GREENSBORO, NC Senior starter Ryan Falcon struck out a career-high 12 batters in his second complete game of the season to lead UNC Greensboro to the 6-3 win over The Citadel in game one of a three-game Southern Conference series on Friday night at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Falcon (6-6) gave up just three runs on eight hits and threw a total of 152 pitches in win. The Rougemont, NC product's 12 strikeouts surpasses his previous career-high of nine set in 2005. Falcon has collected 269 K's in his career, which places him third on UNCG's career strikeout list.
Wes Wrenn (3-6) took the loss after allowing four runs on eight hits in 5-1/3 innings of work.
The Citadel (24-20, 8-11 SoCon) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the visitor half of the first. Bryan Altman led-off with a double and advanced to third on a groundout. He was brought home on a single through the left side by Sonny Meade. UNCG responded with a run in the second when Brandon Harvey grounded out to score Ricky Orton, who singled earlier.
Harvey gave the Spartans the one-run advantage in the fourth with a RBI triple. Greg Feltes reached on a two-out walk before Harvey sent his second three-bagger of the season deep to right-center, making it 2-1 in favor of UNCG.
The Bulldogs followed with a run of their own in the fifth. Matt Arnold reached on a Spartan error and advanced to second on a balk. Chance Smith laced a double to left-center to score Arnold, tying the game at two a piece.
UNCG (24-22, 10-9 SoCon) plated two runs in the sixth to take the 4-2 lead. With runners on second and third, Adam Deleo sent a RBI double down the rightfield line. Two batters later, junior Matt Gaski picked up his second hit of the night and scored Harvey from third.
The Spartans added a run in the seventh on a sacrifice bunt from Harvey to take the three-run lead. The Citadel, however, put a run on the board in the eighth when Chris Swauger sent a solo home run over the leftfield fence that cut the lead back to two, 5-3.
Senior Guy Welsh gave UNCG an insurance run in the eighth with a RBI single up the middle, 6-3 Spartans. Falcon retired the Bulldogs' final three batters to earn the win.
Harvey finished 2-for-3 with three RBI to lead the Spartan offense. Tim Carrier had a game-high three hits, while Orton and Gaski recorded two hits each.
The two teams return to the field on Saturday for game two beginning at 6 pm.
AGATE
Score by Innings R H E
-------------------------------------------
The Citadel......... 100 010 010 - 3 8 1
UNC Greensboro...... 010 102 110 - 6 13 1
-------------------------------------------
Pitchers: UNCG Falcon
Pitchers: Citadel Wrenn; J. Smith (6); Sprowls (8)
Win Ryan Falcon (6-6) Loss Wes Wrenn (3-6)
- UNCG -
For complete coverage of UNCG athletics, log on at UNCGSpartans.com
