CULLOWHEE, NC UNC Greensboro got on the board first to take a 2-0 lead, but back-to-back five-run innings by Western Carolina propelled them into the lead and onto an eventual 17-2 victory over the Spartans Friday evening in Cullowhee, NC.
In total, the Catamounts tallied three five-run innings after going back-to-back in the third and fourth inning and then notching five again in the sixth. WCU's J.C. Lyons hit two home runs including a grand slam in the bottom of the third inning to spark the Catamount scoring rally.
The loss snaps UNCG's (17-6, 3-1 SoCon) nine-game win streak and gives them their first conference loss of the season. The Catamounts move to 9-14 overall and are now 1-3 in the SoCon after grabbing their first league win.
UNCG marked up the board first with an RBI single by catcher Adam Deleo in the second and another by first baseman Ricky Orton in the third, but that was all Western Carolina would give up before tallying 17 runs off of 22 hits.
WCU took control of the game in the third after Lyons smacked a grand slam over the left field wall. They closed out the inning with a RBI single to right center to take a 5-2 lead.
Western scored another five in the next inning off of two doubles, two singles and a balk. Two more in the fifth inning gave the Catamounts the 12-2 advantage.
Lyons went over the fence for the second time in the sixth to bring in three and another two were plated off of RBI singles to give WCU their third five-run inning of the evening and the eventual 17-2 victory.
UNCG's Greg Feltes was 2-for-3 with a walk to extend his hit streak to 12. WCU's J.C. Lyons was 4-for-6 with eight RBI, three runs, and two home runs.
Drew Saberhagen (1-3) recorded the win for the Catamounts after eight innings on the mound with six strikeouts and two walks. UNCG's Greg Martin (2-1) took his first loss after 3.1 innings on the rubber.
The Spartans and the Catamounts will meet again at Ronnie G. Childress Field in Cullowhee, NC on Saturday at 4pm and Sunday at 2pm.
For news about UNCG baseball, complete season schedule, and any other information regarding Spartan athletics log onto www.UNCGSpartans.com.
# # UNCG # #
Western Carolina 17, UNC Greensboro 2 (Mar 28, 2008 at Cullowhee, N.C.)
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UNC Greensboro...... 011 000 000 - 2 7 1 (17-6, 3-1)
Western Carolina.... 005 525 00X - 17 22 1 (9-14, 1-3)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Greg Martin; James White(4); Warren Slack(4); Clay Gibson(6); Kory Judd(6); Blake Hassebrock(8).
Western Carolina - Drew Saberhagen; Geoff Turner(9).
Win-Drew Saberhagen(1-3)
Loss-Greg Martin(2-1)
HR WCU - JC Lyons 2 (9).
