GREENSBORO, NC – Princeton scored five runs in the first three innings and didn't look back as the Tigers took the 7-4 victory over UNC Greensboro on Monday evening in the final game of the three-game series at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Princeton's starting pitcher Brad Gemberling earned his first win of the season after allowing two runs on three hits in five innings of work.
Ryan Falcon (1-4) took the loss for the Spartan's after allowing three runs on four hits in two innings on the mound. Five other Spartans saw time on the hill in relief.
Princeton (2-7) jumped out 3-0 in the top of the second on back-to-back homeruns. Spencer Lucian sent a two-run homer over the left-centerfield wall after Sal Iacono singled earlier. Designated hitter Eric Zaziski followed suit with a solo roundtripper over leftfield.
The Tigers added another two runs in the third to take the 5-0 lead. Greg Van Horn opened the inning with a triple to right and scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly. Aaron Prince walked and reached third on a fielder's choice before Lucian picked up his third RBI of the game on a single to centerfield.
UNCG (9-9) pushed across two runs in the bottom of the third to cut the Tigers lead, 5-2. With the bases loaded, Gemberling walked senior Guy Welsh, allowing Sean Snell to score. Junior Matt Gaski scored the second run of the inning when he came around to score on an error by the Princeton infield.
The Spartans tacked on a run in the seventh after Gaski scored on another Tiger error. Princeton responded, however, in the eighth when catcher Jack Murphy laced a solo homerun to open the inning, giving the Tigers the 6-3 lead.
Van Horn scored on an Iacono fielder's choice in the ninth to give Princeton the 7-3 advantage. UNCG earned a run in the bottom of the inning off a balk by Langford Stuber but were unable to get any closer as the Tigers went on to take the 7-4 win.
Junior Greg Feltes finished the game going 3-for-3, while Gaski had two hits and scored two runs for the Spartans. Lucian ended the evening with two hits and three RBI for the Tigers.
UNCG returns to the diamond on Tuesday when the Spartans host Cornell at 6 pm from UNCG Baseball Stadium.
AGATE
Score by Innings R H E
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Princeton........... 032 000 011 - 7 13 2
UNCG................ 002 000 101 - 4 7 0
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Pitchers: UNCG – Falcon; Martin, G. (3); McCall (3); McKinney (5); Judd (6); Gibson (8)
Pitchers: Princeton – Gemberling; Stuber (6)
Win-Brad Gemberling (1-0) Loss-Ryan Falcon (1-4)
- UNCG -