Sunday, March 30
Davidson, N.C.
1:30 p.m.
Davidson College
16-8, 7-2
6
vs
0
Georgia Southern
20-9, 4-5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Ga. Southern
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
0
Davidson
1
0
1
2
0
0
1
1
X
6
14
1
RHP Nick Neitzel
Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
Davidson Blanks Georgia Southern to Clinch Series
3/30/2014 6:20:00 PM | Baseball
Box Score | Highlights | Buy photos at DavidsonPhotos.com
DAVIDSON, N.C. - RHP Nick Neitzel led a combined shutout and Forrest Brandt went 4-for-5, as Davidson blanked the Southern Conference's top-hitting team, Georgia Southern, 6-0, to win the final SoCon baseball series between the teams, Sunday afternoon at Wilson Field.
Winners of 13 of their last 15 games, Davidson improved to 16-8 overall, matching its best start through 24 games since achieving the same in 1987, and 7-2 in the SoCon, continuing to match its best start in league play since 2000. It was also the first three-game series victory over Georgia Southern (20-9, 4-5 SoCon) since 1999, and the first time the 'Cats had shutout the Eagles since 2006.
Neitzel (4-0) allowed just four hits and two walks with six strikeouts in six-plus innings. He never faced more than four batters in a single inning, and was relieved by RHP Matt Saeta after surrendering a leadoff double in the seventh inning. Saeta, RHP/DH Ryan Lowe, and RHP Michael Goldberg pitched an inning each to close the game out, combining to allow just two hits and a walk with five strikeouts.
It was Netizel's and Davidson's second combined shutout of the season.
Davidson's team captains led the offense, as Brandt doubled and matched his career high of four hits for the fourth time in his career, and Lowe extended his reached base streak to 27 games (dating back to last season) by going 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk.
As they had done in the previous two games of the series, Davidson jumped out to a first-inning lead. Lowe and Brandt teamed up for the first run of the game, as Lowe drew a two-out walk and advanced to second on a passed ball, and Brandt drove him in with a single through the left side.
Right fielder Lee Miller (2-for-4, BB) hit the first of two doubles on the day in the third inning to drive in Brandt for a 2-0 Davidson advantage, and then in the fourth with one on, Lowe hit a line-drive home run the opposite way, just inside the left field foul pole, for his second homer of the season and a 4-0 lead. Leftfielder Ty Middlebrooks (1-for-4) and Brandt added an RBI each in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively, for the final margin.
The Wildcats totaled 14 hits, as shortstop Sam Foy and catcher Daniel Gerow also tallied multi-hit games, both going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Gerow also caught two Eagles trying to steal second base.
Georgia Southern used six pitchers, as starting RHP Eric Alonzo (2-3) went just three innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts. First baseman Ryan Cleveland and second baseman Aaron Palmer both went 2-for-4 to account for four of the Eagles' six hits.
Davidson will conclude a 16-game homestand Tuesday, hosting regional foe Winthrop at 6 p.m. at Wilson Field.
NOTES: Georgia Southern also entered as the top home run hitting team in the nation, but was limited to just one in the series Saturday … Sam Foy recorded a hit in 17 out of 18 games in the month of March … Nick Neitzel lowered his ERA for the season to 1.91 … both teams are departing the Southern Conference at the end of the season, as Georgia Southern is moving to the Sun Belt and Davidson is moving to the Atlantic 10.
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DAVIDSON, N.C. - RHP Nick Neitzel led a combined shutout and Forrest Brandt went 4-for-5, as Davidson blanked the Southern Conference's top-hitting team, Georgia Southern, 6-0, to win the final SoCon baseball series between the teams, Sunday afternoon at Wilson Field.
Winners of 13 of their last 15 games, Davidson improved to 16-8 overall, matching its best start through 24 games since achieving the same in 1987, and 7-2 in the SoCon, continuing to match its best start in league play since 2000. It was also the first three-game series victory over Georgia Southern (20-9, 4-5 SoCon) since 1999, and the first time the 'Cats had shutout the Eagles since 2006.
Neitzel (4-0) allowed just four hits and two walks with six strikeouts in six-plus innings. He never faced more than four batters in a single inning, and was relieved by RHP Matt Saeta after surrendering a leadoff double in the seventh inning. Saeta, RHP/DH Ryan Lowe, and RHP Michael Goldberg pitched an inning each to close the game out, combining to allow just two hits and a walk with five strikeouts.
It was Netizel's and Davidson's second combined shutout of the season.
Davidson's team captains led the offense, as Brandt doubled and matched his career high of four hits for the fourth time in his career, and Lowe extended his reached base streak to 27 games (dating back to last season) by going 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk.
As they had done in the previous two games of the series, Davidson jumped out to a first-inning lead. Lowe and Brandt teamed up for the first run of the game, as Lowe drew a two-out walk and advanced to second on a passed ball, and Brandt drove him in with a single through the left side.
Right fielder Lee Miller (2-for-4, BB) hit the first of two doubles on the day in the third inning to drive in Brandt for a 2-0 Davidson advantage, and then in the fourth with one on, Lowe hit a line-drive home run the opposite way, just inside the left field foul pole, for his second homer of the season and a 4-0 lead. Leftfielder Ty Middlebrooks (1-for-4) and Brandt added an RBI each in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively, for the final margin.
The Wildcats totaled 14 hits, as shortstop Sam Foy and catcher Daniel Gerow also tallied multi-hit games, both going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Gerow also caught two Eagles trying to steal second base.
Georgia Southern used six pitchers, as starting RHP Eric Alonzo (2-3) went just three innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts. First baseman Ryan Cleveland and second baseman Aaron Palmer both went 2-for-4 to account for four of the Eagles' six hits.
Davidson will conclude a 16-game homestand Tuesday, hosting regional foe Winthrop at 6 p.m. at Wilson Field.
NOTES: Georgia Southern also entered as the top home run hitting team in the nation, but was limited to just one in the series Saturday … Sam Foy recorded a hit in 17 out of 18 games in the month of March … Nick Neitzel lowered his ERA for the season to 1.91 … both teams are departing the Southern Conference at the end of the season, as Georgia Southern is moving to the Sun Belt and Davidson is moving to the Atlantic 10.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Neitzel, Nick (4-0)
L: Eric Alonzo (2-3)
Batting:
2B: Ryan Cleveland 1
SH: Kody Adams 1
Base Running:
CS: Ben Morgan 1 ; Aaron Palmer 1
HBP: Garrett Chapman 1
Batting:
2B: Brandt, Forrest 1 ; Miller, Lee 2
HR: Lowe, Ryan 1
RBI: Lowe, Ryan 2 ; Brandt, Forrest 2 ; Miller, Lee 1 ; Middlebrooks, Ty 1
SH: Daniels, David 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pope, Andrew 1 ; Lowe, Ryan 2 ; Brandt, Forrest 1 ; Foy, Sam 1 ; Gerow, Daniel 1
SB: Foy, Sam 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
1
H
4
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
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