AUBURN, AL – UNC Greensboro fell to Auburn in game three of a three-game series as the Tigers claimed a 4-1 win and the series sweep on Sunday afternoon at Plainsman Park.
Auburn starter Evan Crawford (1-0) was credited with the win after allowing just five hits and one run in five innings of work. Crawford also struck out five batters while on the mound. Scott Shuman put in two innings to record the save. He struck out two and did not allow a hit.
Spartan starter and junior right-hander Matt Gibbs (0-1) took the loss after seeing 4-2/3 innings on the hill. The Modesto, CA native allowed three runs on three hits.
UNCG (0-3) had a chance to get on the board with the bases loaded in the fourth, but were unable capitalize. Scott Schneider reached base with a one-out single to center and junior Sean Snell followed with a single through the left side. Matt Gaski answered with another single to left field with Adam Deleo due to bat next. Deleo, however, lined into a double play to leave two runners stranded on base.
An inning later, the Spartans took the one run advantage on a RBI single from third baseman Guy Welsh. Corey Overholtzer reached first on an Auburn pass ball and then reached second and third on consecutive fielder's choices. Welsh smacked an infield single to bring Overholtzer around to score.
Auburn (6-1) quickly responded in the bottom of the fifth and took the 3-1 lead with the help of a couple of Spartan errors. Robert Brooks advanced to second on two UNCG fielding errors before Ross Smith singled to center to score Brooks. After Smith stole second and Dustin Spruill walked, Eric Skinner sent a single to center field to tack on another run. Spruill scored the Tigers' final run of the inning on a fielder's choice one batter later.
The Tigers picked up an insurance run in the bottom of the eight to take a 4-1 lead going into the ninth. With runners on second and third, leftfielder Mike Bianucci's fly out to centerfield allowed Ben Jones to come home for the run.
UNCG returns to the diamond Friday afternoon at 4 pm when the Spartans play host to Marist in the season-opener at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro...... 000 010 000 - 1 5 2
Auburn..................... 000 030 01X - 4 6 0
Pitchers: UNC Greensboro – Gibbs; McKinney (5); Gibson (6); Martin, G. (6); Judd (8)
Pitchers: Auburn – Crawford; Bristow (6); Shuman (8)
Win-Evan Crawford (1-0) Loss-Matt Gibbs (0-1)
- UNCG -
