GREENSBORO, NC – Jermaine Mitchell's RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted UNC Greensboro to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Wofford Friday evening at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Mitchell, a junior from Daingerfield, TX, finished the contest with a game-high three hits and has now recorded multi-hit games in his last four outings to raise his average to a blistering .387.
Wofford (19-31, 4-18 SoCon) evened the game at two runs apiece in the top of the eighth inning before Mitchell provided the clutch two-bagger a half inning later. Terrier second baseman Shane Kirkley got things started with a one-out double before taking third on a groundout on the infield one batter later. Chuck Eller delivered the game-tying blow next with an RBI single to second base. Greg Feltes made an amazing diving play to keep the ball on the infield, but was unable to throw out the speedy Eller.
UNCG (21-28, 10-12 SoCon) starting pitcher Nick Starnes and Wofford starter Austin Redwine were matched in an old fashioned pitching dual over the first half of the game as neither hurler surrendered a run in the first five innings. The Spartans finally scratched the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth as UNCG plated a pair of runs to take a 2-0 lead. Brandon Harvey opened the frame with a single to leftfield and Mitchell followed with a bunt single to put runners on first and second. Guy Welsh then advanced both runners up one base with a sacrifice bunt, before Sean Snell delivered a two-run single to right-centerfield.
The Terriers cut into the lead the next half inning, leaving the Spartans ahead by only a run at 2-1. Bradford Eaves drew a walk to start the innings and catcher Keith Munns then laced a double to rightfield, but was erased in a rundown as he tried to make it into third base.
Senior Patrick Currin (8-3) earned the win in relief after allowing just one hit while collecting three strikeouts in 1-1/3 innings of work. Currin recorded the final out in the eighth and pitched a perfect ninth that included a pair of strikeouts to seal the win for the Spartans.
Starnes picked up a no decision despite an extremely productive outing for the junior right-hander. The Haw River, NC product allowed just one run on four hits while recording four strikeouts in 6-1/3 innings of mound duty.
Redwine (5-6) suffered the loss for the visitors after surrendering three runs on seven hits while striking out five in 7-1/3 innings on the hill.
UNCG and Wofford wrap up a three-game series Saturday afternoon when the two clubs partake in a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. from UNCG Baseball Stadium.
AGATE:
UNC Greensboro 3, Wofford 2 (May 12, 2006 at Greensboro, NC)
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Wofford............. 000 000 110 - 2 6 0 (19-31, 4-18)
UNC Greensboro...... 000 002 01X - 3 7 1 (21-28, 10-12)
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Pitchers: Wofford - Austin Redwine; JD Melton(8). UNC Greensboro - Nick Starnes;
Clinton McKinney(7); Patrick Currin(8).
Win-Patrick Currin(8-3) Loss-Austin Redwine(5-6) T-2:20 A-265
- UNCG -
