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Western Carolina, Wofford Survive on Day One
SoCon Baseball Championship Page
Opening Round Game 2: #9 Wofford 8, #8 The Citadel 4
Emre Caglayan scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning as Wofford (24-33) toppled The Citadel (28-28), 8-4, in opening round action at the Bennett Hofford Southern Conference Baseball Championship at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park inCharleston,S.C.
With the score tied, 4-4, Caglayan opened the seventh inning with a single. He stole second, advanced to third on a single by Alex Lee and scored on a throwing error. Sterling Dye scored an unearned run to give the Terriers a 6-4 cushion.
Gilmartin put the game out of reach with a two-run home run in the top of the ninth as Wofford, the defending tournament champion, advanced to play No. 1 seed Elon at 5:00 on Wednesday.
The Citadel scored two runs in the first inning when Bryan Altman scored on a sacrifice fly by Chris McGuiness and Matt Arnold’s single to right field scored Sonny Meade.
Wofford scored two runs in the in the fourth inning when Shane Kirkley belted a home run to center field with Gilmartin aboard. The Bulldogs answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 4-2 lead.
The game was delayed on two occasions for a total of 2:26 when rain storms moved through the area.
Kirkley had three hits and two RBI and teammate Dye had three hits and an RBI for Wofford. Chris Swauger, Altman and Arnold each had two hits for The Citadel.
Opening Round Game 1: #7Western Carolina11, #10 Davidson 10 (12 inn.)
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Stephen Notaro scored the game-winning run on an error as Western Carolina (29-26) downed Davidson (12-38), 11-10, in 12 innings in the opening round of the Bennett Hofford Family of Hotels Southern Conference Championship at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park inCharleston,S.C.
The No. 7 seed Catamounts scored nine runs in the first five innings and led 9-0 after seven innings.Western Carolinascored one run in the bottom of the eighth inning after the Wildcats had plated three runs in the top of the inning to make it 10-3 entering the ninth inning.
Davidson, the tournament’s No. 10 seed, exploded for seven runs on two hits, five walks and an error to tie the game 10-10.
"I have to give all the credit to Davidson,” saidWestern Carolinacoach Bobby Moranda. “They fought back -- but this is Division I baseball with metal bats and anything can happen. You have to play all nine innings. Their backs were against the wall going into the ninth with nothing to lose."
After a scoreless 10th and 11th innings, Davidson threatened in the 12th inning with runners on second and third but could not score. In the bottom of the inning, Notaro led off with a single to left field. Following a walk to Barrett Shaft, J.C. Lyons flew out to right field. Notaro advanced to third and scored the game-winning run on an errant throw.
"That's the 'Western Way' -- never giving up, always scratching and clawing until the end,” said Moranda. “We have dealt with a lot of adversity this year, but we are going to fight until the end."
Matt Johns had four hits and three RBI to lead the Catamounts and teammates Notaro and Shaft each had three hits.Western Carolinastarter Drew Saberhagen pitched 7.1 innings scattering six hits and striking out seven. Chris Masters pitched the 12th inning to earn the win.
“It's one of the most amazing games I have ever been a part of,” said Davidson coach Dick Cooke. “We struggled with our approach at the plate early in the game, but I thought we showed great patience. And we got a Herculean effort from Matt Webb today.”
Zach Kayne had two hits and Webb and Pat Brady drove in two runs each to lead the Wildcats. Mac Hunter, who started the 12th inning for Davidson, was tagged with the loss after allowing a hit and a walk.
Western Carolina advances to take onCollegeofCharlestonon Wednesday, May 21 at 10:00 a.m.