March 10, 2010

Final Stats

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Despite a strong day on the mound which saw the USC Upstate baseball team's pitchers allow eight hits and three earned runs, The Citadel was able to take advantage with seven unearned runs to sneak past Upstate, 10-3, in non-conference action on Wednesday afternoon at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

The Spartans (7-7 overall) cut the Bulldogs' 4-1 lead to a run in the top of the seventh, as junior Joe Barnes (Lake Orion, Mich./Grand Rapids C.C.) singled to right field before freshman Gaither Bumgardner (Fort Lawn, S.C./Great Falls) chopped a grounder over the first baseman's head and down the right field line, caroming off the side wall and going for a triple. Bumgardner scored on a groundout.

The Bulldogs (8-3 overall) broke the game open in the eighth inning, scoring six runs on four errors and three hits, scoring their last two runs on a double down the line by Matt Simonelli.

The Citadel broke through in the first inning, thanks to two errors on one play that helped bring in leadoff batter, Nick Orvin, who singled to lead off.

Upstate tied the game in the bottom of the first, as sophomore Jeff Medley (Greensboro, N.C./Southeast Guilford) led off with a single. A sac bunt moved him to second and junior Joe Barnes (Lake Orion, Mich./Grand Rapids C.C.) drove him in with a single up the middle.

The Bulldogs took the lead in the bottom of the second inning, scoring a single run, as Justin Mackert singled, stole second and took third on an error before a fielder's choice drove him in. Freshman Scott DeCecco (Cape May Courthouse, N.J./Middle Township) controlled much of the next few innings, retiring nine of the next 10 batters, allowing just a hit by pitch.

Upstate rallied in the top of the sixth, as senior Jimmy Tanner (Fayetteville, Ga./Starr's Mill) singled to lead off. After a fielder's choice and a strikeout, freshman Trey Richardson (Lakeland, Fla./George Jenkins) took second on a balk. Sophomore Tyler Cook (Bloomington, Ill./University) singled up the middle, but a great throw from Orvin in center field was able to beat Richardson to the plate.

The Bulldogs finally got to DeCecco in the bottom of the sixth, as William Ladd led off with a single up the middle. After a sac bunt, Ladd stole third, After a walk, a fielder's choice brought in Ladd and a single by Kyle Jordan scored Bryan Altman to make it 4-1.

Barnes and Bumgardner led the Spartans with two hits, run and a RBI a piece to account for four of the Spartans' seven hits. Kyle Jordan was the lone Bulldog with two hits, going 2-for-4 with a run and RBI. Simonelli had two RBI thanks to his double.

DeCecco (0-1) pitched well in his first career start, tossing 5 2/3 innings and allowing four hits and two earned runs. He walked one and struck out two in the hard-luck loss.

T.J. Clarkson (1-0) earned the win for the Bulldogs, tossing six innings and allowing four hits, two walks and a run. He struck out five.

Upstate returns to Harley Park for a pivotal game on Friday at 6 p.m. as it opens the Atlantic Sun Conference season against FGCU. The game will feature two of the best arms in the A-Sun, as FGCU's Chris Sale, who is rated as one of the top left-handed prospects in the country will take on senior Matt Branham (Columbia, S.C./Spring Valley), who was drafted in the 47th round of the MLB draft by the Houston Astros in 2009.