GAINESVILLE, FL – The UNC Greensboro pitching staff allowed just five hits, but the offense managed only one run as the Spartans fell 2-1 to 16th-ranked Florida Tuesday evening at McKethan Stadium.
Florida, which improved to 10-6 overall, scored an unearned run in the third inning and answered UNCG's sixth inning run with one of their own to claim a one run victory.
Gator starting pitcher Chas Spottswood (1-0) earned the win in his first career start after allowing one run on three hits in six innings on the hill. Josh Edmondson came on in the ninth and erased a one out error with a double play to end the game and earn his first save of his career.
Patrick Currin (1-2) suffered the loss despite one of his best outings of the season. The Chapel Hill, NC native allowed just the one run on two hits in three innings of mound duty. UNCG starting pitcher Jonathan Nichols allowed just one hit in two innings of work.
The Gators picked up a run in the bottom of the third to take a 1-0 lead on an RBI from first baseman Austin Pride. Chris Woods led off the inning by reaching base on an error on the Spartan infield and Adam Davis followed with a single to left to put runners on first and second. After Stephen Barton moved both runners up one base with a sacrifice bunt, UNCG intentionally walked Brian Leclerc, the Gators' leading hitter with a .321 batting average, to load the bases and set up the double play. Pride, however, was uncooperative as he drove home the run with a dribbler to shortstop, leaving David Adams with only one play.
Guy Welsh collected his team-leading 10th RBI and tied the game at one run apiece in the process when he drove home Greg Feltes in the top of the sixth inning. Feltes led off the frame with a double off the rightfield wall and advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Jermaine Mitchell before Welsh grounded out to shortstop.
Brandon McArthur provided the Gators with a huge two-out RBI in the home half of the sixth to give UF a 2-1 lead. Currin nearly pitched around a lead off double by Brian Jeroloman to leave the game knotted at one. After the two-bagger, Currin snared a comeback line drive off the bat of Gavin Dickey for the first our before retiring Matt Gaski on a line drive to leftfield. McArthur then connected on a 3-1 pitch in the hole off the glove of UNCG shortstop David Adams, allowing Jeroloman to score from second with the go ahead run.
Feltes led the Spartans at the plate going 2-for-4 while Mitchell and Matson collected UNCG's other two hits.
The Spartans and Gators continue their two-game series Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. from McKethan Stadium. The game marks the final of 14 consecutive games away from UNCG Baseball Stadium.
AGATE:
Florida 2, UNC Greensboro 1 (Mar 07, 2006 at Gainesville, Fla.)
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UNC Greensboro...... 000 001 000 - 1 4 1 (3-9)
Florida............. 001 001 00X - 2 5 1 (10-6)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Jonathan Nichols; Greg Martin(3); Patrick Currin(6). Florida -
Spottswood; Hurst(7); Edmondson(9).
Win-Spottswood(1-0) Save-Edmondson(1) Loss-Patrick Currin(1-2) T-2:19 A-3007
- UNCG -
