GREENSBORO, NC On Sunday afternoon, UNC Greensboro defeated the Wofford Terriers, 9-6, to record their first three-game home sweep since the March 15-17 series against Princeton and their second Southern Conference sweep of the season. The Spartans began the three game series with a 3-2 victory on Friday evening and followed up with a 16-9 win on Saturday afternoon at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
UNCG trailed 6-3 after the fourth inning, but a hit batter and a two-run single by Pedro Leon knotted the game at 6-6 coming out of the seventh. UNCG took the three-run lead in the eighth following consecutive doubles by Tim Carrier and Sean Snell.
Despite allowing two Terrier home runs, the Spartans claimed the game three victory and moved to 22-12 on the season with a 8-4 conference mark. After dropping all three games in Greensboro, Wofford is now 19-16 overall with a league record of 4-8.
UNCG's first run of the game came in by way of a sacrifice fly to centerfield by shortstop Matt Gaski in the first inning. Wofford answered back by putting up four runs between the second and the third. One of those runs was a solo home run out of right field by Jake Williams.
In the home half of the third, second baseman Tim Carrier singled to the Terrier shortstop as Gaski made his way down the third baseline and put the game at 4-2.
The Terrier lineup fought back in the fourth with their third two-run inning of the game. Shane Kirkley drove a two-run shot over the left field wall to put his team up 6-2.
In the fourth, a Gaski hit towards the Wofford second baseman brought left fielder Pedro Leon in from third and cut the lead down to 6-3.
After two scoreless innings, UNCG tied the game up at six apiece. With the bases loaded, Snell was struck by a pitch to bring Gaski across the plate. The Terriers immediately made a pitching change, but it was to no avail as left fielder Pedro Leon singled up the middle and brought in both Carrier and first baseman Ricky Orton.
The blue and gold assumed the lead in the eighth after holding the Terriers to just one hit in the top half of the inning. With runners on first and second, Carrier slammed a two-run double into left field just feet from the foul line. In the next at-bat, Snell sliced his own double out to right center to bring in Carrier and put the Spartans up, 9-3.
The Spartans gave the Terriers no chance to make a comeback in the ninth as they closed out the game with a 4-6-3 double play and a Rob Gilliam strikeout.
At the plate, UNCG was led by Tim Carrier who was 3-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, and a double. Matt Gaski went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored. Wofford was led by Shane Kirkley and Jake Williams. Both were 2-for-4 with a home run.
UNCG reliever Rob Gilliam (2-3) is credited with the win after coming to the mound in the seventh inning. In his three innings of work, he allowed just two Terrier hits. Chip Hunt (2-2) took the loss for Wofford after allowing the Spartans to take the lead in the eighth.
Join the Spartans on Tuesday evening at UNCG Baseball Stadium as they take on the North Carolina Tar Heels for a 6pm non-conference game.
For news about UNCG baseball, complete season schedule, and any other information regarding Spartan athletics log onto www.UNCGSpartans.com.
# # UNCG # #
UNC Greensboro 9, Wofford 6 (Apr 13, 2008 at Greensboro, NC)
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Wofford..................... 022 200 000 - 6 12 1 (19-16, 4-8-0 SoCon)
UNC Greensboro...... 101 100 33X - 9 13 2 (22-12, 8-4-0 SoCon)
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Pitchers: Wofford - Tom Dolinak; Pete Noordsy(7); Chip Hunt(8); John Cornely(8).
UNC Greensboro - Greg Smith; Matt Bjorkstrom(4); Warren Slack(5); James White(6); Rob Gilliam(7)
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Win-Rob Gilliam(2-3)
Loss-Chip Hunt(2-2)
HR WOF - Shane Kirkley (12); Jake Williams (8).
