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Wofford, Samford Win at SoCon Baseball Championship
Terriers Get Stellar Pitching; Nine-Run Seventh Inning Lifts Samford to Win
No. 5 Wofford 5, No. 1 UNCG 2
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Wofford sophomore hurler Brandon Little tossed five shutout innings and the fifth-seeded Terriers held on to upset top-seeded UNCG, 5-2, in Friday’s first contest of the Southern Conference Baseball Championship presented by Holston Gases at Fluor Field.
Wofford (38-17) advances to face either No. 2 seed Samford (34-20) or seventh-seeded Mercer at 12 p.m. Saturday, while UNCG (33-20) drops into the losers’ bracket and will play No. 3 seed ETSU later this afternoon at 4 p.m.
Wofford manufactured a pair of runs in the top of the third on just one hit after capitalizing on Spartan miscues. Dixon Black led off the fifth inning with his third double in three games and moved to third base on Martinez’s sacrifice bunt. He scored when Daniel Jackson grounded out to the left side of the infield.
The Terriers built their lead to 5-0 by scoring a pair of runs in the top of the sixth, with UNCG avoiding the shutout and trimming the deficit to three on Luke Jenkins’ bases-loaded single after Caleb Cozart, Luke Holland and Jacob Dilley notched three consecutive one-out singles in the bottom of the inning. The Terriers worked out of a bases-loaded, two-out jam to end the inning, keeping their lead at three.
Marshall Toole was 1-for-3 at the plate for the Terriers, with a double and a pair of walks. He also drove in a run, scored a
run and stole his 40th base of the season, breaking a 43-year-old program record for stolen bases in a season.
Black added a double and scored a run, with Martinez, Tyler Hare and Jack Renwick each posting singles.
UNCG’s Cam Murphy was 2-for-4 on the morning, with Cozart going 2-for-5 at the plate and scoring a run. Holland finished with a pair of walks and a single.
Little (2-0), who was making just his fourth start of the season, allowed two runs on seven hits over 5.1 innings. The right-hander struck out two batters and walked two. Freshman left-hander Kenny Michaels earned his first save of the season by working the final 3.2 innings. He surrendered just two hits and fanned six batters, while walking just one.
UNCG starter Hunter Shuey fell to 6-2 on the season after allowing two runs on just one hit over 2.1 innings. The right-hander struck out one batter and issued four walks.
The upset marked the tournament’s first opening-round loss by the top seed since fourth-seeded Western Carolina upended Wofford in the 2021 SoCon Championship.
No. 2 Samford 9, No. 7 Mercer 7
GREENVILLE, S.C. – No. 2 seed Samford used a nine-run seventh inning to defeat No. 7 seed Mercer, 9-7, on Friday at the Southern Conference Baseball Championship presented by Holston Gases at Fluor Field.
Samford improved to 35-20 on the season, with the win setting up a matchup between the Bulldogs and fifth-seeded Wofford on Saturday at 12 p.m., while Mercer (28-28) drops to the losers’ bracket and will face No. 4 seed Western Carolina tonight at 7:30 p.m.
The Bulldogs’ late rally spoiled Mercer’s bid for its third upset in three days.
Mercer broke through with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning on Bradley Frye’s two-run home run over the wall in left field. It was Frye’s eighth homer of the season. The Bears built a 6-0 advantage by plating four runs in the top of the fourth inning on the strength of a bases-loaded single by Ely Brown and Conner Todaro’s fifth home run of the season, a two-run shot down the right field line. It was Todaro’s second homer in as many days.
After a scoreless top of the fifth inning, Samford’s Aaron Walton led off the bottom of the inning by ripping a single to center field for the Bulldogs’ second hit of the afternoon. He moved into scoring position on Angelo Prieto’s walk, but the Bears’ defense ended the threat with a 6-4-3 double play, followed by a routine groundout.
Mercer’s Ty Dalley clubbed a solo home run with one out in the top of the seventh frame, his third homer of the tournament, to boost the Bears’ lead to 7-0.
Samford’s offense came alive in the seventh, with Andrew Bennett and Lucas Steele beginning the bottom of the frame with back-to-back singles. Bennett came around to score from second when Walton reached base on an error and Prieto cleared the bases with a three-run homer over the wall in left field to get the Bulldogs within three. With still no outs, Josh Rodriguez was hit by a pitch and went to second on Jackson Harris’ groundout. Two batters later leadoff hitter Garrett Staton was also hit by a pitch. John Anderson followed with a single up the middle to bring Rodriguez home with an unearned run. Bennett then drew his second walk of the afternoon to load the bases and Lucas Steele belted a 2-1 pitch beyond the center field wall for a two-out grand slam.
Following a scoreless eighth inning, Dalley reached base with a two-out single in the top of the ninth, but was left stranded at first.
Bennett was 2-for-2 at the plate with two singles and a pair of walks. He also scored two runs. Steele added two hits, including the grand slam and scored twice. Prieto finished the afternoon 1-for-3, with a walk, three RBIs and a run scored.
Todaro and Dalley paced Mercer with two hits apiece.
Mercer starting pitcher Fred Wilson (1-4) did not factor in the decision but limited the Bulldogs to a pair of singles over four innings on the mound. The left-hander struck out six and walked three. Jess Ackerman (5-6), the fourth Mercer hurler, suffered the loss after allowing a pair of runs over 1.1 innings. He walked one and struck out one.
Samford starter Michael Ross, the consensus SoCon Pitcher of the Year, surrendered a season-high seven runs, but the right-hander was the beneficiary of the Bulldogs’ seventh inning rally and improved to 13-0 on the season. He struck out five and walked three over seven innings. Bulldog reliever Carson Lore earned his eighth save of the season after working the final two innings. He allowed just the ninth-inning single, while walking one and striking out one.
2024 SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
May 22 (Wednesday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 1: #5 Wofford 8, #8 The Citadel 3
Game 2: #7 Mercer 19, #6 VMI 14
May 23 (Thursday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 3: #5 Wofford 12, #4 Western Carolina 1
Game 4: #7 Mercer 7, #3 ETSU 4
May 24 (Friday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 5: #5 Wofford 5, #1 UNCG 2
Game 6: #2 Samford 9, #7 Mercer 7
Game 7: #3 ETSU vs. #1 UNCG, 4 p.m.
Game 8: #4 Western Carolina vs. #7 Mercer, 7:30 p.m.
May 25 (Saturday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 9: #5 Wofford vs. #2 Samford, 12 p.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 3:30 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 9, 7 p.m.
May 26 (Sunday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (SDN)
Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 11, 12 p.m.
Game 13: Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser^, 40 minutes after Game 12
^ if necessary
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Wofford sophomore hurler Brandon Little tossed five shutout innings and the fifth-seeded Terriers held on to upset top-seeded UNCG, 5-2, in Friday’s first contest of the Southern Conference Baseball Championship presented by Holston Gases at Fluor Field.
Wofford (38-17) advances to face either No. 2 seed Samford (34-20) or seventh-seeded Mercer at 12 p.m. Saturday, while UNCG (33-20) drops into the losers’ bracket and will play No. 3 seed ETSU later this afternoon at 4 p.m.
Wofford manufactured a pair of runs in the top of the third on just one hit after capitalizing on Spartan miscues. Dixon Black led off the fifth inning with his third double in three games and moved to third base on Martinez’s sacrifice bunt. He scored when Daniel Jackson grounded out to the left side of the infield.
The Terriers built their lead to 5-0 by scoring a pair of runs in the top of the sixth, with UNCG avoiding the shutout and trimming the deficit to three on Luke Jenkins’ bases-loaded single after Caleb Cozart, Luke Holland and Jacob Dilley notched three consecutive one-out singles in the bottom of the inning. The Terriers worked out of a bases-loaded, two-out jam to end the inning, keeping their lead at three.
Marshall Toole was 1-for-3 at the plate for the Terriers, with a double and a pair of walks. He also drove in a run, scored a
run and stole his 40th base of the season, breaking a 43-year-old program record for stolen bases in a season.
Black added a double and scored a run, with Martinez, Tyler Hare and Jack Renwick each posting singles.
UNCG’s Cam Murphy was 2-for-4 on the morning, with Cozart going 2-for-5 at the plate and scoring a run. Holland finished with a pair of walks and a single.
Little (2-0), who was making just his fourth start of the season, allowed two runs on seven hits over 5.1 innings. The right-hander struck out two batters and walked two. Freshman left-hander Kenny Michaels earned his first save of the season by working the final 3.2 innings. He surrendered just two hits and fanned six batters, while walking just one.
UNCG starter Hunter Shuey fell to 6-2 on the season after allowing two runs on just one hit over 2.1 innings. The right-hander struck out one batter and issued four walks.
The upset marked the tournament’s first opening-round loss by the top seed since fourth-seeded Western Carolina upended Wofford in the 2021 SoCon Championship.
No. 2 Samford 9, No. 7 Mercer 7
GREENVILLE, S.C. – No. 2 seed Samford used a nine-run seventh inning to defeat No. 7 seed Mercer, 9-7, on Friday at the Southern Conference Baseball Championship presented by Holston Gases at Fluor Field.
Samford improved to 35-20 on the season, with the win setting up a matchup between the Bulldogs and fifth-seeded Wofford on Saturday at 12 p.m., while Mercer (28-28) drops to the losers’ bracket and will face No. 4 seed Western Carolina tonight at 7:30 p.m.
The Bulldogs’ late rally spoiled Mercer’s bid for its third upset in three days.
Mercer broke through with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning on Bradley Frye’s two-run home run over the wall in left field. It was Frye’s eighth homer of the season. The Bears built a 6-0 advantage by plating four runs in the top of the fourth inning on the strength of a bases-loaded single by Ely Brown and Conner Todaro’s fifth home run of the season, a two-run shot down the right field line. It was Todaro’s second homer in as many days.
After a scoreless top of the fifth inning, Samford’s Aaron Walton led off the bottom of the inning by ripping a single to center field for the Bulldogs’ second hit of the afternoon. He moved into scoring position on Angelo Prieto’s walk, but the Bears’ defense ended the threat with a 6-4-3 double play, followed by a routine groundout.
Mercer’s Ty Dalley clubbed a solo home run with one out in the top of the seventh frame, his third homer of the tournament, to boost the Bears’ lead to 7-0.
Samford’s offense came alive in the seventh, with Andrew Bennett and Lucas Steele beginning the bottom of the frame with back-to-back singles. Bennett came around to score from second when Walton reached base on an error and Prieto cleared the bases with a three-run homer over the wall in left field to get the Bulldogs within three. With still no outs, Josh Rodriguez was hit by a pitch and went to second on Jackson Harris’ groundout. Two batters later leadoff hitter Garrett Staton was also hit by a pitch. John Anderson followed with a single up the middle to bring Rodriguez home with an unearned run. Bennett then drew his second walk of the afternoon to load the bases and Lucas Steele belted a 2-1 pitch beyond the center field wall for a two-out grand slam.
Following a scoreless eighth inning, Dalley reached base with a two-out single in the top of the ninth, but was left stranded at first.
Bennett was 2-for-2 at the plate with two singles and a pair of walks. He also scored two runs. Steele added two hits, including the grand slam and scored twice. Prieto finished the afternoon 1-for-3, with a walk, three RBIs and a run scored.
Todaro and Dalley paced Mercer with two hits apiece.
Mercer starting pitcher Fred Wilson (1-4) did not factor in the decision but limited the Bulldogs to a pair of singles over four innings on the mound. The left-hander struck out six and walked three. Jess Ackerman (5-6), the fourth Mercer hurler, suffered the loss after allowing a pair of runs over 1.1 innings. He walked one and struck out one.
Samford starter Michael Ross, the consensus SoCon Pitcher of the Year, surrendered a season-high seven runs, but the right-hander was the beneficiary of the Bulldogs’ seventh inning rally and improved to 13-0 on the season. He struck out five and walked three over seven innings. Bulldog reliever Carson Lore earned his eighth save of the season after working the final two innings. He allowed just the ninth-inning single, while walking one and striking out one.
2024 SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
May 22 (Wednesday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 1: #5 Wofford 8, #8 The Citadel 3
Game 2: #7 Mercer 19, #6 VMI 14
May 23 (Thursday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 3: #5 Wofford 12, #4 Western Carolina 1
Game 4: #7 Mercer 7, #3 ETSU 4
May 24 (Friday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 5: #5 Wofford 5, #1 UNCG 2
Game 6: #2 Samford 9, #7 Mercer 7
Game 7: #3 ETSU vs. #1 UNCG, 4 p.m.
Game 8: #4 Western Carolina vs. #7 Mercer, 7:30 p.m.
May 25 (Saturday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 9: #5 Wofford vs. #2 Samford, 12 p.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 3:30 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 9, 7 p.m.
May 26 (Sunday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (SDN)
Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 11, 12 p.m.
Game 13: Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser^, 40 minutes after Game 12
^ if necessary