averett University at Owen-Fulton Field on Saturday.

The Bishops (20-7-1, 6-3 USA South) posted a pair of runs in the eight on a Justin Batts 2-RBI single. Matt Smith was responsible for bringing in the final run in the ninth after sailing a sacrifice fly to left field, which scored Daniel Moore. Moore made his way to third after a single and a two-base error on a failed pick off.

Averett's (12-17, 0-7 USA South) Ben Hildreth pitched a complete game and fanned six in the outing, while giving up only two earned runs. He gave up only five hits on the afternoon.

The Cougars tallied seven hits in the outing, but lacked the timely hitting they needed to score. Averett left four runners stranded in scoring position and left nine runners on base. Ahmed Shelton had two hits on the afternoon.

The Cougars and Bishops will face off again on Sunday at 1 p.m. for the final game of the series at Owen-Fulton Field.



I am assuming Shelton will face off against Moore tomorrow.

[NCWC]

The sleeper in the USAS, Shenandoah:

WINCHESTER, Va. – Shenandoah University ran its conference baseball winning streak to three games Saturday afternoon with a 7-6 USA South victory over visiting Ferrum.

Leading 5-2 heading into the ninth inning, Shenandoah (15-11, 4-3 USA South) saw its lead evaporate as Ferrum (7-12, 2-7) scored four runs on four hits and a costly SU error.

However, the Hornets were able to rally against Panthers reliever Brian Mays (0-1) to salvage the victory.

With one out, shortstop Drew Crawford drew a walk to put the tying run on. Second baseman Christian Frey then laced a single just inside the third base line, and after FC left-fielder Michael Nolte mis-played the ball, Crawford came all the way around to score.

Panthers manager Darren Hodges was ejected immediately following the play for arguing the fair ball call, and assistant Anthony Everman replaced Mays with reliever William Campbell before the next SU hitter stepped to the plate.

The pitching change caused Hornets skipper Kevin Anderson to send up left-handed batter Brett Donahue to pinch hit, and Donahue laced a game-winning single up the middle to score Frey from second base.

The rally made a winner of junior Josh Simons (1-0), who pitched the final 2/3 of the top of the ninth for the hosts. Simons came on for junior left-hander Matthew Davis, who had allowed an infield single and a double to start the frame.

Davis, who had allowed three runs on nine hits in 8.1 innings, saw his chance for victory go by the wayside as Ferrum greeted Simons with an RBI double and then scored the tying run on an error.

One batter later, Kevin Marshall gave the Panthers a 6-5 lead with an RBI single, but the lead would prove to be short-lived.

Simons led the offense with three hits in three at-bats while Jesse Henry and Greg Van Sickler each had two hits. Van Sickler also drove in a pair of runs.

Box Score

These two teams complete their weekend series Sunday afternoon with a 1:00 contest.

[WHEELIN WES]

Wesleyan wins a nail-biter 6 - 4 in ten innings!  Worked out of serious jam in the bottom of 9th to break the Cougars' heart.

[NCWC]

Wesleyan wins a nail-biter 6 - 4 in ten innings!  Worked out of serious jam in the bottom of 9th to break the Cougars' heart.

Averett falls in extra innings
March 30, 2008

DANVILLE, Va. – Justin Batts and Ted Williams each notched RBIs in the 10th inning to lift North Carolina Wesleyan College to a 6-4 extra innings win over Averett University Sunday at Owen-Fulton Field.

Tied at 4-4 after nine, the Bishops (21-7-1, 7-3 USA South) plated two runs in the tenth to claim a two run advantage. Matt Smith led off with a single to center and was sacrificed to second. Following an intentional walk to Chris Pecora, Batts belted a single to left center that scored Smith. Pecora and Batts joined Justin Rahm in loading the bases after an Averett (12-18, 0-8 USA South) error, and Pecora later scored on a fielder's choice by Williams to give NCWC a 6-4 advantage.

The Cougars placed two runners on base in the bottom of the 10th, Jacob Waller drew a one-out walk and Jake Loye added a two-out single, however the Cougars failed to score in the bottom half of the inning. Averett left 16 runners stranded in the contest.

While AU had an opportunity in the 10th, it was in the ninth inning that will haunt Averett. Tied at 4-4 in the bottom the frame, Loye led off the inning with an infield hit. He took second on a wild pitch and AU placed runners on the corners when Ken Kellum reached on an error, placing Loye at third and no outs. A passed ball put two runners in scoring position, as Kellum took second, with none retired. However, Andrew Webb forced Averett to hit into a ground out with no runners advancing and struck out his next two batters to force the extra frame.

Webb was credited with the win in relief. He pitched two innings and allowed one hit, while striking out two and improved to 2-0 on the year. Daniel Moore and Smith each had two hits for NCWC.

AU trailed 2-0 after the top of the first, but answered with a run in the bottom of the first to trim the deficit to 2-1. Kellum fired a single to left field for an RBI in that frame and Eric Sibrizzi led off the third inning with a homer to knot the game at 2-2. AU took the lead in the fourth on an RBI by Waller that scored Brad Turner, who reached with a walk to start the inning. Wesleyan added two runs in the top of the fifth to grab a 4-3 lead, but AU rallied in the sixth with another Waller RBI. Three consecutive scoreless innings followed before Wesleyan took over in the tenth.

Adam Higgins (3-for-4) and Loye (3-for-6) both tallied three hits on the afternoon. Kellum added a 2-for-5 effort with an RBI, while Waller added a pair of RBIs. Ahmed Shelton gave up only six hits in 9.1 innings of work. He struck out four and allowed only four earned runs.

Averett will return to action on Saturday when they travel to Greensboro College for their final road series of the season.

[Rikki_Tikki_Tavi]

Captains and Greensboro did not play today and it looks as if the game will not be made up either.

[NCWC]

Captains and Greensboro did not play today and it looks as if the game will not be made up either.

Any reason on why they aren't going to make up the game?  I know Wesleyan stayed thru monday in G-boro earlier this season to finish the series.  I could see them not making up the game if CNU and G-boro were last and second to last.  But come on.

[narch]

i'd be willing to bet they make that game up if it's needed to break a tie of any sort...i'm not sure if the monarchs and eagles played today...it was spitting rain all day, but it never came down hard - no news on either website

[WHEELIN WES]

If the Bishops manage to sweep the Hornats next weekend and Methodist takes at least one from CNU, I believe that CNU and GC will have to make that game up.

[narch]

looks like the monarchs kissed their sister today, playing emory to an 8-8 tie in 10 - they were up 6-0 after 4, but emory scored 7 over the next two innings before the monarchs went up 8-7 with a 2 spot in the bottom of the 6th - both teams went scoreless until the 9th, when emory made 2 key substitutions that paid off - bralver pinch hit and led off with a triple and mcdonough pinch hit and singled bralver in to tie the game - it looks like the monarchs loaded the bases with two outs in the tenth, but couldn't get the run home...not sure what happened reading the box score...maybe proctor got tagged going to the plate on a squeeze play??? - mu certainly played solid ball against a top 25 team, but a split sure would have been much better than a one-run loss and a tie

box score

[Rikki_Tikki_Tavi]

According to what ive heard, conference rules state that you just have to play 10 of the 12 games and that as long as you reach 10, you dont have to worry about making the game up, whether they tied or not.

[NCWC]

According to what ive heard, conference rules state that you just have to play 10 of the 12 games and that as long as you reach 10, you dont have to worry about making the game up, whether they tied or not.

I know, but I figured their would be some fairness and sportsmanship.  Its probably for the best because Moreland would probably pitch again.

CNU has an excellent schedule at this poiny.  Mr. Moreland has started 33% of their games (8/24), and he was won 7.  If he isn't an all-american something isn't right.

I hope Methodist has a wonderful week of practice.

[WHEELIN WES]

According to what ive heard, conference rules state that you just have to play 10 of the 12 games and that as long as you reach 10, you don't have to worry about making the game up, whether they tied or not.

If that is indeed a true conference rule, that is about the most idiotic ruling ever. What a joke. This means a team out front in first place or any position for that matter could cancel games to keep from running the risk from losing position in the conference standings. I know the USAS has some whacked up rules, but I can't believe this is true.

[hokieone]

   Actually, it would depend upon the circumstances. Assuming the only available time for GC to make the 4 hour trip is Monday  of Tournament week , as both teams have other games scheduled every weekend, If CNU stays hot, and keeps a two game lead, the makeup game would be meaningless for them. Presumably they'd throw somebody unlikely to be needed in the tournament, so they'd then catch grief for "not trying".

Of course, all of this may be academic as CNU has a very tough weekend series with Methodist, at Methodist, then Ferrum at Ferrum, and wins can never ever be assumed. Based upon last year's crazy finish, we may not know if the GC-CNU game will matter until all the other games have been played... and if old man weather wipes out one or two of them, you'll go nuts thinking about the possibilities.

Presumably all  of the schools thought about messiness such as this when they decided to play two games against each school instead of three.   

 

[NCWC]

Monday, March 31, 2008
Smith and Webb tabbed USA South Athletes of the Week

Fayetteville, NC - The North Carolina Wesleyan Department of Athletics is pleased to announce that senior Matt Smith and freshman Andrew Webb have earned USA South weekly baseball honors for March 31st. Smith picked up Player of the Week honors after batting .727 in three games, while Webb was named Rookie Pitcher of the Week after tossing two scoreless innings in the Bishops' extra inning win over Averett. The duo helped Wesleyan turn in a 3-0 record last week.

Smith (pictured right), a senior from Stedman, NC, hit .727 (7-for-11) with seven runs scored, three RBI, two doubles and two walks. In an 11-3 win over Hampden-Sydney, Smith was 4-for-5 with three runs scored, one run batted in, one double, and one stolen base. In a doubleheader sweep of USA South rival Averett, he was a combined 4-for-6 with four runs scored, two RBI, two walks, one double, one sacrifice fly, and one sacrifice hit. To top things off, he drove in the eventual game-winning run against HSC, while scoring the winning runs in both games at Averett.

Webb (pictured left), a freshman from Rocky Mount, NC, collected a victory in his only appearance last week for the Bishops. In a 6-4, ten-inning, win over USA South rival Averett, Webb entered in the ninth inning with runners on first and third and no outs. He proceeded to get out of the jam by forcing a groundout and recording two strikeouts, eventually earning the win. In total, Webb pitched two innings and gave up no runs on one hit.

Congratulations to both athletes on their stellar performances