Baseball 3/11/2008 8:00:00 PM UNCGSpartans.com

Spartans fall just short of No. 24 Clemson, 11-10

Box Score

CLEMSON, SC In their first meeting on the diamond, the UNC Greensboro baseball team fell just short of the 24th-ranked Clemson Tigers, 11-10 at the Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, SC. Trailing 11-0 heading into the seventh inning, the Spartans tabbed a six and a four-run rally to cut the Tiger victory down to one.

The Spartans (8-4) were held to just a single in the first inning before Clemson (8-4, 1-2 ACC) got off to an early lead with a three-run shot over the centerfield fence by Ben Paulsen.

After another scoreless top, UNCG freshman right-hander Warren Slack took the Tigers three-up, three-down from the mound. In the second inning of his first collegiate start, he caught his first batter looking, his sent his second to the dugout swinging, and fanned the third.

Clemson added single runs in the bottom of the third and the fourth, and two more to close out the fifth. A grand slam in the bottom of the sixth by Mike Freeman gave them an 11-0 lead.

UNCG marked up the board for the first time against Clemson in the top of the seventh. Catcher Adam Deleo was brought in from second off a right center single by second baseman Tim Carrier.

After walking shortstop Matt Gaski, the Tigers made their second hill change of the evening. In his first pitch of the game, Clemson's Trent Rothin pegged designated hitter Greg Feltes to bring third baseman Ray Quinones home. UNCG was gifted another run with a bases loaded walk to first baseman Ricky Orton.

Right fielder Sean Snell slapped a sacrifice fly to right field to bring Gaski across the plate, a Rothlin wild pitch scored Feltes, and a left center double by third baseman Pedro Leon brought in Orton.

UNCG closed out the seventh inning with their sixth double play of the season and freshman right-hander Blake Hassebrock's first collegiate strikeout.

With the score 11-6 heading into the ninth, the grey and navy faced off with former teammate Clinton McKinney on the mound. Feltes got things started with a single up the middle. Two wild pitches later, he was on third, and in scoring position for a single through the right side by Orton.

With bases loaded up once again, a ground out by pinch hitter Brent O'Berry cut the lead down to three. A sacrifice fly to left field by Deleo and a single up the middle by Quinones brought the game within on run. With a runner on first, the Spartans had a chance to tie or take the lead, but Clemson was able to hold off the batter and take the 11-10, game one victory.

The UNCG sticks were led by Ricky Orton and Greg Feltes. Orton was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Feltes went 2-for-4 with two runs and 1 RBI. Going 1-for-4 on the evening, Adam Deleo extended his hit streak to 10 games. Clemson's Mike Freeman was 3-for-4 with five RBI and two runs.

Tiger starting pitcher Graham Stoneburner (2-0) earned the game win after a three-inning shutout. Matt Vaughn earned his fifth save of the season. Starting pitcher Warren Slack (0-1) took the loss for UNCG. In his two innings on the hill he tallied four strikeouts three in one inning.

The Spartans and the Tigers will meet tomorrow night for another 4pm game at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Once returning to Greensboro, UNCG will host Princeton for a three-game series. First pitch is set for 1pm on Saturday, 1pm Sunday, and 6pm Monday.