Davidson to Play Host Citadel in First Round of SoCon Tournament
5/21/2007 11:55:06 AM | Baseball
Rick Bender
CHARLESTON, S.C. — There isn't much history on Davidson's side entering the Southern Conference Tournament, which begins tomorrow afternoon. As the 10th seed in the 10-team tournament, the Wildcats (19-33, 8-19 SoCon) are not expected to advance very far. Even more troubling than their 4-22 record over the last half of the season is their record at Joe Riley Park, the site of the tournament. Davidson has lost 16 straight and 18 of 19 at the stadium since it opened in 1997 versus their first-round opponent, seventh-seeded The Citadel (30-25, 12-15). Including other tournament games, Davidson sports a dismal 2-25 mark all-time at "The Joe."
Yet there are reasons for optimism. Taking the mound for the the 'Cats is senior staff ace Rob Wilson (2-9, 5.38), a product of Myers Park in Charlotte. One of his two wins this year came against the host Bulldogs, a 6-4 triumph back on April 20. Although he has lost nine games this season, his run support has been terrible in those games at just under three runs per contest. If the bats can provide some offense for the 6-4 right-hander, Davidson could escape the play-in round to enter the double-elimination portion of the tournament.
In addition, the Wildcats are coming off perhaps their biggest victory of the year, a 6-5, 11-inning comeback triumph at top-seeded College of Charleston. The Cougars had been ranked among the top 30 in at least one of the national polls for five straight weeks before falling out just before the series. Davidson trailed by three in the ninth, but tied the game with the big hit coming on a two-run single by freshman Tommy Piacenza. Sophomore Zach Kayne drove home the winning run in the 11th, making a winner out of sophomore closer Matt Webb, who allowed just two hits over the final four innings.
Wilson doubles as Davidson's top offensive threat, ranking fifth in the league with a .383 average with 14 doubles, seven homers and 33 RBIs. Senior first baseman Alden Crissey (.333-6-41), senior outfielder Blake Osborn (.340-1-30), second baseman Kayne (.312-6-42) and shortstop Webb (.284-9-44) give the 'Cats a potent attack that averages nearly seven runs a game. But clean-up hitter Gregory Zage (.320-10-40) may or may not be available for action due to a high ankle sprain.
The Citadel is expected to throw right-hander Wes Wrenn (4-6, 5.11), the pitcher who suffered the loss against Wilson in the first meeting. In the other two games, the Bulldogs picked up 14-2 and 9-4 victories, although the latter game was tied at four entering the seventh.
At the plate, The Citadel feature a trio of sluggers in first baseman Zach Brown (.353-13-43), catcher/DH Richard Jones (.331-12-55) and outfielder Chris Swauger (.301-12-46), not to mention solid table setters in outfielder Sonny Meade (.377-5-43) and third baseman Matt Arnold (.347-5-30). Furthermore, the Bulldogs are always tough on their own turf.
The game is expected to start at 3:30, following the conclusion of the game at noon, eighth-seeded Furman versus ninth-seeded Wofford. Should the Wildcats defeat The Citadel, they would advance to play second-seeded and regular-season co-champion Western Carolina (40-16, 20-7) on Wednesday afternoon at approximately 4 p.m.
Notes: Davidson is 6-25 all-time in the SoCon Tournament with its last win coming in 2004, a 5-2 win over second-seeded Georgia Southern in the first round ... Wilson is the only Wildcat with pitching experience in the tournament, having thrown a complete-game loss last year against Appalachian State in the elimination round ... Davidson was swept at home this year by Western Carolina -- one of the losses was by one run, another by just two ... freshman Thomas Middour (5-7, 7.53) would get the starting nod should the 'Cats advance. He is the team leader in victories.
Yet there are reasons for optimism. Taking the mound for the the 'Cats is senior staff ace Rob Wilson (2-9, 5.38), a product of Myers Park in Charlotte. One of his two wins this year came against the host Bulldogs, a 6-4 triumph back on April 20. Although he has lost nine games this season, his run support has been terrible in those games at just under three runs per contest. If the bats can provide some offense for the 6-4 right-hander, Davidson could escape the play-in round to enter the double-elimination portion of the tournament.
In addition, the Wildcats are coming off perhaps their biggest victory of the year, a 6-5, 11-inning comeback triumph at top-seeded College of Charleston. The Cougars had been ranked among the top 30 in at least one of the national polls for five straight weeks before falling out just before the series. Davidson trailed by three in the ninth, but tied the game with the big hit coming on a two-run single by freshman Tommy Piacenza. Sophomore Zach Kayne drove home the winning run in the 11th, making a winner out of sophomore closer Matt Webb, who allowed just two hits over the final four innings.
Wilson doubles as Davidson's top offensive threat, ranking fifth in the league with a .383 average with 14 doubles, seven homers and 33 RBIs. Senior first baseman Alden Crissey (.333-6-41), senior outfielder Blake Osborn (.340-1-30), second baseman Kayne (.312-6-42) and shortstop Webb (.284-9-44) give the 'Cats a potent attack that averages nearly seven runs a game. But clean-up hitter Gregory Zage (.320-10-40) may or may not be available for action due to a high ankle sprain.
The Citadel is expected to throw right-hander Wes Wrenn (4-6, 5.11), the pitcher who suffered the loss against Wilson in the first meeting. In the other two games, the Bulldogs picked up 14-2 and 9-4 victories, although the latter game was tied at four entering the seventh.
At the plate, The Citadel feature a trio of sluggers in first baseman Zach Brown (.353-13-43), catcher/DH Richard Jones (.331-12-55) and outfielder Chris Swauger (.301-12-46), not to mention solid table setters in outfielder Sonny Meade (.377-5-43) and third baseman Matt Arnold (.347-5-30). Furthermore, the Bulldogs are always tough on their own turf.
The game is expected to start at 3:30, following the conclusion of the game at noon, eighth-seeded Furman versus ninth-seeded Wofford. Should the Wildcats defeat The Citadel, they would advance to play second-seeded and regular-season co-champion Western Carolina (40-16, 20-7) on Wednesday afternoon at approximately 4 p.m.
Notes: Davidson is 6-25 all-time in the SoCon Tournament with its last win coming in 2004, a 5-2 win over second-seeded Georgia Southern in the first round ... Wilson is the only Wildcat with pitching experience in the tournament, having thrown a complete-game loss last year against Appalachian State in the elimination round ... Davidson was swept at home this year by Western Carolina -- one of the losses was by one run, another by just two ... freshman Thomas Middour (5-7, 7.53) would get the starting nod should the 'Cats advance. He is the team leader in victories.
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