SoCon Baseball (Week #5 - updated Saturday)

This weekend the Southern Conference moves into week number five of conference play on Friday, May 6, through Sunday, May 8, 2022. All eight teams are playing conference games after out-of-conference contests this week. Western Carolina, Wofford, and VMI picked up big midweek wins, while ETSU and the Citadel saw cancellations of their games.  

Both Western Carolina and the Citadel face big tests, as they face the two teams tied for first place in the conference, with the Cats facing the Mercer Bears in Cullowhee and the Bulldogs traveling to Spartanburg to face the Wofford Terriers. Two teams tied for third place in the conference meet in Birmingham, as the Bucs travel to face the Samford Bulldogs.  

This week's conference series are:
#1 Mercer at #5 Western Carolina
#7 VMI at #5 UNCG
#3 ETSU at #3 Samford
#8 Citadel at #1 Wofford

The current standings are:
1. Mercer (9-3)
1. Wofford (9-3)
3. ETSU (7-5)
3. Samford (7-5)
5. Western Carolina (5-7)
5. UNCG (5-7)
7. VMI (4-8)
8. Citadel (2-10)

***Friday Update***

The big news of the night is that after a weather delay, the number 5 Catamounts knocked off #1 Mercer by a 9-2 final score in Cullowhee.  The Terriers remain atop of conference play with Mercer's loss and the Wofford win at home over the #8 Citadel Bulldogs. Samford now controls the #3 spot with their win over ETSU and UNCG dominated VMI 12-1 in Greensboro. 

Friday's scores:
Mercer 2 - Western Carolina 9
VMI 1 - UNCG 12
ETSU 2 - Samford 6
Citadel 6 - Wofford 8

The current standings after Friday's games:
1. Wofford  (10-3)

2. Mercer  (9-4)
3. Samford  (8-5)

4. ETSU  (7-6)
5. Western Carolina  (6-7)
5. UNCG  (6-7)
7. VMI  (4-9)
8. Citadel  (2-11)

***Saturday Update***

Possibly playing its best baseball of the season, Western Carolina wins the series with Mercer, 15-5. Samford also picks up a series win over ETSU beating the Bucs 7-1.  The Keydets of VMI picked up a win today over UNCG for a series split with the Spartans, the final score 3-1. Wofford and the Citadel did not play on Saturday due to graduation schedules and will play a doubleheader on Sunday.  

Saturday's scores:
Mercer 5 - Western Carolina 15
VMI 3 - UNCG 1
ETSU 1 - Samford 7

The standings after Saturday's games:
1. Wofford  (10-3)

2. Mercer  (9-5)
2. Samford  (9-5)

4. Western Carolina  (7-7)

4. ETSU  (7-7)
6. UNCG  (6-8)
7. VMI  (5-9)
8. Citadel  (2-11)

***Sunday Update***

The Cats playing their best baseball this season pulled off the sweep of former #1 Mercer by a walk-off win in the eleventh inning in Cullowhee, the final score of 10-9 Catamounts. The Terriers also swept their series with the Citadel, winning a doubleheader today in Spartanburg. UNCG won their series with VMI by winning the rubber match with the Keydets today in Greensboro. Samford was going for a sweep over ETSU in Birmingham, but the Bucs pulled out a 12-8 win to spoil the Bulldog's run. 

Sunday's scores:
Mercer 9 - Western Carolina 10
VMI 3 - UNCG 7
ETSU 12 - Samford 8
Citadel 1 - Wofford 11

Citadel 6 - Wofford 8

The standings after Sunday's games:
1. Wofford  (12-3)

2. Mercer  (9-6)
2. Samford  (9-6)

4. Western Carolina  (8-7)

4. ETSU  (8-7)
6. UNCG  (7-8)
7. VMI  (5-10)
8. Citadel  (2-13)

On the Road to Greenville...