CHARLESTON, SC – The Citadel starting pitcher Wes Wrenn pitched a complete game in just his second Southern Conference start of his career as UNC Greensboro dropped a 7-2 decision to the Bulldogs Friday evening at Riley Park.
Wrenn (2-2) allowed two runs in the first inning but settled in from there and surrendered just six hits over the final eight innings to secure the win for the homestanding Bulldogs. He finished the contest allowing just the two runs on nine hits while striking out six in nine innings on the hill.
Nick Starnes (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season after giving up six runs on seven hits while striking out four in three plus innings of work.
The Spartans (10-17, 1-3 SoCon) pushed across the first two runs of the game in the top of the first on RBI singles from Jermaine Mitchell and Wes McCall. Greg Feltes led off the frame with a single into leftfield and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Brandon Harvey. After Feltes moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch, Mitchell laced a single through the right side to give UNCG a 1-0 lead. Mitchell then stole second and advanced to third on a groundout to first base before McCall singled up the middle for the second run.
The Citadel (14-12, 2-2 SoCon) plated two runs in the bottom of the second to tie the game at two runs apiece on a two-out RBI single from Tripp Cappelman. Sonny Meade opened the inning with a single through the left side and advanced to second on a pass ball before moving to third on a single to right from Matt Matulia. UNCG starting hurler Nick Starnes retired the next two hitters on strikeouts, but was unable to set down Cappelman as he hit a bleeder just inside the rightfield line.
The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the home half of the third and picked up a run on a balk charged to Starnes. Meade followed with a single to rightfield to score both runners to put The Citadel out in front 5-2. The Bulldogs tacked on another run in the following inning on Matt Covington's RBI single to rightfield to give The Citadel a 6-2 advantage.
Cappelman collected his third RBI of the game and put the Bulldogs in front by five runs at 7-2 in the sixth inning when he crushed his first home run of the season over the leftfield wall.
Greg Feltes led the Spartans at the plate after going 3-for-4 in his primary leadoff position. McCall and Mitchell each collected two hits and an RBI.
The two teams continue a three-game series with game two scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. from Riley Park.
AGATE:
The Citadel 7, UNCG 2 (Mar 31, 2006 at Charleston, S.C.)
UNCG................ 200 000 000 - 2 9 0 (10-17, 1-3 SoCon)
The Citadel......... 023 101 00X - 7 11 2 (14-12, 2-2 SoCon)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Nick Starnes; Jonathan Nichols(4); Clinton McKinney(7); Clark Erskine(8).
The Citadel - Wrenn.
Win-Wrenn(2-2) Loss-Nick Starnes(2-1) T-2:32 A-795
HR CIT - Cappelmann (1).
Game notes:
Starnes faced 1 batter in the 4th.
- UNCG -
