Baseball 4/30/2006 8:00:00 PM UNCGSpartans.com

Snell's single powers UNCG past Furman 10-9 in SoCon baseball action

Box Score

GREENSBORO, NC Rightfielder Sean Snell's one-out single up the middle in the bottom of the 10th inning lifted UNC Greensboro to a thrilling, 10-9, come-from-behind victory Sunday afternoon at UNCG Baseball Stadium.

Jermaine Mitchell led off the 10th with a four pitch walk and Guy Welsh followed with a sacrifice bunt attempt that turned into a single as the Paladin infield was unable to retire Welsh at first. Wes McCall then reached on a fielder's choice as his sacrifice bunt attempt was taken by the pitcher and thrown into leftfield in an attempt to erase Mitchell at third, leaving the bases loaded with nobody out. After Mitchell was retired at home on a force out on the next play, Snell followed with the game-winner as the Charlotte, NC native laced a single just past the drawn in infield to score Welsh from third.

UNCG (19-26, 8-10 SoCon) led by a run after eight, but Furman scored a run in the ninth on an RBI single from catcher and league leading hitter Tony Maccani. Case Cassedy walked to start the inning and stole second base before Maccani singled to center with the game-tying run.

Furman (27-14, 13-5 SoCon) tallied the first run of the game in the top of the first on an RBI groundout by Cassedy that scored Andrew Greene who reached on a one-out fielder's choice.

The Spartans grabbed the lead in the bottom of the second on RBI singles from Adam Deleo and David Adams, but Furman tied the game at two runs apiece in the top of the fourth on an RBI single from Marcus Rose.

UNCG regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth as the Spartans scored a pair of runs to take a 4-2 lead. Greg Feltes led off with a single through the left side before Adams singled to put runners on first and second. After Feltes was erased at third on a fielder's choice by Mitchell, Welsh singled to right to load the bases before Adams scored on a pass ball with the inning's first run. McCall accounted for the second run with an RBI groundout on the infield that scored Mitchell.

The visitors answered with six runs in the top of the sixth to take an 8-4 lead as Furman took advantage of a pair of Spartan errors. Steven Hildreth produced a two-run single while Greene and Cassedy also picked up an RBI in the frame.

Adams tied the game at eight runs apiece in the bottom of the eighth when the senior smoked the first pitch he saw from Paladin closer Nick Hollstegge down the leftfield line for a two-run double. Like Furman had done in the sixth, UNCG capitalized on two Paladin errors en route to a five run inning. Brandon Harvey got things started as he reached on a one-out error on the Paladin infield. Snell followed with a single before Deleo singled to load the bases before Shane Thompson reached on a second error charged to shortstop A.J. Davidiuk, allowing Harvey to score. Feltes added an RBI with a groundout on the infield prior to Adams' tying the game with his shot to left. After two more Spartans had reached to load the bases, McCall put UNCG in front by a run as the Gastonia, NC native drew a walk to drive home the ninth run.

Senior Patrick Currin (7-2) won for the second straight day as the Chapel Hill, NC product allowed just one hit in two innings on the hill. Currin has now won his last six consecutive decisions. Clay Gibson, who made his first SoCon weekend start of the season, pitched well as he allowed five runs (three earned) on eight hits in five innings of work.

Jason Feather (0-2) suffered the loss for Furman after being touched for a run on two hits in 1/3 of an inning. UNCG was unsuccessful in handing Paladin starter Ryan Hodinka (9-0) his first loss of the season as he too earned a no decision after lasting five innings and yielding four runs on seven hits.

Adams paced the Spartans at the plate after going 3-for-5 with three RBI while Welsh and Snell also recorded three hits apiece. Deleo and Feltes chipped in with a two hits apiece while Maccani led Furman with a 3-for-5 showing.

Sunday's win over the Paladins marked the seventh consecutive three-game series the Spartans have taken from Furman since joining the league in 1998. Furman's only series win came during the 1999 season in Greenville.

AGATE:

UNC Greensboro 10, Furman 9 (Apr 30, 2006 at Greensboro, NC)

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Furman.............. 100 106 001 0 - 9 11 3 (27-14, 13-5)

UNC Greensboro...... 020 020 050 1 - 10 15 3 (19-26, 8-10)

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Pitchers: Furman - Ryan Hodinka; Will Feemster(6); Ryan Hudson(7); Patrick Arnett(7);

David Mitchell(8); Nick Hollstegge(8); Jason Feather(10). UNC Greensboro - Clay Gibson;

Jonathan Nichols(6); Patrick Currin(9).

Win-Patrick Currin(7-2) Loss-Jason Feather(0-2) T-3:28 A-280

Gibson faced 3 batters in the 6th.

Feemster faced 2 batters in the 7th.