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Spartans hand Crusaders sixth loss in a row
GREENSBORO, NC – Well-placed hits, careful eyes, and smart pitches by the UNC Greensboro baseball team kept them in the lead and gave them the eventual 11-4 victory over the Valparaiso Crusaders on Thursday evening at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
With a 6-0 lead going into the fourth inning, UNCG (6-2) held Valparaiso (2-7) to just four runs and handed them not only their sixth-consecutive loss, but their third loss in three days. Each of the last three losses has come at the hands of a North Carolinian opponent.
First baseman Ricky Orton got the UNCG scoring drive started with a left center double off the top of the fence to bring in Greg Feltes and shortstop Matt Gaski. After advancing to third on the throw, Orton was brought in by the next batter.
With two outs in the second and a runner on third, Feltes sent a highball over the leftfield fence to put the Spartans up by five. After scoring one more in inning three, UNCG went into the fourth with a 6-0 lead over Valparaiso.
A leftfield double and a sacrifice fly to right field brought the Crusaders within four, but a two-run fifth inning from the Spartans put them right back at a six run advantage.
Down 8-2, the Crusaders brought in two more in the eighth off a single and a walk.
Trying to find an arm that could shut UNCG down, the Valparaiso mound was changed three times in inning eight. Despite the pitch-and-switch, the Spartans brought in three more to take an 11-4 lead. Two runs were walked in and the final came in off a fielder’s choice.
UNCG shutdown the Crusader lineup for the seventh time in the ninth to win 11-4.
The Spartan bats were led by Ricky Orton and Drew Gehringer. Orton was 3-for-4 with two runs, two doubles, and two RBI. Gehringer went 3-for-5 with three RBI and one run.
Between the two teams, a season high 12 pitchers took to the mound. Valpo tested seven arms while the Spartans called upon five. In his first start for the Spartans, freshman Greg Smith (1-0) earned his first collegiate win. He manned the mound for 4.0 innings and struck out a game high five batters. After giving up six runs and five hits in just two innings, Valpo’s Alex Berry (0-3) was handed the loss.
The Spartans were scheduled to kickoff a three-game home series against Ohio with a 6pm game on Friday, March 7. With the threat of inclement weather, the game has been moved to the following day. Rather than play a single game on Saturday, the two teams will now play a doubleheader beginning at 1pm at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
For news about UNCG baseball, complete season schedule, and any other information regarding Spartan athletics log onto www.UNCGSpartans.com.
# # UNCG # #
UNC Greensboro 11, Valparaiso 4 (Mar 06, 2008 at Greensboro,
NC)
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Valparaiso.......... 000 200 020 - 4 10
1 (2-7)
UNC Greensboro...... 321 020 030 - 11 13
1 (6-2)
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Pitchers: Valparaiso - Berry; Godawa(3); Clites(5); Johnson(7);
Bracco(8); Paulus(8); Stucky(8). UNC Greensboro – G. Smith;
Judd(5); McCall(5); Bjorkstrom(7); Gilliam(8).
Win-Greg Smith (1-0) Loss-Alex Berry (0-3)
