Conference Carolinas, SAC set tournament schedules

Pairings have been set for the Conference Carolinas and South Atlantic Conference tournaments beginning next week.

There are Sunday games remaining to finalize the Peach Belt Conference Tournament field, but Lander's walk-off win over Georgia Southwestern on Saturday assured the Bearcats they would not finish in a tie for the regular-season title, but would have it to themselves. 

Conference Carolinas

North Greenville is the top seed for the Conference Carolinas Tournament beginning Wednesday in Gastonia. Most games will be played at Caromont Health Park, with one game on Thursday, Friday and Saturday being planned for Sims Legion Park.

Erskine and Francis Marion will meet at 2 p.m. Wednesday in one of two single-elimination games to advance to the eight-team double-elimination bracket. The winner faces North Greenville in the second round.

CONFERENCE CAROLINAS TOURNAMENT

Caromont Health Park, Gastonia unless noted

Single elimination

Wednesday, May 1

Game 1: No. 8 Erskine vs. No. 9 Francis Marion, 2 p.m.

Game 2: No. 7 Belmont Abbey vs. No. 10 King, 7 p.m.

 

Double elimination
Thursday, May 2

Game 3: No. 1 North Greenville vs. Game 1 winner, 11 a.m.
Game 4: No. 4 UNC Pembroke vs. No. 5 Emmanuel, 1 p.m., Sims Legion Park, Gastonia

Game 5: No. 2 Young Harris vs. Game 2 winner, 3 p.m.
Game 6: No. 3 Mount Olive vs. No. 6 Barton, 7 p.m.

Friday, May 3

Game 7: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser,11 a.m.
Game 8: Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser, 1 p.m., Sims Legion Park
Game 9: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 3 p.m.

Game 10: Game 6 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m.
 

Saturday, May 4

Game 11: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 loser, 11 a.m.
Game 12: Game 10 loser vs. Game 7 winner, 11 a.m., Sims Legion Park.
Game 13: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 3 p.m.
Game 14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 7 p.m.
 

Sunday, May 5

Game 15: Game 14 winner vs. Game 13 loser, 1 p.m.
Game 16: Game 13 winner vs. Game 15 winner, 4 p.m.
 

Monday, May 6
Game 17: If Game 14 winner wins Game 15 winner wins Game 16, 1 p.m.
Conference Carolinas

South Atlantic Conference
A weekend sweep of Carson-Newman moved Coker into second place in the conference and a host role for one of of two four-team pods.

Regular-season champion Catawba will host Tusculum, Lincoln Memorial and Lenoir-Rhyne in a double-elimination event beginning Friday in Salisbury, N.C.

Thomas J. New Field in Hartsville also will have a three-day, double-elimination event. Coker meets Carson-Newman and Newberry plays Wingate in the first round.

The two tournament winners advance to the best-of-three conference championship series May 10-11 in Asheboro, N.C.

SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE

Catawba College, Salisbury, N.C.

Friday, May 3

Game 1: No. 5 Lincoln Memorial vs No. 4 Tusculum

Game 2: No. 8 Lenoir-Rhyne vs No. 1 Catawba

Saturday, May 4
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game winner

Sunday, May 5
Game 6: Game 5 winner vs. Game 3 winner, noon
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 3 p.m., if necessary.

Coker College, Hartsville
Friday, May 3
Game 1: No. 6 Newberry vs. No. 3 Wingate
Game 2: No. 7 Carson-Newman vs. No. 2 Coker

Saturday, May 4
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game  4 winner

Sunday, May 5
Game 6: Game 5 winner vs. Game 3 winner, noon
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 3 p.m., if necessary.

Asheboro, N.C.
May 10-11
Championship Series, best of three
Salisbury winner vs. Hartsville winner

Conference Carolinas
Like the SAC, the Peach Belt will have a pair of four-team tournaments to determine to competitors for a best-of-three tournament championship series.

Lander and Georgia College have clinched the host roles. If Georgia Southwestern wins the Sunday game at Lander, it would be the third seed. If not, Columbus State would be third seed. Flagler and North Georgia are jockeying for the fifth and sixth spots, with Augusta locked in at No. 7. The eighth spot will go to the winner of Sunday's USC Beaufort-USC Aiken game.

State schedule, Sunday, April 28

Georgia Southwestern at Lander, 1 p.m.

Rays Blue Claws at USC Sumter, DH, 1 p.m.
The Citadel at East Tennessee State, 1 p.m.

Troy at Coastal Carolina, 1 p.m.

USC Beaufort at USC Aiken, 1 p.m.

Western Carolina at Wofford, 1 p.m.

College of Charleston at Campbell, 2 p.m.

USC Upstate at Presbyterian, 2 p.m.

Kentucky at South Carolina, 3 p.m. SEC

Clemson at Louisville, 4 p.m. ESPN2

State scoreboard, Saturday, April 27

Cole Mathis' outing moved him into the team lead
in homers (11) and RBI (40). (CofC photo)

Player of the day: Cole Mathis, College of Charleston, 5-for-7, 2 HR, 7 RBI

Briefly: No. 4 Kentucky answered No. 24 South Carolina's six-run first inning with a pair of five-run innings, but needed a lunging catch by center fielder Nolan McCarthy on the warning track with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth to even the SEC series ... Louisville scored three runs in the seventh and two in the eighth to even its ACC series with No. 6 Clemson. The Tigers' lead over Florida State in the Atlantic Division dropped to one game ... College of Charleston built a 10-run lead by the midpoint of the game as it evened its Coastal Athletic Association series with Campbell and moved back into a first-place tie with UNCW ... Troy scored four runs in the first inning and five in the third as it clinched a Sun Belt Conference series win over No. 13 Coastal Carolina and dealt the Chanticleers their fourth straight loss. Coastal remained five games behind first-place Louisiana ... Koby Kropf was 5-for-5 with his 15th homer of the season and USC Upstate scored three unearned runs in the seventh to even its Big South Conference series with Presbyterian ... Gary Garrett's third hit of the game gave Lander a walk-off win over Georgia Southwestern in the 11th inning as the Bearcats officially clinched the regular-season title in the Peach Belt Conference. It was Garrett's fourth RBI of the game ... David Lewis homered in both games and North Greenville's sweep of Erskine gave the Crusaders the regular-season Conference Carolinas championship and top seed for the league tournament ... USC Union transfer Trent Turner hit a first-inning homer and Western Carolina never trailed as it evened its Southern Conference series at Wofford. Turner also singled and doubled twice ... Coker clinched second place in the South Atlantic Conference and a early-round host role in the conference tournament with a doubleheader and series sweep of Carson-Newman ... Christopher Titus doubled, stole a bases and drove in three runs as Morris won the opener against Voorhees, but Xander Casarez and David Johnson combined on a four-hit shutout as the Tigers got the nightcap ...Mac Ketchin had three hits and drove in two runs in Game 1 and a bases-loaded hit by pitch in the seventh inning of Game 2 gave Anderson a doubleheader and SAC series sweep of Virginia Wise ... A bases-loaded walk in the eighth inning gave Bob Jones the lead as it completed a two-game sweep of Mid-Atlantic Christian. It was the Bruins third straight win and school-record 11th win of the season ... Newberry scored four runs in the eighth inning to take the opener and five pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout in Game 2 as the Wolves swept a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader and series from Emory & Henry ...  Chas DeBruhl and two relievers combined to shut out No. 16 Mount Olive for the second straight day before the Trojans won the nightcap of the Conference Carolinas doubleheader ... Josh Sharp had three hits and drove in six runs as USC Aiken took Game 1, but USC Beaufort's Brandon Martin and  Brayton Wilmes combined to hold the Pacers to one run in the nightcap as the Sand Sharks kept their Peach Belt Conference Tournament hopes alive ... East Tennessee State clinched a SoCon series win over The Citadel with a doubleheader sweep ... Tusculum ended Limestone's longshot prospects for making the SAC Tournament with a pair of extra-inning wins ... UNC Pembroke wrapped up a Conference Carolinas sweep of Southern Wesleyan and spoiled the Warriors' bid for a conference tournament bid ... Columbus State completed a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader and series sweep of Claflin, extending the Panthers' losing streak to 43 games ... Savannah State completed a series sweep at Benedict.

Anderson 5, Virginia Wise 3, Game 1 - And: Corben Childers W, 3.1 IP, H, 0 R, 2 K

Anderson 3, Virginia Wise 2, Game 2 - And: Ryan Brash W, 2.2 IP

Bob Jones 11, Mid-Atlantic Christian 10 - BJU: Riley Ramsey 2B, 23B, 2 HR, 4 R, 2 RBI

Coker 8, Carson-Newman 4, Game 1 - Cok: Garrett Dunn S, 4 IP, 0 ER, 

Coker 5, Carson-Newman 2, Game 2 - Cok: Hunter Poole 2-3, 2B, BB, SB, R, RBI

College of Charleston 17, Campbell 2  - Cha: Will Baumhofer 4-6, 2B, SB, R, 2 RBI

Columbus State 11, Claflin 0, Game 1 - Cla: Michael Coit 1B, BB

Columbus State 9, Claflin 2, Game 2 - Cla: D.J. Mungenast 2-4, RBI

East Tennessee State 10, The Citadel 6, Game 1 - Cit: Wells Sykes 1B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI

East Tennessee State 9, The Citadel 2, Game 2 - Cit: Maddox Webb IP, 2 K

Francis Marion 2, Mount Olive 0, Game 1 - Fra: Alex Elliott BB, 2-run 1B
Mount Olive 11, Francis Marion 6, Game 2 - Fra: Caleb Oakley 1B, 2B, 3B, 2 R

Kentucky 15, South Carolina 13 - USC: Cole Messina 2B, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI
Lander 5, Georgia Southwestern 4, 11 innings - Lan: Joshua Sanchez W, 3 IP, 3 K

Louisville 7, Clemson 6 - Cle: Jacob Jarrell 2 HR, 3 RBI

Morris 10, Voorhees 2, Game 1 - Mor: Guillermo Morel W, CG, 4 K

Voorhees 7, Morris 0, Game 2 - Voo: Angel Morel 1B, 2B, 2 RBI

Newberry 5, Emory & Henry 1, Game 1 - New: Luke Compton 2-4, R, 2 RBI

Newberry 3, Emory & Henry 0, Game 2 - New: Donovan Ford 2-4, SB, 2 R

North Greenville 4, Erskine 3, Game 1 - Nor: Reece Fields W, 7 IP,  0 ER

North Greenville 12, Erskine 7, Game 2 - Nor: Carter Dierdorf 2B, 2 HR, BB

Savannah State 17, Benedict 1, 7 innings - Ben: Kent Johnson 1B, 2B, 2 SB

Troy 11, Coastal Carolina 4 - Coa: Dominick Carbone 3.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R,3 K

Tusculum 13, Limestone 9. 14 innings, Game 1 - Lim: Noah Love 4-7, 2B, BB, SB, R, 2 RBI

Tusculum 6, Limestone 3, 8 innings, Game 2 - Lim: Giuseppe Seidita 1B, 2B, R, RBI

UNC Pembroke 9, Southern Wesleyan 1, Game 1 - Sou: Marty Grisso 2-3, R

UNC Pembroke 20, Southern Wesleyan 4, Game 2 - Sou: Gage Shaver 2-3, R

USC Aiken 13, USC Beaufort 10, Game 1 - Aik: Luke Parker 1B, 2B, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI 

USC Beaufort 5, USC Aiken 1, Game 2 - Bea: Nikko Andre 2-4, R, RBI

USC Upstate 5, Presbyterian 3 - Up: Jake Armsey 2-3, SB, RBI

Western Carolina 7, Wofford 2 - Wof: Jack Renwick 1B, 3B

Canceled

USC Salkehatchie vs. Florence-Darlington Tech, Lexington

(31/1205)

Beyond the border

ACC: No. 10 Florida State edged No. 6 Duke, 7-6, to clinch a series win ... Notre Dame slammed No. 8 Wake Forest, 11-3 ... No. 14 Virginia shut out Boston College, 4-0 ... No. 15 North Carolina clinched a series win over Virginia Tech, 6-2 ... Georgia Tech whipped Miami, 9-4 ... No. 21 N.C. State wrapped up a series win over Ball State, 9-3 ... Pitt beat Bryant, 5-2.

SEC: No. 20 Georgia scored nine runs in the first inning of the Game 1 at Texas A&M before the Aggies responded for a 19-9 win to clinch a series win. The Bulldogs won the nightcap, 5-4, to get a split on the day. Charlie Condon homered in each game, tying and passing Gordon Beckham Jr.'s school single-season record of 28 homers and setting a school career record of 54 ... No. 2 Arkansas beat Florida, 6-5, in the opener, but the Gators snapped the Hogs' 27-game home winning streak in the nightcap, 9-5 ... No. 3 Tennessee completed a sweep of Missouri, 3-2 ...  Mississippi State trimmed No. 11 Vanderbilt, 7-4, to even their series ... No. 23 Alabama got a series win over Ole Miss, 10-3 ... LSU got a walk-off  3-2 win over Auburn to clinch the series victory.

Elsewhere: Southern Miss edged No. 17 Louisiana, 3-2, to tighten the Sun Belt Conference standings ... No. 7 East Carolina spanked Memphis, 14-3 ... Washington trimmed No. 16 Arizona, 4-3 ... No. 25 Indiana State topped Southern Illinois, 9-7 ...No. 9 Oregon State beat No. 22 Oregon State, 4-2 ... William & Mary evened its series with CAA leader UNCW, 4-1.

A look at NCAA Division II conference races

* Conference Carolinas: North Greenville and Young Harris are tied for first at 22-6. If the teams finish the season tied, North Greenville has the head-to-head tiebreaker.  Erskine (15-12) has qualified for the 10-team tournament. Francis Marion (8-20), King (7-21) and Southern Wesleyan (7-21) are vying for the final two spots.

Team	Conf.  W-L
Young Harris	22-6
North Greenville	22-6
Mount Olive	19-8
UNC Pembroke	17-11
Emmanuel	18-12
Erskine	15-12
Barton	15-13
Belmont Abbey	14-14
Francis Marion	8-20
King	7-21
Southern Wesleyan	7-21
Chowan	4-24

 

Saturday's games
North Greenville at Erskine, DH
Chowan at Barton, DH
Mount Olive at Francis Marion, DH
Southern Wesleyan at UNC Pembroke, DH

Young Harris at Belmont Abbey, DH
end of conference schedule

* Peach Belt Conference: Lander (19-6) has clinched the regular-season championship and top seed for the eight-team tournament. USC Aiken (8-16) has a one-game lead over USC Beaufort (7-17)  for the final spot. The winner of their head-to-head series qualifies for the tournament. North Georgia College had three conference games nullified. I can't find an explanation.

Team	Conf.  W-L
Lander	19-6
Georgia College	17-8
Georgia Southwestern	16-9
Columbus State	15-10
North Georgia	13-9
Flagler	14-11
Augusta	12-13
USC Aiken	8-16
USC Beaufort	7-17
Claflin	0-25

 
Saturday's games
Augusta at Flagler
Claflin at Columbus State, DH
Georgia College at North Georgia
Georgia Southwestern at Lander
USC Beaufort at USC Aiken, DH

Sunday's games
Augusta at Flagler
Georgia Southwestern at Lander
Georgia College at North Georgia
end of conference schedule

* South Atlantic Conference: Catawba (22-6) clinched the regular-season title with a win over Wingate Friday night. Coker (18-10) and Wingate (18-10) are tied for second, with Coker holding the head-to-head tiebreaker. Newberry (16-12) is in a three-way fifth, but could finish as high as a tie for second. Limestone (14-14) is in ninth, but must win its final two games and get some help. Anderson can not make the tournament.

Team	Conf. W-L
Catawba	22-6
Coker	18-10
Wingate	18-10
Lincoln Memorial	18-12
Carson-Newman	16-12
Tusculum	16-12
Newberry	16-12
Lenoir-Rhyne	15-13
Limestone	14-14
Anderson	10-18
UVA Wise	8-20
Mars Hill	6-22
Emory & Henry	6-22

Saturday's games
Coker at Carson-Newman, DH

Emory & Henry at Newberry, DH

Lenoir-Rhyne at Mars Hill, DH

Tusculum at Limestone, DH
Virginia Wise at Anderson, DH
Wingate at Catawba, DH
end of conference schedule

Live scoreboard, April 27

Visitor	Runs	Inn	Runs	Home	Time	TV/note
Coker	8	F	4	Carson-Newman	Game 1
Coker	5	F	2	Carson-Newman	Game 2
Morris	10	F	2	Voorhees	Game 1
Morris	0	F	7	Voorhees	Game 2
North Greenville	4	F	3	Erskine	Game 1
North Greenville	12	F	7	Erskine	Game 2
Tusculum	13	F/14	9	Limestone	Game 1
Tusculum	6	F/8	3	Limestone	Game 2
Mid-Atlantic Christian	10	F	11	Bob Jones
Claflin	0	F	11	Columbus State	Game 1
Claflin	2	F	9	Columbus State	Game 2
Clemson	6	F	7	Louisville
Emory & Henry	1	F	5	Newberry	Game 1
Emory & Henry	0	F	3	Newberry	Game 2
Mount Olive	0	F	2	Francis Marion	Game 1
Mount Olive	11	F	6	Francis Marion	Game 2
Savannah State	17	F/7	1	Benedict
Southern Wesleyan	1	F	9	UNC Pembroke	Game 1
Southern Wesleyan	4	F	20	UNC Pembroke	Game 2
The Citadel	6	F	10	East Tennessee State	Game 1
The Citadel	2	F	9	East Tennessee State	Game 2
USC Beaufort	10	F	13	USC Aiken	Game 1
USC Beaufort	5	F	1	USC Aiken	Game 2
Virginia Wise	3	F	5	Anderson	Game 1
Virginia Wise	2	F	3	Anderson	Game 2	walk-off
Georgia Southwestern	4	F/11	5	Lander		walk-off
Western Carolina	7	F	2	Wofford
Troy	11	F	4	Coastal Carolina
College of Charleston	17	F	2	Campbell
USC Upstate	5	F	3	Presbyterian
Kentucky	15	F	13	South Carolina