Baseball 5/18/2007 8:00:00 PM UNCGSpartans.com

UNCG drops 10-8 thriller to Appalachian State

Box Score

GREENSBORO, NC Wes Hobson's two-run home run in the ninth inning lifted Appalachian State to a 10-8 victory over UNC Greensboro in game two of a three-game Southern Conference series on Friday evening at UNCG Baseball Stadium.

With the game tied at eight a piece in the ninth and a runner on first, Hobson sent his second home run of the season over the rightfield fence to give the Mountaineers the two-run advantage. UNCG, however, would not go down without a fight. Tim Carrier and Matt Gaski recorded back-to-back one out singles and both advanced on a groundout by Guy Welsh. Ricky Orton followed with a walk, but Appalachian State reliever Garrett Sherrill struck out the final UNCG batter to secure the win.

UNCG (28-27, 14-12 SoCon) took an early two-run advantage in the bottom of the second. The Spartans recorded three straight two-out walks to load the bases for Corey Overholtzer. The freshman laced a single to centerfield to score Sean Snell and Brandon Harvey, giving UNCG the 2-0 lead.

Hobson gave ASU (31-24, 13-13 SoCon) its first run of the game in the third on a RBI double to left. The Mountaineers took the lead in the fourth when David Towarnicky sent a two RBI triple deep to left-center. Tom Prosser followed with a groundout that scored Towarnicky, 4-2 ASU.

Welsh cut the Mountaineer lead to one in the same inning with a two-out RBI infield single. ASU quickly responded with two runs in the fifth and took a 6-3 lead. With the bases loaded and two outs, Prosser reached on an infield single to score Isaac Harrow and Chris Baker drew a walk to plate Jerod Faggart for the three-run advantage.

The Spartans picked up a run in the fifth when a hit to center by Adam Deleo score Feltes, who singled to lead-off the inning. The Mountaineers had a chance to build their lead in the sixth with the bases loaded and no outs. After giving up a walk that loaded the bases, senior Nick Starnes struck out three straight to get out of the jam.

UNCG scored two runs in the sixth to tie the game at six apiece. Gaski reached on a walk and Welsh advanced on an ASU error before Orton sent his 16th two-bagger of the season to right-center, scoring both runners. Hobson, however, put the Mountaineers back on top with a RBI fielder's choice in the seventh and scored ASU's eighth run of the night on a Spartan error, 8-6 Mountaineers.

The Spartans answered with two runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game at eight runs apiece. Gaski singled and Orton walked before Snell laced a two-out double down the leftfield line.

Sherrill (9-5) was credited the win after pitching two innings of relief and allowing two runs on four hits.

Starnes (5-5) took the loss after giving up four runs on four hits in four innings on the mound.

Carrier and Gaski each finished 3-for-5 to lead the Spartans from the plate. Snell went 1-for-2 with two RBI and three walks.

The two teams finish the three-game series on Sunday afternoon at 1 pm. UNCG will honor its six seniors prior to the game.

AGATE

Score by Innings R H E

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Appalachian State... 001 320 202 - 10 16 1

UNC Greensboro...... 020 112 020 - 8 12 2

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Pitchers: UNCG Gibbs; Judd (5); Starnes (6)

Pitchers: ASU Edens; Mills (6); Sherrill (8)