Sizzlin'
* College of Charleston (3-1 last week, 12-8 overall) - East Carolina's results haven't lived up to preseason expectations, but a 2-1 series win by the Cougars coming on the heels of a win over Texas made for a good week at Patriots Point. Quality starts by Daniel Brooks and Connor Campbell went a long way in setting up the two wins over the Pirates. J.T. Marr (.395) has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games, even though a 4-for-14 week dropped his season average below .400. Sam Cochrane (.295) was a blistering 9-for-14 last week. Up next in the CAA: Northeastern visits in the Colonial Athletic Association opener.
* Florence-Darlington Tech (5-0, 26-7) - The Stingers have started a red-hot 8-0 in NJCAA Region 10 and have won 17 straight overall. Tech hit .370 as a team last week with 15 doubles and 11 home runs. Tre Williams (.324) was 7-for-15 with a pair of homers and 12 RBI last week, while Jackson Hoshour (.305) was 8-for-17 and drove in eight. Pitchers allowed 22 hits and struck out 37 in 33 innings. Austin Windham (6-0, 2.48) has allowed one earned run in 19 innings in his last three starts. Nathan Williams (4-1, 3.34) has allowed one earned run and struck out 34 in 17 innings in his last three starts. Up next in Region 10: at USC Sumter in a matchup of the top 2 teams in the Palmetto State Baseball NJCAA rankings.
* Lander (4-0, 13-12) - The Bearcats have been a little streaky this season, so the current four-game winning streak has pushed them back over .500. A midweek win over former Peach Belt Conference rival Francis Marion was followed by three lopsided conference wins at a struggling Claflin program. Lander hit .344 last week, and drew 31 walks and eight hit batsmen at Claflin. Connor Droze (.395) has earned more playing time recently and has hit three homers during an eight-game hitting streak. Vincent DeRubeis (.356) had a 15-game hitting streak snapped at Claflin on Saturday, but has he hit in 17 of his last 18 games. Bennett Sloper (3-2, 3.24) had his longest outing of the season over the weekend, going six innings. Up next in the Peach Belt: at home against Georgia Southwestern.
* Newberry (2-1, 24-4) - After dropping Game 1 because of a late Tusculum rally on Friday, a two-run rally in the 11th inning of Game 1 of Saturday's South Atlantic Conference doubleheader kept the Wolves from losing the series. They needed three runs in the eighth to tie, then answered the Pioneers' run in the top of the 11th with a two-spot and a walk-off win at the Smith Road Complex. Braylin Marine (.416) drove in seven runs on Saturday and has 47 RBI in 28 games. He has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games and 24 of the Wolves' 28 games this season. Up next in the SAC: at home against Queens.
* North Greenville (4-0, 22-5) - Playing a rare Sunday game because of weather didn't negatively impact the Crusaders. In fact, they smacked seven home runs in a second straight rout of Southern Wesleyan after escaping with a 3-2 win in the series opener. NGU has hit 43 homers in 27 games and has a .328 batting average. Jordan Holladay (.301, 9 homers, 24 RBI) hit three homers last week and is one of four regulars averaging an RBI or more per game. Tristen Hudson (2-0, 3 saves) has yet to allow a run in 20 innings over 11 appearances. Hudson and Reece Fields (5-1, 3.72, 53 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings,) combined to strike out 14 in a seven-inning no-hitter on Saturday. Up next in Conference Carolinas: at home against Mount Olive.
* Spartanburg Methodist (5-1, 16-11) - The Pioneers, along with USC Sumter, appear to be the two main challengers to NJCAA Region 10 frontrunner Florence-Darlington Tech. After needing two runs in the 10th to win the series opener at USC Salkehatchie, SMC's offense roughed up the Indians' pitching staff in the final three games. Pep Jordan drove in nine runs in Sunday's twinbill. Dariyan Pendergrass (.452) has an eight-game hitting streak and was 13-for-24 in six games last week. But the pitching was brilliant all weekend. The Pioneers allowed 11 hits and three earned runs in 28 innings while striking out 48. Graham Edwards (4-1, 2.25 ERA,, 50 strikeouts in 40 innings), Myles Daniels (4-1, 2.29, 51/39 1/3) and B.J. Bailey (2-1, 3.20, 43/25 1/3) have been outstanding most of the season. Up next in Region 10: at USC Lancaster.
* The Citadel (3-1, 13-6) - A 3-0 first-inning lead against Texas soon wilted into an 18-4 loss, but the Bulldogs feasted on St. Peter's over the weekend. Citadel batters hit .320. Regulars Travis Lott (.345), Cole Simpson (.333), Ryan McCarthy (.313, 25 RBI) and Dylan Costa (.303) are hitting above .300. Pitchers allowed 18 hits and had a 1.67 staff ERA while striking out 25. Leading the way was Devin Beckley with a shutout. The Citadel has passed its 2021 wins total. Up next: There's a Tuesday home game with South Carolina, but SoCon play doesn't begin until April 8.
* USC Beaufort (3-1, 15-16) - A Sun Conference series sweep of Florida Memorial got the Sand Sharks their first league wins of the season and pulled them within a game of .500 for the first time since the first week of February. Leandy Castro (.408) missed a midweek loss to Middle Georgia, but has a 12-game hitting and is 18-for-37 in that span. Brock Thibodeaux had 6 hits and 7 RBI against Florida Memorial. Up next in the Sun Conference: at St. Thomas.
* USC Sumter (4-0, 18-6) - The Fire Ants opened Region 10 play with two wins and are on a six-game winning streak. Xavier Cumbee (.458) was 11-for-14 with 5 RBI and 6 stolen bases last week. He has hit safely in his last 10 games. Jackson Price (.420) has scored 36 runs in 24 games. Tyler Martin (6-0, 1 save, 2.20) has allowed one run over 15 innings in winning his last three starts. Up next in Region 10: at home against first-place Florence-Darlington Tech.
* USC Upstate (4-0, 14-5) - Three one-run games resulted in a Big South Conference series sweep at Presbyterian. Cameron MacIntosh (.303) delivered the winning run in the first and third games. The Spartans hit a pedestrian .241 in the series, but came from behind to win three times. Kevin Davis (3.29) has saves in his last three outings. Up next in the Big South: at Radford
* Voorhees (1-0, 7-10) - Granted, Voorhees plays most of its games against out-of-state teams. But Tuesday's 6-2 win over Columbia International was noteworthy for coach Norman O'Neal's Tigers. Voorhees had not defeated an in-state team other than Claflin or Morris since a 6-2 win over Benedict in March 2008. Up next: at home against Edward Waters.
* Wofford (4-1, 13-8) - The Terriers have won seven of eight and 10 nine of 11 to move a season-high five games over .500. Pitching has been a big factor. Opponents have scored more than two runs just just twice in the last seven games, and one of those games was when the Terriers scored 14 runs in the Belmont series opener on Friday. Matthew Marchal has been used judiciously, going just 26 1/3 innings in seven appearances (six starts). But he has a 2.05 ERA and has struck out 38 in 26 1/3 innings. Dalton Rhadans (3-1, 2.55, 2 saves) has been a workhorse, appearing in 12 of 21 games. John Dempsey had a seven-game hitting streak snapped in the finale at Belmont. He was 17-for-25 during his streak with four homers and nine RBI. Up next: A Tuesday trip over the USC Upstate is followed by a split location series with Gardner-Webb. SoCon play doesn't begin until April 8.
Shiverin'
* Anderson (1-4 last week, 15-9 overall) - The Trojans have lost of their last five and eight of their last 10. Playing three series against first-division teams in the South Atlantic Conference hasn't helped matters. Carlos Hernandez (.322) went 7-for-17 last week and hit three of his four home runs this season over a six-day span. Nick Vella (.425) had hit safely in 12 straight games before going hitless in the series finale at Lenoir-Rhyne. Up next in the SAC: at Mars Hill.
* Benedict (0-2, 2-18) - Base stealer extraordinaire Bradon O'Connor (.466, 42-for-45 steals) returned to the lineup after missing the previous weekend, but the Tigers continued to struggle with a freshman-dominated team. They surrendered 56 runs in a two-game SIAC series with Kentucky State. Up next in the SIAC: at Miles.
* Bob Jones (0-5, 2-16) - The Bruins pitching staff showed some encouraging signs March 11, allowing four runs in each end of a doubleheader split with Covenant. But last week was a reversion to previous form. Opponents racked up 83 runs in five games. For the season, BJU is allowing more than 11 runs per game. On the positive side, Conley Burk has a five-game hitting streak. Up next: The Bruins begin the second half of a 10-game road streak at Maryville, followed by a trip over to Toccoa Falls for the weekend.
* Claflin (0-3, 1-11) - The Panthers are winless since a win over Voorhees to open the season. With a 13.72 staff ERA and control issues (30 walks in 21 innings against Lander, such struggles are easily explained, It didn't help that leading hitter Steve Joyner (.533) got just one at-bat in the Lander series and missed Sunday's doubleheader, although he wouldn't have made enough of a difference. Joyner had hit safely in Claflin's first nine games. Up next in the Peach Belt: Augusta.
* Columbia International (1-3, 11-22) - The Rams have had the bad fortune of playing a bunch of Appalachian Athletic Conference opponents who are ranked nationally in NAIA. Ward Hacklen (.364) was showing signs of being a steady producer before he suffered a dislocated finger earlier against this month. He's missed the last six games after going 13-for-23 in the previous seven games. Justin Parish (2-4, 3.69) had one of his best starts of the season in the weekend win at Bluefield, allowing one earned run in eight innings. Up next in the AAC: at Montreat.
* Erskine (1-2, 14-13) - The Flying Fleet got 32 hits in three games at Francis Marion, but returned to Due West with a 1-2 worksheet. Closer Johnny Hummel pitched three shutout innings to get the lone win. He hasn't allowed a run in 18 2/3 innings over 11 appearances and has a 32-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Kane Fisher (.360) was 4-for-10 last week while Cal Bocchino (.327) was 6-for-12). Up next in Conference Carolinas: King.
* Limestone (0-4, 3-27) - Perhaps the most encouraging thing that can be said on behalf of the Saints is that the season is in its final half. After an 0-10 start, Limestone went 3-3 but has lost its last 14. Brandon Billesberger (.357) went 7-for-16 last week and is on a 12-game hitting streak to put his batting average at a season high. Up next in the South Atlantic Conference: Wingate.
* Presbyterian (0-4, 8-12) - The Blue Hose were unable to hold on to the lead in each game in suffering three one-run losses to USC Upstate to start Big South Conference play. Jack Gorman (.339) was 7-for-11 against Upstate. Kyle Decker (.239) hit safely in each game, giving him a season-high three-game streak. The starting pitching was reasonably good, but eight of the 16 runs surrendered came over the final four innings of the games. Up next in Big South: at Campbell.
* South Carolina (1-3, 10-9) - Whatever positive vibes acquired in a series win over Texas earlier this month were swamped by a Big Orange flood of home runs and outstanding pitching at Tennessee. Vols pitchers struck out 30, and allowed 11 hits in winning the three-game series. Tennessee outhomered the Gamecocks 10-2 and added eight doubles among their 27 hits for the weekend. Carolina's starting pitching was reasonably good on Friday and Sunday, but the games got out of hands once the visiting bullpen door was opened. The opposite was true on Saturday, when Cade Austin pitched 3 1/3 shutout innings in relief. Matthew Becker had a second straight good start, striking out seven in five innings. The only hits he has allowed in 11 innings as a starter have been three solo homers. Going in to the weekend on a 16-game hitting streak, Michael Braswell looked like a freshman, going 0-for-10 with six strikeouts. Up next in the SEC: A Thursday-Saturday home series with Vanderbilt, one of three SEC teams ranked No. 1 in one or more polls this week.
* USC Aiken (1-3, 10-15) - The Pacers' bats went silent in the final two games against George College. They were 6-for-45 in the two shutout losses. Even throw in Game 1 and Aiken hit just .175 for the series. That was coming off 18 runs on 24 hits in a midweek rout of Coker. Go figure. Jackson Hannon (.304) was the only Pacer to hit safely in each game. He has an 18-game hitting streak. Up next in the Peach Belt: at Flagler.
* USC Lancaster (0-2, 7-12) - It was the Lancers' bye weekend from Region 10, but they became the latest DI victims of Division II Gaston College, which numbers 5 Region 10 Division 1 victories in its 23-1 record. Lancaster got 24 hits in the two games but were outscored 32-10. Jannuel Wispi (.346) was 6-for-9 with a homer and four RBI on the weekend. Derek Rogers (.215), hitting .175 going in to the weekend, was 4-for-8 against Gaston. Up next in Region 10: Spartanburg Methodist
* USC Salkehatchie (0-6, 3-26) - Heston Thompson gave the beleaguered Indians pitching staff its best start in more than a month in the series-opener against Spartanburg Methodist. He allowed six hits and struck out nine in nine innings. But the Pioneers won the game in the 10th, then hammered the Salkehatchie staff in the final three games. Up next: The Indians have the Region 10 bye and play at Central Alabama this weekend.
Simmmerin'
* Charleston Southern (2-2 last week, 10-12 overall) - The Buccaneers have played 18 of their last 19 games at home after opening on the road at Ole Miss. Winning the final two games of the Radford series allowed CSU to even its home mark 9-9 as it prepares for five straight on the road. A four-run ninth inning left Southern one run short in Game 1, then it pounded the Highlanders in Game 2 while getting an outstanding start from Jerry Couch. Some late heroics on Sunday brought home the Big South series win. The Bucs scored four runs in the eighth, then Dylan Stewart's infield single brought home the winner in the 10th. Hayden Harris (.311) went 11-for-16 last week and has a six-game hitting streak. Up next in the Big South: at UNC Asheville.
* Clemson (1-3, 15-4) - A 1-3 week rightfully should earn Shiverin' status, but how can a Shiverin' team hit five home runs and score 20 runs in one game? The Tigers ran into a pair of hot Miami pitchers the first two ACC games, but were on top of their offensive game on Sunday. Tyler Corbitt (.329) hit his first two homers of the season and Benjamin Blackwell (.339) drove in five runs. Cooper Ingle (.397) hit safely in all four games last week even though he failed to add to his team-leading 19 RBI. Max Wagner (.368) caught Ingle for the RBI lead with four RBI on Sunday. While Mack Anglin (3-1, 3.75) struggled on Friday, Nick Hoffman (3-1, 3.51) pitched well on Saturday and Nick Clayton (0-1, 5.12) had one of his better outings on Sunday: Up next in the ACC: at Pitt, after midweek home games with Coastal Carolina and Winthrop.
* Coker (2-2, 9-19) - The Cobras got a nice series win at Carson-Newman to move back over .500 in the SAC standings. They scored the game's final seven runs for a 12-7 win in Game 1 on Saturday. The host Eagles returned the favor with a late rally in Game 2. Shut out until the ninth inning on Sunday, Coker scored a run in on Kody Hanna's RBI double and got a run-scoring single from Bryan Castillo in the 11th for the eventual winner. Hanna (.303) was 8-for-12 at Carson-Newman and has seven-game hitting streak. Reilly Hall tripled his season homer total with a pair of blasts in the Game 1 win. Up next in the SAC: Tusculum.
So-So
* Coastal Carolina (1-1-1 last week, 11-7-1 overall) - The Chanticleers fell behind early in Game 1 of the Sun Belt Conference series and suffered their first loss to Louisiana Monroe. After a comfortable win in Game 2, Coastal fell 5-0 after a half-inning in the finale. Runs continued to come frequently. Coastal went up 12-10 after four innings, but fell behind 17-12 entering the bottom of the seventh. The Chants scored four in the seventh and tied the score in the eighth. By then the game was almost four hours long (it started at 11 a.m.) and it had to be halted as a tie so ULM make its plane connection. Matt McDermott (.339) was 3-for-4 and drove in four runs in the finale. Nick Lucky (.324) has a 10-game hitting streak and Eric Brown (.308) was 5-for-10 over the last two games. Reid Van Scoter (3-1, 3.07) allowed the Warhawks one earned run over 5 2/3 innings, Up next in the Sun Belt: at Texas State after a Tuesday visit to Clemson.
* Francis Marion (2-2, 15-10) - The Patriots hit .343 as a team in its Conference Carolinas home series with Erskine, but that was good only for a 2-1 series mark. Todd Mattox (.384) was 6-for-13 against the Flying Fleet and has a six-game hitting streak. Leniel Gonzalez (.378) is on a four-game streak. Darius Nobles hit his team-leading ninth homer in the finale. Up next in Conference Carolinas: Mount Olive.
* Morris (0-0, 0-9) - The Hornets are scheduled to end a hiatus of more than two weeks with five games this week.
* Southern Wesleyan (2-3, 6-19) - The Warriors won their first two games of the week were competitive with North Greenville in the opener of their series. Then, the wheels came off. Even when the Warriors hit three homers in a game, the Crusaders hit seven. One highlight was Jacob Standridge's five-inning relief outing in Game 1. Even though he allowed the winning run, he allowed four hits and struck out five in his stint. He has allowed one run and struck seven in 9 1/3 innings over his last two appearances. Up next in Conference Carolinas: at Chowan.
* USC Union (2-2, 13-9) - Rain washed out the first day of its Region 10 home series with USC Sumter, then the Fire Ants swept the Sunday twinbill. Game 1 was 5-3, and the Bantams had the potential tying run in scoring position as the game ended. Control troubles drove ace Trevor Linaman from the game as he walked four in the first inning. Union never got much going in Game 2. Usual offensive leaders Trent Turner (.379), Antonio Gleaton (.358), Jak Everett (.314) and Burton Hahn (.309) were a combined 5-for-22 on the weekend. Up next in Region 10: Louisburg.
* Winthrop (1-2, 5-13) - Five errors on Sunday contributed the Eagles' missing a chance for a series win. Tyler Jones allowed one earned run over 7 1/3 innings, but he left trailing 6-5 because of errors - two of his own. Down 8-5 entering the bottom of the ninth, Winthrop tied the score and had the potential winning run on third when the inning ended. The Dukes got the win with two runs in the 11th. Garrett Gainey (2-0, 4.25) was sharp in the opening shutout win, scattering three hits and striking out seven as he pitched into the eighth. The Eagles' top hitters were silent in Game 2, when JMU pitching allowed just two hits. Up next in the Big South: at High Point in the Eagles' league opener.
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