Sunday, April 17, 2005

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Apr. 17, 2005) - Trailing 5-1 following the top of the fourth, East Tennessee State erupted for 12 runs over the next five innings to defeat Wofford in Southern Conference baseball action Sunday afternoon from Cardinal Park in Johnson City, Tenn.

            Wofford (14-25, 4-14 SoCon) got on top early, scoring a run in the top of the first and two in the top of the second. In the first, Brandon Waring walked with the bases loaded to score Anthony DiNardo. Stephen Johnson hit an RBI single with one out in the second while Jesse Cole followed with a two-out RBI single.

            East Tennessee State (20-11, 9-9 SoCon) got on the board with a run in the bottom of the second. Freshman third baseman Anthony Russell (Waldorf, Md.) reached on a fielder's choice with two outs, scoring junior first baseman Blake Church (Roswell, Ga.) from third.

            The Terriers took their 5-1 advantage after scoring two runs in the top of the fourth. Shane Kirkley laced an RBI triple to center and Cole followed with an RBI double down the left field line.

            The Bucs roared back in the bottom of the fourth, scoring four runs to tie the game. Junior right fielder Shane Byrne (Johnson City, Tenn.), senior designated hitter Caleb Moore (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Church led off the inning with consecutive walks to load the bases. Sophomore centerfielder Stephen Douglas (Kennesaw, Ga.) then lined a two-run single to left. After junior shortstop Chuck Hargis (Powell, Tenn.) reached on an error to again load the bases, Russell hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Church. The final run of the inning was scored as Douglas stole home on the front end of a double-steal.

            ETSU took its first lead of the afternoon with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Moore hit a two-out double to left, then scored on a single to left by Church. Douglas then came to the plate and hit a triple to right-center to bring home Church.

            Wofford cut the ETSU advantage to 7-6 with a run in the top of the sixth. Cole was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Brent Pearce from third.

            East Tennessee State scored three runs in the seventh and three more in the eighth to put the game away. Church and Hargis hit RBI doubles in the seventh while Douglas drove in another run with a single. In the eighth, Moore hit a two-run double and Douglas followed with a sacrifice fly, scoring freshman catcher Bubba Herbold (Knoxville, Tenn.).

            Junior lefty Steven Calicutt (Spartanburg, S.C.) earned the win (4-5), pitching 3.2 innings of relief, allowing one earned run on four hits and striking out five. Calicutt's high school teammate, Andrew Hewitt (3-5) was charged with the loss for the Terriers after allowing seven earned runs on six hits in 4.2 innings of work.

            Moore capped a tremendous all-around game by pitching the final 3.2 innings for his eighth save of the season. He allowed just one baserunner while striking out five opposing batters.

            Church led the Bucs at the plate, going 4-for-4 with four runs scored and two RBIs. Douglas was 3-for-4 wit five RBIs while Moore was 3-for-4 with four runs scored.

            Wofford was led by Kirkley, Cole and Pearce, who each had two hits on the day. DiNardo scored three runs while Cole drove in three.

            The Bucs return to the diamond on Tuesday night at 7 p.m., as they travel to Blacksburg, Va. to face Virginia Tech. Wofford returns home to face North Carolina A&T Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m. from Spartanburg, S.C.