GREENSBORO, NC – After a slow start in the beginning, the Spartans erupted in the eighth with an eight-run rally to defeat Connecticut, 15-6. With the win, UNC Greensboro took a 2-0 series lead.
Like they did in game one, UNCG (4-1) was the first to light up the board in the first inning. After walking the first two batters, an error and a wild pitch by Matt McDonald of UCONN (0-5) brought in second baseman Tim Carrier. Shortstop Matt Gaski followed shortly as first baseman Ricky Orton sent a double to left field. Orton came around home off a left center single by Corey Overholtzer.
The Spartans put up one each in the next two innings before the Huskies could get a player in to score. A double to left field by catcher Adam Deleo put him in position to score UNCG's only run of the second inning. With Deleo on second, third baseman Ray Quinones dropped a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher to move him the third, and a sacrifice fly to center field by Carrier brought him in.
With an 0-1 count in the third, Overholtzer let loose a left field double to bring Greg Feltes in from first and put the Spartans up 5-0.
The Huskies put were able to put up single runs in the fourth and the fifth while keeping the Spartans quiet. The score remained 5-2 through the sixth before UCONN's Elliot Glynn hit a right field double to bring around Pierre LePage.
UNCG answered back in the bottom of the inning with two runs off an Orton single and a sacrifice fly by the left fielder Pedro Leon.
The blue and gold silenced the Huskies to top the eighth and then erupted in the bottom with eight runs to take a 15-3 lead. Four of the eight runs came from one player alone as Corey Overholtzer unleashed a ball over the right field fence for his and the team's first grand slam of the season.
Two more runs were brought around off a right center triple by Carrier and the Spartans notched one run apiece off a double by Gaski and an error by Connecticut's John Folino.
UNCG held UCONN to just three runs in the ninth to maintain the lead and take game two, 15-6.
At the plate, the Spartans were led by Overholtzer who went 4-for 5 with five RBI, a grand slam, and three singles. Orton was 3-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, and a double.
Mound starter Clay Gibson pitched through five innings with two strikeouts and just one walk. After coming into the game in the top of the sixth and holding onto the Spartan lead, freshman Greg Smith earned his first collegiate save. Connecticut's Matt McDonald (0-1) took the loss.
The Spartans will return to UNCG Baseball Stadium on Sunday afternoon for the final game of the Connecticut series. First pitch is set for 1pm.
For news about UNCG baseball, complete season schedule, and any other information regarding Spartan athletics log onto www.UNCGSpartans.com.
# # UNCG # #
Score by innings R H E
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Univ. of Connecticut 000 110 103 - 6 12 4
UNC Greensboro 311 000 28X - 15 15 0
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Pitchers: UCONN – McDonald; Folino (6)
Pitchers: UNCG – Gibson; G. Smith (6); White (9)
Win –
Loss – McDonald (0-1)
Save – Greg Smith (1)
