BB: USAC: USA South Athletic Conference

[A.G.]

Thanks for that info.  I hope he is fine.

[narch]

i thought this was supposed to be a great year for usasac offensive players

hildreth threw a real gem...he scared me going in, and i was right to be scared...i can't fathom that the monarchs and captains will play an elimination game on friday...crazy

[coachmilburn]

IN a year that had a lot of offense we have had some really good pitching performance today. 

I heard there's NO hitter's eye background in the DAY games.  Hitter's were having trouble picking up the baseball during the daylight.  I agree, pitching has been outstanding but heard hitter's were having trouble.

[coachmilburn]

Game 1 Recap :
BURLINGTON, N.C. - Fourth-seeded Shenandoah University opened up the 2009 USA South Conference baseball Tournament with a 6-0 win over Greensboro College Thursday morning at Burlington Athletic Park.

Sophomore Greg Van Sickler (6-2) tossed a complete-game, four-hitter to give the Hornets (29-6) their first conference tournament win in three seasons.

Van Sickler struck out eight and only allowed three runners into scoring position to toss his first career shutout.

Michael Manfro (2-6) held SU without a hit for the first 2 1/3 innings, but was victimized by a couple of costly Pride (16-20) errors.

After Shenandoah scored its first run in the third when Jon Holcomb drew a walk, advanced to third on Kevin Brashears' bloop single to right and then came home when Brashears stole second, GC gave the Hornets three unearned runs in the fifth.

Cory Nelson started the rally with a leadoff single up the middle and after two outs were recorded, moved into scoring position when Holcomb laid down a bunt that the Pride couldn't handle at third base.

Brashears singled to left and when GC left-fielder Clint DeHaven fumbled the ball, Nelson was able to come home with the first unearned run of the frame.

Two pitches later, Greensboro attempted to pick Holcomb off at third as Brashears stole second; the throw went into left and both Holcomb and Brashears were able to score.

Two more runs on three hits in the seventh provided the final margin of victory.

Ryan Laboy provided GC with its best chance to score with a leadoff double in the ninth, but Van Sickler preserved his shutout with two groundouts and a flyout.





Game 2 Recap :
BURLINGTON, N.C. -- #6 seed Ferrum College advanced in the 2009 USA South Baseball Tournament with a 2-1 win over #3  Christopher Newport University this afternoon at Burlington Athletic Stadium. 

Jon Wilson pitched eight full innings, allowing eight hits and an earned run, and struck out two.  Dennis Cauley allowed one hit over the final three innings, while striking out two, to earn the win.

Jesse Fuller, who went 0-4 in his first four plate appearances, blasted a single to right field to score Jason Parker from second base.  Fuller played well defensively, registering a putout and five assists.

Paul Jaglowski, Travis Crump and Gabe Moncada each had two base hits for Ferrum.

Christopher Newport University (19-8-1) got two base hits each from Michael Romett, Shannon Mark and USA South Player of the Year Trae Bailey.  Starting pitcher Josh Brinkmann went 9.1 innings before being lifted with the game tied 1-1.  Mike Giarrizzi, who started the game in center field, pitched the last 2.1 innings for the Captains to get the loss.

Earlier in the day, #4 Shenandoah University defeated #5 Greensboro College 6-0 to open the tournament.  Ferrum (13-13) will face the winner of today's game between #2 Methodist University and #7 Averett University Friday morning at 9 a.m.





Game 3 Recap :
BURLINGTON, N.C. — Seventh-seeded Averett University held off No. 2 seed Methodist University in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 2-1 upset in the first round of the USA South Conference Tournament on Thursday afternoon at Burlington Athletic Stadium.

Averett (14-22-1) led 1-0 entering the ninth inning, but the Cougars added another run when Jake Loye beat out a two-out bunt that allowed Adam Higgins to score from third.

That proved to be crucial in the bottom half of the inning. Averett left-hander Jon Walker, who relieved Ben Hildreth at the start of the ninth inning, gave up a leadoff walk. Walker got the next two batters to fly out and strike out, respectively, to leave the Cougars one out away from victory.

But Methodist's Brian Goodwin doubled down the right-field line, which scored Doug Furlong from first. Walker got out of the jam thanks to a pop out to first base to end the game and complete the upset of the Monarchs (24-11).

Walker earned his second save of the season, while Hildreth notched the victory to improve to 6-5 overall.

Averett plays No. 6 seed Ferrum College at 9 a.m. Friday in Burlington. Methodist will play No. 3 seed Christopher Newport University at 9:30 a.m. at Elon University.

Averett broke a scoreless tie in the seventh inning when Higgins scored on Michael Moore's bunt single.

The Cougars had multiple opportunities to score prior to the seventh inning, but they couldn't get a timely hit. Overall Averett left 12 runners on base, including eight in scoring position.




Game 4 Recap :
BURLINGTON, N.C. — No. 1 seed N.C. Wesleyan eliminated No. 5 Greensboro from the USA South Conference Tournament with an 8-4 victory on Thursday night at Burlington Athletic Stadium.

N.C. Wesleyan (21-15) took a 6-4 in the bottom of the six inning on Justin Batts' two-run double down the left-field line. The Battling Bishops added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth.

N.C. Wesleyan will face No. 4 Shenandoah University at 12 p.m. on Friday in Burlington. The loss ends Greensboro's season.

The Pride (16-21) jumped on N.C. Wesleyan for three runs in the top of the second inning, including one on a RBI single by Bobby Amato.

The Battling Bishops answered in the bottom half of the inning to score a pair or runs thanks to a fielding error and a bases-loaded walk.

The Pride maintained a 3-2 lead until the fifth inning. N.C. Wesleyan tied the game on a sacrifice fly to center field, which scored Batts from third. Greensboro had a chance to get out of the inning without further harm, but another error allowed Zollie Woodlief to score from second base with two outs to give the Bishops a 4-3 advantage.

That lead didn't last long. Greensboro responded with a run in the sixth on Amato's bunt single to tie the game at 4-4.

N.C. Wesleyan ace Ben Moore earned the victory, striking out four in seven innings of work.

Batts finished 4-for-5 at the plate to lead the Bishops offensively.

[Catfishncwc]

Bishops with a 8-5 win over GBoro. 

[NCWC]

Bishops with a 8-5 win over GBoro. 

Little bit touch and go there for a while dont you think,  So who is throwing in 13 hours?

[vabaseball]

I'm trying to figure out how the run scored on this inning ending doubleplay yesterday.

Ferrum College 7th - FULLER struck out looking. CRUMP singled to shortstop. MONCADA singled through the right side; CRUMP advanced to third. MARSHALL grounded into double play 1b to ss to 1b; MONCADA out on the play; CRUMP scored. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.


* * *

Is it possible the runner reached first safely and then was picked off?  It sure doesn't read that way in the play by play.

[vabaseball]

Alright, I'm not at the game.  I'm following the live stats.  But I just don't think the Captains want to win today.

Is anyone warming up in the bullpen?

[narch]

I'm trying to figure out how the run scored on this inning ending doubleplay yesterday.

Ferrum College 7th - FULLER struck out looking. CRUMP singled to shortstop. MONCADA singled through the right side; CRUMP advanced to third. MARSHALL grounded into double play 1b to ss to 1b; MONCADA out on the play; CRUMP scored. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.


* * *

Is it possible the runner reached first safely and then was picked off?  It sure doesn't read that way in the play by play.

i wondered the same thing...

the offenses are coming to play today...

[A.G.]

Yeah, Narch...real pitchers duel  with MU up 9-8 in the FIFTH and CNU threatening with the heart of the order up.

[Catfishncwc]

gotta a barn burner at Elon with CNU up 11-9 in the 6th. 

[narch]

Yeah, Narch...real pitchers duel  with MU up 9-8 in the FIFTH and CNU threatening with the heart of the order up.

this one may still come down to pitching...although it might be a 18-17 game

monarchs are up 12-11 after 2 hr's in the 6th

[vabaseball]

I can't take it anymore......

Oh well.

12-12, but it may be 14-12 by the time I write this.  MU has two guys on and no one out. 

[vabaseball]

I know the game started early.  Did the pitching coach(es) oversleep?

[coachmilburn]

Ferrum is sitting in the Saturday's winner's bracket 12noon game after defeating Averett 9 to 6 this morning.

CNU back on top 14-13 in top 8th with 1 out.