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Samford rallies past Western Carolina at SoCon tourney
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Samford second baseman Frankie Navarrete hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning as the second-seeded Bulldogs rallied from an early six-run deficit to top No. 7 seed Western Carolina, 8-7, at the Southern Conference Baseball Championship presented by Mountain Shore Properties on Wednesday.
The Bulldogs (30-24) advance to face either No. 3 seed Wofford or No. 6 seed Furman on Thursday at either 5 or 8:30 p.m. Western Carolina (21-29) will take on the loser of Wofford/Furman in an elimination game Thursday at 9 a.m.
Samford’s Jared Watson hit a pinch-hit, two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the ninth to forge a 7-all tie as the Bulldogs completed the comeback from a 6-0 first-inning hole. In the bottom of the next inning, a pair of walks and a passed ball put runners at second and third, and Navarrete ripped a 2-1 pitch through the right side to score pinch-runner Gregory Mula with the winning run.
Navarrete’s base knock provided a stunning conclusion to a contest that saw the Bulldogs down a half-dozen runs before even coming up to bat.
Western Carolina jumped all over Samford starter Alex Ledford in the first, getting singles from its first two hitters before Jacob Hoyle’s two-run double with one out put the Catamounts on the board. WCU was far from done, getting RBI singles from Kramer Ferrell and Brett Pope before a three-run home run to left by Jason Smith made it a six-run spread.
The Bulldogs got two of those runs back in the second, taking advantage of some wildness from Western Carolina starter Bryan Sammons, who walked the bases loaded with no one out. Richard Greene got Samford on the board with a two-run single through the left side, but Sammons settled down after that, striking out the next three batters to escape further damage and leave two aboard.
Sammons went on to strike out the side in the third and the first batter of the Samford fourth to run his streak to seven straight batters punched out.
After seemingly righting the ship, Sammons lost control again in the sixth, walking the first two batters and hitting the third to load the bases before walking Damon Waller to force in a run and end his day. Danny Rodriguez greeted reliever Brendan Nail with a two-run single to make it 6-5, but Waller was out on the play trying to go from first to third, and after a fly out, Rodriguez was picked off of first as Western Carolina limited the damage and closed the book on Sammons.
The Catamounts threatened to get some of those runs back in the seventh but stranded a pair. WCU did give itself a little breathing room the following inning, as Reece Strong’s sacrifice fly scored Matthew Koehler to make it 7-5, but Samford would complete its comeback the following inning to force the decisive extra frame.
Samford closer Andres Gracia was the beneficiary of the late-inning heroics, as he improved to 3-0 on the season with a hitless inning of work. Starter Ledford took a no-decision, allowing seven runs on 10 hits and two walks in 7 1/3 innings.
Taylor Durand (0-3) took the loss, issuing two walks and an unearned run over 2/3 of an innings. Sammons turned in an interesting line on the day, allowing five runs on just one hit but eight walks. He struck out a career-high 10 in just five innings of work.
The Catamount pitching staff struck out 17 batters on the day, as Nail fanned seven in just 3 2/3 innings of relief.
Navarrete had Samford’s only two-hit day, while Greene and Rodriguez had two RBIs each.
Hoyle was 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI in his return to the lineup after missing significant time this season with injury. He last played April 10 prior to starting Wednesday’s contest. Smith finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
No. 2 seed Wofford takes on No. 6 seed Furman in Wednesday’s second game, which is currently in a weather delay. Every game of the tournament will be streamed live and free on the SoCon Digital Network with the exception of Sunday’s championship tilt, which will air on ESPN3.
May 19 (Tuesday)
SoCon Championship presented by Mountain Shore Properties (all games on SDN)
(Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park; Charleston, S.C.)
Game 1: #8 The Citadel 8, #9 ETSU 2
May 20 (Wednesday)
SoCon Championship presented by Mountain Shore Properties (all games on SDN)
(Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park; Charleston, S.C.)
Game 2: #2 Samford 8, #7 Western Carolina 7 (10 inn.)
Game 3: #3 Wofford vs. #6 Furman TBD
Game 4: #8 The Citadel vs. #1 Mercer TBD
Game 5: #4 VMI vs. #5 UNCG TBD
May 21 (Thursday)
SoCon Championship presented by Mountain Shore Properties (all games on SDN)
(Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park; Charleston, S.C.)
Game 6: #7 Western Carolina vs. Loser Game 3 9 a.m.
Game 7: Loser Game 4 vs. Loser Game 5 12:30 p.m.
Game 8: #2 Samford vs. Winner Game 3 5 or 8:30 p.m.
Game 9: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 5 or 8:30 p.m.
May 22 (Friday)
SoCon Championship presented by Mountain Shore Properties (all games on SDN)
(Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park; Charleston, S.C.)
Game 10: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 8 3 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Loser Game 9 6:30 p.m.
May 23 (Saturday)
SoCon Championship presented by Mountain Shore Properties (all games on SDN)
(Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park; Charleston, S.C.)
Game 12: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10 9 a.m.
Game 13: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 11 12:30 p.m.
Game 14: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 12^ 5 p.m.
Game 15: Winner Game 13 vs. Loser Game 13^ 8:30 p.m.
^ if necessary
May 24 (Sunday)
SoCon Championship presented by Mountain Shore Properties (ESPN3)
(Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park; Charleston, S.C.)
Championship game 2 p.m.
The Bulldogs (30-24) advance to face either No. 3 seed Wofford or No. 6 seed Furman on Thursday at either 5 or 8:30 p.m. Western Carolina (21-29) will take on the loser of Wofford/Furman in an elimination game Thursday at 9 a.m.
Samford’s Jared Watson hit a pinch-hit, two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the ninth to forge a 7-all tie as the Bulldogs completed the comeback from a 6-0 first-inning hole. In the bottom of the next inning, a pair of walks and a passed ball put runners at second and third, and Navarrete ripped a 2-1 pitch through the right side to score pinch-runner Gregory Mula with the winning run.
Navarrete’s base knock provided a stunning conclusion to a contest that saw the Bulldogs down a half-dozen runs before even coming up to bat.
Western Carolina jumped all over Samford starter Alex Ledford in the first, getting singles from its first two hitters before Jacob Hoyle’s two-run double with one out put the Catamounts on the board. WCU was far from done, getting RBI singles from Kramer Ferrell and Brett Pope before a three-run home run to left by Jason Smith made it a six-run spread.
The Bulldogs got two of those runs back in the second, taking advantage of some wildness from Western Carolina starter Bryan Sammons, who walked the bases loaded with no one out. Richard Greene got Samford on the board with a two-run single through the left side, but Sammons settled down after that, striking out the next three batters to escape further damage and leave two aboard.
Sammons went on to strike out the side in the third and the first batter of the Samford fourth to run his streak to seven straight batters punched out.
After seemingly righting the ship, Sammons lost control again in the sixth, walking the first two batters and hitting the third to load the bases before walking Damon Waller to force in a run and end his day. Danny Rodriguez greeted reliever Brendan Nail with a two-run single to make it 6-5, but Waller was out on the play trying to go from first to third, and after a fly out, Rodriguez was picked off of first as Western Carolina limited the damage and closed the book on Sammons.
The Catamounts threatened to get some of those runs back in the seventh but stranded a pair. WCU did give itself a little breathing room the following inning, as Reece Strong’s sacrifice fly scored Matthew Koehler to make it 7-5, but Samford would complete its comeback the following inning to force the decisive extra frame.
Samford closer Andres Gracia was the beneficiary of the late-inning heroics, as he improved to 3-0 on the season with a hitless inning of work. Starter Ledford took a no-decision, allowing seven runs on 10 hits and two walks in 7 1/3 innings.
Taylor Durand (0-3) took the loss, issuing two walks and an unearned run over 2/3 of an innings. Sammons turned in an interesting line on the day, allowing five runs on just one hit but eight walks. He struck out a career-high 10 in just five innings of work.
The Catamount pitching staff struck out 17 batters on the day, as Nail fanned seven in just 3 2/3 innings of relief.
Navarrete had Samford’s only two-hit day, while Greene and Rodriguez had two RBIs each.
Hoyle was 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI in his return to the lineup after missing significant time this season with injury. He last played April 10 prior to starting Wednesday’s contest. Smith finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
No. 2 seed Wofford takes on No. 6 seed Furman in Wednesday’s second game, which is currently in a weather delay. Every game of the tournament will be streamed live and free on the SoCon Digital Network with the exception of Sunday’s championship tilt, which will air on ESPN3.
May 19 (Tuesday)
SoCon Championship presented by Mountain Shore Properties (all games on SDN)
(Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park; Charleston, S.C.)
Game 1: #8 The Citadel 8, #9 ETSU 2
May 20 (Wednesday)
SoCon Championship presented by Mountain Shore Properties (all games on SDN)
(Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park; Charleston, S.C.)
Game 2: #2 Samford 8, #7 Western Carolina 7 (10 inn.)
Game 3: #3 Wofford vs. #6 Furman TBD
Game 4: #8 The Citadel vs. #1 Mercer TBD
Game 5: #4 VMI vs. #5 UNCG TBD
May 21 (Thursday)
SoCon Championship presented by Mountain Shore Properties (all games on SDN)
(Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park; Charleston, S.C.)
Game 6: #7 Western Carolina vs. Loser Game 3 9 a.m.
Game 7: Loser Game 4 vs. Loser Game 5 12:30 p.m.
Game 8: #2 Samford vs. Winner Game 3 5 or 8:30 p.m.
Game 9: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 5 or 8:30 p.m.
May 22 (Friday)
SoCon Championship presented by Mountain Shore Properties (all games on SDN)
(Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park; Charleston, S.C.)
Game 10: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 8 3 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Loser Game 9 6:30 p.m.
May 23 (Saturday)
SoCon Championship presented by Mountain Shore Properties (all games on SDN)
(Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park; Charleston, S.C.)
Game 12: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10 9 a.m.
Game 13: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 11 12:30 p.m.
Game 14: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 12^ 5 p.m.
Game 15: Winner Game 13 vs. Loser Game 13^ 8:30 p.m.
^ if necessary
May 24 (Sunday)
SoCon Championship presented by Mountain Shore Properties (ESPN3)
(Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park; Charleston, S.C.)
Championship game 2 p.m.
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