BB: USAC: USA South Athletic Conference

[narch]

the monarchs pound out 20 hits today to beat tufts 14-3 - jordan and bisp each went 3 while kisiah, andrade and sholar each went 1 - kivett, russell and eudy all went yard for mu - the tufts starter gave up 15 hits and 10 er in 3.2 ip...ouch - the monarchs are now 17-7

box score

[NCWC]

Any word on the NCWC Tufts game today?


NCWC lost 9-7, Pecora had two jacks today, one from each side.  The bishops had 4 errors on the day and what looks like a tough umpire or bad location for the pitchers (10bb).  Looking forward to the Ferrum series starting tomorrow. 

[GreenJeans]

I know that Wesleyan lost but I have not heard the score.

[NCWC]

Friday, March 21, 2008
Williams powers Bishops to 14-7 league win over Ferrum

Rocky Mount, NC - Senior Ted Williams blasted his first two homeruns of the season on Friday afternoon, leading his North Carolina Wesleyan baseball squad to a 14-7 USA South win over Ferrum College at Bauer Field. Williams (pictured) drove in six runs on the day for the 24th-ranked Bishops, who improve to 17-7-1 with the win, 4-3 in conference play. Ferrum now stands at 5-10 on the season, 2-5 in league play.

Wesleyan plated at least one run in each of the first five innings, beginning with a four-spot in the first. Justin Batts drove in the game's first run with a sac-fly RBI, while Justin Rahm followed with an RBI-double. Williams then connected on his first homer of the day, a two-run shot to left-center.

After the Panthers broke through with a run in the second, the Bishops tacked on two more in their half of the frame as Daniel Moore and Travis Beausoleil each recorded an RBI.

Down 6-1, Ferrum managed three runs in third to cut the lead to 6-4. Wesleyan answered with its seventh run of the game in the bottom of the inning, but FC scored two more in the fourth to get as close as 7-6. Five different Panthers drove in runs during that span.

Williams, however, extended the Bishops' lead with a three-run bomb in the fourth. NCWC went on to score four more in the fifth to go up 14-6 and cruise to the 14-7 final.

Jonathan Shearon (3-0) earned the win in relief for the Bishops, going 5 1/3 innings and allowing just one run on four hits. Lincoln Garner took the loss for Ferrum.

Offensively, the Bishops' recorded 19 hits on the day to Ferrum's 14. Williams finished 4-for-5 and Moore 4-for-4. Rahm and Chris Pecora also had three hits apiece.

Kevin Marshall paced the Panthers with a 3-for-4 performance.

Wesleyan wraps up its league series with the Panthers on Saturday. Game time is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Bauer Field.

[NCWC]

March 21, 2008
Methodist Falls to Greensboro 4-2
Sophomore Seth Kivett hit a home run and a RBI single for the Monarchs

GREENSBORO, NC - Greensboro took an early lead and the Monarchs could not recover as the Pride took the 4-2 win Friday afternoon. Methodist moves to 17-8 overall and 4-3 in the USA South while Greensboro moves to 18-9 overall and 4-1 in the conference.

Greensboro took the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second after a lead-off double to right center from Dan Poindexter. He moved to third on a groundout and scored on the single from Tyler O'Neill. Anthony Corona hit a home run in the third and Jacob Tomb hit a RBI single to score Jeff Gregory for the 3-0 lead after four innings.

The Monarchs' Seth Kivett led off with a home run to left field in the top of the sixth, but the Pride's O'Neill countered with a home run in the bottom of the inning. Trailing 4-1 in the seventh, Methodist sophomore Brian Halpin singled to left center and moved to second on senior Scott Russell's infield single. Kivett followed up with a single to center to score Halpin and move Russell to third. With two outs, junior Brad Davis loaded the bases with a walk, but the Pride closed off the Methodist rally with a strikeout.

After coming up scoreless in the eighth, Russell drew a walk and junior Kenly Locklear had a two-out single but both runners were stranded as Greensboro took the 4-2 win. Kivett, Locklear and junior Dustin Proctor each had two hits for the Monarchs while sophomore Fred Geisinger took the loss on the mound in six innings pitched. Senior Robert Kisiah pitched the final two innings of relief without giving up a hit.

The Monarchs will face Greensboro again tomorrow night at 7 pm.

Box Score

[narch]

the monarchs salvage a split today, winning 7-4 - toth pitched effectively, going 7 and allowing 6 hits and 3 er - kisiah pitched the final 2 innings for the save and gave up no hits

[NCWC]

CNU stays idle at 5-1
Greensboro splits 4-2
Wesleyan sweeps 5-3
Methodist splits 5-3

CNU has Greensboro this weekend, Methodist the following weekend, and Ferrum the final weekend.

I do think Ferrum will improve in the next three weeks.  I also believe that CNU will drop at least two games out of the next 6 conf. games.  I dont think they will lose with Moreland on the mound.  I wonder what their rotation will be come tournament time.

[Falcon2720]

Prediction

CNU splits with Greensboro & Methodist, sweeps Ferrum to finish 9-3

Wesleyan sweeps AU & SU to finish 9-3

CNU and Wesleyan tie for first.

[NCWC]

Prediction

CNU splits with Greensboro & Methodist, sweeps Ferrum to finish 9-3

Wesleyan sweeps AU & SU to finish 9-3

CNU and Wesleyan tie for first.

I'm not really sure about that Shenadoah team, they have some tough pitching that seems to give NCWC some problems

I think for CNU to drop 2, that depends alot on Methodists and G-boros #2 pitchers.  We know Moreland is automatic right now.

For Wesleyan to win out they will have to play solid d and have someone stepup for Robertson who seems to be struggling.  I like the way John Shearon has been pitching for Wesleyan.  I do think he is more valuable as a reliever right now.  Who is it going to be, Diener or Roenker?

[narch]

I think for CNU to drop 2, that depends alot on Methodists and G-boros #2 pitchers.  We know Moreland is automatic right now.

like everyone else, i'm thinking moreland is as close to automatic as they come, right now...but...

cnu is 16-54 (a .771 winning % for mu) all time against methodist and hasn't beat the monarch since 2005 - the monarchs have won 7 of the last 8 meetings between these two teams - 2 days of quality pitching from geisinger, toth and the bullpen and i think even moreland can be beaten (although i won't predict that to happen and i wouldn't put any money on it happening) - i will be interested to see what gc and mu do against cnu - i wouldn't be surprised to see gc push mock to sunday and pitch their #2 against moreland - while mock doesn't strike fear into anyone the way moreland does, the kid is a quality pitcher and TOUGH to beat - i think gc's best chance to split would be to flip their rotation - i don't think that is the case for mu right now - i think geisinger and toth are 1 and 1A for the monarchs, and i think either has an equal opportunity to pitch well against the captains

before that, though, the monarchs have a game tonight vs. d2 st. andrews, a big regional series vs. #13 emory this weekend and then a game against hsc the thursday before the cnu series...lots of ball to be played before that cnu/mu matchup happens

[NCWC]

Wesleyan wins today against H-SC, 11-3.  That moves NCWC to 3-3-1 on the road this year. Pecora was named conference hitter of the week and  Daniel Moore was named rookie hitter of the week.


BASEBALL TIGERS FALL TO NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN, 11-3

Box Score

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA (March 24, 2008)—Hampden-Sydney registered 11 hits in Monday's game against North Carolina Wesleyan, but the Tigers fell to the Bishops, 11-3, at Yank Bernier Field.  North Carolina Wesleyan scored 11 runs on 18 hits on the afternoon en route to victory, while the Tigers only managed three runs despite getting 11 hits.  With the loss, Hampden-Sydney drops to 10-17 on the season, while North Carolina Wesleyan improves to 19-8-1 overall. 

North Carolina Wesleyan took an early lead in the top of the third inning as the Bishops' Chris Pecora doubled to score two runs to help give the Bishops build a 3-0 advantage.  North Carolina Wesleyan would add two runs in the fifth and three runs in the sixth before the Tigers scored a single run as Todd Harrell (Chesapeake, VA/Nansemond-Suffolk) scored on a Zach Harrelson (Danville, VA/George Washington) single in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to seven runs, 8-1.  Trailing 9-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, senior David Toney (Mechanicsville, VA/Lee-Davis) hit a two-run homer to cut the score to 9-3, but in the top of the ninth, the Bishops added two more runs to earn the 11-3 win.

Hampden-Sydney starter Adam Hodges (Rocky Mount, NC/Rocky Mount Academy) took the loss for the Tigers as he worked five innings, allowing five runs on nine hits.  Justin Diener earned the victory for North Carolina Wesleyan as the starter worked eight innings, allowing three runs on ten hits, while striking out eight.

Senior Todd Harrell and freshman Zach Harrelson led Hampden-Sydney at the plate as each went 2-for-4 on the afternoon.  Sophomores Nick Price (Sterling, VA/Potomac Falls) and Zack Zackowski (Oak Ridge, NC/Greenbriar Christian) went 1-for-1 on the afternoon, while junior Hall Toledano (Asheboro, NC/Asheboro) went 1-for-2.  Matt Smith led the Bishops at the plate, going 4-for-5 with three runs scored and one RBI.

Hampden-Sydney will return to action on Thursday, March 27, as the Tigers will welcome Christopher Newport University to Yank Bernier Field.  The first pitch for Thursday's game is scheduled for 3:30 pm.

-www.hsc.edu/athletics-

[narch]

the monarchs improve to 19-8 with an 11-3 thumping of st. andrews - bisp goes 7 strong giving up 6 hits, 2 er and striking out 6 - frosh trip lancaster goes 3-4 with 3 rbi while kivett scores 3 runs and russell and carter each drive in 2 - emory is on the clock...should be a fun weekend!

box score

[NCWC]

Good luck with Emory.  I haven't really followed them this year.  But whenever Methodist plays them it seems to be a gauge on how good that Emory team is.

[Rikki_Tikki_Tavi]

Im going to guess the CNU rotation in the tournament would be something like this: Moreland (obviously), lefty Steven Millerleile (has been pitching very well in conference games, but doesnt have much to show for it), and then Kyle Baumann (he's been throwing VERY well since coming back from Tommy John surgery). After those three, its really anyones guess. You might see Giarrizzi get the start perhaps before Baumann, but he could very well pitch in relief too. Kevin Moreland needs to get back on track to help solidify the bullpen, he's been off for most of the season.

But, as narch said, there is a lot of baseball to be played before the CNU/MU series, and a ton of baseball to be played before the tournament. Next up, Eastern Mennonite Wednesday in Harrisonburg and then off to Hampden-Sydney Thursday before hosting Greensboro this weekend.

[NCWC]

Im going to guess the CNU rotation in the tournament would be something like this: Moreland (obviously), lefty Steven Millerleile (has been pitching very well in conference games, but doesnt have much to show for it), and then Kyle Baumann (he's been throwing VERY well since coming back from Tommy John surgery). After those three, its really anyones guess. You might see Giarrizzi get the start perhaps before Baumann, but he could very well pitch in relief too. Kevin Moreland needs to get back on track to help solidify the bullpen, he's been off for most of the season.

But, as narch said, there is a lot of baseball to be played before the CNU/MU series, and a ton of baseball to be played before the tournament. Next up, Eastern Mennonite Wednesday in Harrisonburg and then off to Hampden-Sydney Thursday before hosting Greensboro this weekend.

Methodist and NCWC are almost 3/4 done with their reg. season.  Methodist has 9 games , ncwc has 10, and cnu has 10, G-boro has 11 games in the span of three weeks b4 the tourny.  Saying there is alot of baseball left to be played is like saying you are unsure at this time.  It is a real broad statement.  I was looking for some bold predictions.  I was trying to get some conversation going after the week long layoff it seemed this board had last week.  I have a strong feeling that come april 17th there will be alot of runs put up on the board by all teams involved.

I inquired about the rotations because I have no idea how NCWC will set their guys up.