UNCG baseball completes sweep of Cornell with 7-2 victory

GREENSBORO, NC – UNC Greensboro starting pitcher Nick Starnes picked up his first win of the season as the UNCG Spartans completed a two-game series sweep with a 7-2 win over Cornell at UNCG Baseball Stadium on Wednesday night.

Starnes (1-0), making just his fifth appearance this season, allowed two runs on four hits in six innings pitched. The Haw River, NC native walked three and had seven strikeouts on the evening.

Joel Johnson led the Spartans at the plate by going 3-for-4 with a team-leading three RBI. Scott Schneider also had a big game for UNCG (11-9) going 3-for-2 from the plate with three runs scored. Sean Snell also tallied two runs in the victory.

Wes McCall allowed no runs on no hits in 2.0 innings pitched in relief. He walked two and had three strikeouts. Greg Martin also saw time on the mound. He faced three batters and had one strikeout.

Cornell (5-7) got on the board first after a scoreless first inning from both teams. Jimmy Heinz got things started with a double through centerfield and came around the bases on an RBI single from Kyle Groth to give the Big Red the early 1-0 advantage.

UNCG responded with a run in the bottom of the inning. Cornell pitcher Tony Bertucci walked Scott Schneider, who advanced to second on a stolen base. Schneider was plated with an RBI single from Joel Johnson to tie the game at 1-1 heading into the third inning.

Cornell extended their lead to 2-1 in the third inning with a run scored by Domenic Di Ricco. Di Riccio, who reached on a fielder’s choice, came home on a RBI single from Nathan Ford.

UNCG jumped out to a 4-2 with a big fourth inning. Schneider started the inning with a single through left field and advanced to second with his second stolen base of the evening. Cornell walked Sean Snell giving the Spartans two runners on base. Logan Smith hit an RBI double which sent both runners home. The Spartans tallied one more run with a RBI double from Corey Overholtzer which plated Smith.

UNCG added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Greg Feltes hit a leadoff single followed by back-to-back singles from Schneider and Snell. Cornell pitcher Adam Loeding, who entered the ballgame in the fourth inning, walked Smith, which advanced both of the base runners and loaded the bases. Johnson hit and RBI single which brought home Schneider and Snell and put UNCG ahead, 6-2.

The Spartans tallied their final run in the sixth inning when Feltes, who hit a double in UNCG’s second at bat, rounded the bases on an RBI single from Greg Welsh.

Tony Bertucci suffered the loss for the Big Red. He allowed four runs on six hits in 3.1 innings pitched. In his first start of the season he walked two and had three strikeouts.

The Spartans are next in action Friday March 23 when they head to Davidson, NC for their Southern Conference opener against Davidson. First pitch is scheduled for 7 pm.

AGATE 

Line Score
Cornell University           011 000 000  -  2  4  0      (5-7)
UNCG                           010 321 00X  -  7 13  1      (11-9) 

Pitchers: Cornell University - Bertucci; Loeding(4); Meier(5); Heinz(8). UNCG - Nick Starnes;
Wes McCall(7); Greg Martin(9).Win-Nick Starnes(1-0)  Loss-Bertucci(0-1)  T-2:45  A-293

E-Welsh DP-Cornell 2;UNCG 1 LOB-Cornell 6; UNCG 9. 2B- Hutchinson; Heinz; Feltes; Smith; Overholtzer. HBP- Carrier. SB- Di Riccio; Gaski; Schneider 2. CS-Ford, Carrrier.