CNU opens with victory
Christopher Newport began the NCAA Division III Tournament’s double-elimination Winchester Regional in promising fashion Friday, defeating Immaculata of Pennsylvania 9-2.
Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year Dylan Weber yielded two first-inning runs to the Mighty Macs, but 10th-ranked CNU (32-9) dominated the rest of the game.
Jake Benedict doubled, homered, drove in four runs and scored two. Scott Crosson belted a homer. Sam Benedict joined his freshman twin, as well as Justin Bowers and Alec Reilly, in compiling two of CNU’s 13 hits.
Weber struck out six, walked three and lasted 5
innings, laboring through 113 pitches. David Gingras and Brandon Cassedy combined for shutout relief.
The other game in the regional was a big surprise. The College of New Jersey hammered regional host Shenandoah, the nation’s No. 2 team, 22-9 behind Mike LaGravenis’ four hits and four runs. The Lions had 20 hits, including three home runs.
So CNU will face TCNJ today, and that game’s winner will have two chances to advance to the tournament’s final 16.
Georgia State 4, Old Dominion 0:
Beating ODU for the second straight day, the Panthers ensured that the Monarchs would be relegated to the single-elimination “play-in” portion of the Sun Belt Tournament.
Rafael Acosta, who struck out in six innings, combined with two relievers on a shutout. Max Ryerson had two hits and two RBIs, and Matt Ruiz had two hits and scored twice.
Kyle Edwards had two of ODU’s six hits. Monarchs starter Sam Armstrong (9-3) gave up four hits and three earned runs in 2 innings, though ODU’s bullpen was highly effective.
The teams will wrap up the regular season with a game today.
Coppin State 14, State 9: Norfolk
Despite Steven Shaffer’s four RBIs and three hits, the visiting Spartans (9-41, 6-23 Northeast Conference) fell to the Eagles (20-31, 13-16).
A five-run top of the third put NSU ahead 6-4, but Coppin State replied with five in the bottom of the fifth and remained in front. The Eagles added four runs in the fifth.
Tommy Woods and Dominic Joseph added two hits apiece for NSU.
Brett Curran sparked the Eagles by batting 3 for 4, walking twice and scoring four runs.
NSU will finish its season in a noon game today against Coppin State.
Late Thursday UNC Wilmington 16, William & Mary 13:
Despite 9-1 and 11-3 leads and 3-for-3 game by Joe Delossantos that included a home run, the Tribe squandered a lead and fell to the host Seahawks before 1,100 fans in the opener of a three-game series. UNCW (29-21, 18-8) moved into first place in the
Colonial Athletic Association by virtue of its rally.
W&M (32-21, 15-13), which entered Friday leading Stony Brook by one game for the sixth and final spot in the conference tournament, didn’t lack offense. Delossantos drove in three runs and scored two, Ben Williamson was 3 for 6 with three RBIs and a run, Tank Yaghoubi was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and Luca Danos was 3 for 5 with three runs and RBI.
But after Tribe starter Nate Knowles held UNCW to two runs and three hits in four innings, the Seahawks pounded W&M’s bullpen for 13 hits in innings 5-8. Mike Weidinger, who gave up five runs and four hits while getting just one out, took the loss.
Tanner Thach’s two-run single put UNCW ahead 14-12 to cap an five-run seventh. It followed a six-run sixth.
The teams will conclude the regular season with a Saturday doubleheader.
Georgia State 5, Old Dominion 4 (10 innings):
The Panthers scored twice in the top of the ninth to extend the game at Bud Metheny Ballpark, then prevailed with a run in the 10th.
ODU’s Kyle Edwards was 3 for 4 with a home run, drove in three runs and stole three bases. Luke Waters was 2 for 4 with a run.
In the ninth, two singles, a sacrifice bunt, a groundout and Colin Hynek’s RBI single pulled Georgia State even.
In the 10th, a walk, a single, an error on a pickoff attempt and Will Mize’s RBI single dealt reliever Trent Buchanan a defeat.