GREENSBORO, NC – Kent State pounded out 14 hits and exploded for five runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a two run lead en route to a 9-6 win over UNC Greensboro to even the series at one game apiece Saturday afternoon at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
The first six hitters of the seventh inning reached base, beginning with Todd Balduf who reached base on a wild pitch on a swinging third strike. Chris Tremblay and Emmanuel Burris each recorded back-to-back singles to load the bases before Joe Tucker drove home Balduf with a base knock to center. Drew Saylor plated two more with the third single to left of the inning before Kurt Eichorn added another single to score another runner and Andrew Davis produced the final run of the frame with a sac fly to right.
UNCG (4-11) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a two out RBI double from shortstop David Adams. Guy Welsh and Logan Smith each reached base with singles to put runners on the corners before Adams smoked a two-bagger to centerfield.
Greg Feltes put the Spartans out in front 3-0 after two when the Rocky River, OH native cranked a solo home run to leftfield for his first roundtripper of the season. The Golden Flashes knotted the game at three runs apiece in the top of the fourth with RBI's from Saylor, Eichorn and Davis.
The Spartans regained the lead in the home half of the fifth when Welsh drove home Feltes with a single to center while collecting his team-leading 12th RBI of the season. UNCG struck for two more runs in the sixth to take a 6-3 lead heading into the seventh inning. Adam Deleo laced a double to left field and later scored on a wild pitch for the inning's first run. Jermaine Mitchell extended his hitting streak to nine games when he drove home Clinton McKinney with a triple off the left centerfield wall.
Reid Lamport (1-0) earned his first victory of the season after allowing two runs on three hits in three innings of relief work. Ryan Davis picked up his second save of the season after pitching around a one out hit and walk to end the game.
Wes McCall (0-3) suffered the loss after surrendering five runs on five hits in one inning of work. UNCG starter Ryan Falcon pitched into the third inning, allowing three runs on two hits.
Mitchell finished the day going 3-for-5 to lead UNCG at the plate while Welsh added a pair of hits for his eighth mulit-hit game of the season.
The two teams wrap up a three-game series with the rubber game Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. from UNCG Baseball Stadium.
AGATE:
Kent State 9, UNC Greensboro 6 (Mar 11, 2006 at Greensboro, NC)
Kent State.......... 000 300 510 - 9 14 3 (6-5)
UNC Greensboro...... 210 012 000 - 6 10 0 (4-11)
Pitchers: Kent State - Ross; Lamport(6); R. Davis(9). UNC Greensboro - Ryan Falcon;
Greg Martin(4); Wes McCall(6); Patrick Currin(7); Greg Matson(8); Brandon Harvey(9).
Win-Lamport(1-0) Save-R. Davis(2) Loss-Wes McCall(0-3) T-4:06 A-328
HR UNCG - Greg Feltes.
Martin, G. faced 1 batter in the 6th.
McCall faced 5 batters in the 7th.
- UNCG -
