No. 1 ETSU, No. 2 Samford Win at SoCon Baseball Tournament

ETSU 16, Western Carolina 13

ETSU advanced in the 2025 Southern Conference Baseball Championship with a 16-13 victory over Western Carolina at Fluor Field in Greenville, South Carolina. The high-scoring affair featured 29 total runs and 27 hits between the two teams.

ETSU jumped out to an early lead, scoring single runs in the first and third innings before Western Carolina responded with two runs in the fourth on a Jack Spyke two-run homer. The pivotal fifth inning saw both teams explode offensively, with Western Carolina plating six runs to take an 8-2 lead. ETSU answer immediately with six runs of their own to tie the game at 8-8.

Western Carolina briefly regained the lead with two runs in the sixth, but ETSU seized control with four runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to pull away. The Buccaneers' offensive attack was led by JD Yakubinis, who went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, while Cody Miller contributed two home runs and drove in two runs while stealing two bases.

Western Carolina was led by Trent Turner who went 3-for-4 with a triple, a home run, and four RBIs. Jack Spyke added a home run and three RBIs in the losing effort.

Western Carolina used eight pitchers and ETSU four. Brady Frederick earned the win for ETSU, while Evan Langston took the loss for Western Carolina. Andrew Ronne recorded the save for the Buccaneers.


Samford 12, Wofford 7

Samford defeated Wofford 12-7 in the second game of the SoCon Baseball Championship, powered by an explosive eight-run fifth inning that broke open a close contest.

Samford struck first with three runs in the opening inning, highlighted by Parker McDonald's three-run homer. In the fifth inning, Wofford cut the deficit to 3-1 on Tyler Hare's solo home run.

However, Samford responded immediately with a decisive eight-run outburst in the bottom of the fifth. The rally featured multiple RBI hits, including a Cade Carr triple that drove in three runs and a Michael Gupton double that plated two more. The inning was aided by a Western Carolina error that allowed additional runs to score.

Wofford mounted a comeback attempt in the sixth inning, scoring six runs to make it 11-7. The rally was capped by Niko Brini's two-out, three-RBI double. The Bulldogs added an insurance run in the eighth inning.

Jake Souders led Samford's offensive attack with a 3-for-5 performance and two RBIs, while McDonald finished with three RBIs despite his early exit. For Wofford, Brini drove in three runs with two doubles, and Hare contributed a home run and one RBI.

Miller Riggins earned the victory for Samford, while Branton Little suffered the loss for Wofford.