GREENSBORO, NC Senior Patrick Currin won his fifth consecutive decision as UNC Greensboro defeated Furman 2-1 Saturday afternoon at UNCG Baseball Stadium to even a three-game series at one game apiece.
Currin (6-2), who came on in relief of UNCG starter Ryan Falcon, allowed no runs and just six scattered hits while recording four strikeouts in 4-1/3 innings of work.
Falcon, who made his 10th start of the season, was extremely effective on the hill as the Rougemount, NC native allowed just one run on four hits while collecting five punchouts in 4-2/3 innings of mound duty.
Ryan Hudson (1-1) took the loss for the Paladins after being touched for a run on a hit in 2-2/3 innings of work.
UNCG (18-26, 7-10 SoCon) grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the third inning on a sacrifice fly from second baseman Shane Thompson. Mike Mongiello led off the inning by reaching base on an error on the Paladin infield before Sam Martin was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. After Roly Gonzalez advanced both runners up one base on a sacrifice bunt, Thompson delivered with his second RBI of the season with a fly into deep centerfield.
Furman (27-13, 13-4 SoCon) tied the game a half inning later on a wild pitched charged to Falcon. Ben Terry opened the inning with a single to rightfield and A.J. Davidiuk added a single of his own to left to put a pair on. Terry then scored the equalizer when he came all the way around from second on a wild pitch that the Spartan battery could not locate.
The Spartans finally broke the tie in the seventh inning when UNCG capitalized on a Furman fielding miscue. Mongiello started the rally with a two-out single to rightfield and then stole second. Wes McCall then hit a routine grounder to Davidiuk at shortstop that was thrown five feet above Joe Daysh at first base, allowing Mongiello to score the go ahead run.
Juniors Guy Welsh and Jermaine Mitchell led the Spartans at the dish as the duo each recorded a pair of hits. Terry finished the contest with a 3-for-4 showing for the Paladins.
UNCG and Furman put the finishing touches on a three-game series when the two teams meet in the rubber match Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. from UNCG Baseball Stadium.
AGATE:
UNC Greensboro 2, Furman 1 (Apr 29, 2006 at Greensboro, NC)
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Furman.............. 000 100 000 - 1 10 2 (27-13, 13-4)
UNC Greensboro...... 001 000 10X - 2 5 2 (18-26, 7-10)
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Pitchers: Furman - Mason Smith; Ryan Hudson(6). UNC Greensboro - Ryan Falcon; Patrick Currin(5)
Win-Patrick Currin(6-2) Loss-Ryan Hudson(1-1) T-2:15 A-440
- UNCG -
