Baseball 5/2/2008 8:00:00 PM UNCGSpartans.com

Martin holds off Cougars from the mound; UNCG wins, 6-3

Box Score

GREENSBORO, NC Through over seven innings on the mound, UNC Greensboro's Greg Martin held the College of Charleston to just eight hits on the evening to help hold off the Cougars for the 6-3 victory Friday night at UNCG Baseball Stadium. This was UNCG's first home victory and first conference win since the 10-9 win over Elon on April 25.

The Spartans (27-19, 12-7 SoCon) came away with the series opener after stranding nine Cougars (30-15, 13-6 SoCon) and racking up three doubles. Martin (6-2), the junion starter, gave up just one run while on the mound; he was credited with CofC's two runs scored in the eighth after coming off of the hill. Just two of the eight hits given up by Martin garnered extra bases and his pitches caused 11 of his 33 batters faced to pop up and out. Spartan reliever Rob Gilliam (2-3) earned his sixth save of the season after coming to the rubber in the ninth. Gillam now sits with fellow Spartan, senior Wes McCall on UNCG's career save list. Cougar starter Jake Goldberg (3-3) took the loss after giving up all six runs.

The Spartan bats were led by three seniors. Tim Carrrier hit 2-for-3 with two RBI and a double, Greg Feltes was 2-for-3 on the evening with a run and a double, and Matt Gaski went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. CofC's Mike Hentz led at the plate going 3-for-3 with an RBI.

Charleston came out first in the second inning. A triple down the right field line by Clay McCord in the second drove in Austin Morgan from first and gave the Cougars the 1-0 lead.

In the home half of the inning, UNCG knotted the game at 1-1. After reaching on a line drive up the middle, senior Ricky Orton was pushed to third by Carrier's double to left center. A groundout in the next at-bat allowed Orton to trail down the third base line and give the Spartans their first run of the evening.

In the bottom of the fourth, UNCG broke the 1-1 tie and took a one-run lead over the Cougars. Feltes led off with a double to right center. A groundout to second base by Orton put Feltes in position to score off of a sacrifice fly to centerfield by Carrier. The flyout was Carrier's 10th of the season; he continues to lead the nation in the category.

Three outs later, the Spartans jumped out by two more. Sophomore Corey Overholtzer led off the inning with a 1-2 single to centerfield. In the next at-bat, freshman Drew Gehringer laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Overholtzer. A throwing error by the catcher allowed him to reach safely and move Overholtzer to third. A wild pitch plated the first run before Gehringer was driven in off of a left side single by Gaski.

Holding a three-run lead, UNCG tallied two more insurance runs in inning seven. A sacrifice fly to right field allowed junior Pedro Leon to cross the plate and in the next at-bat, Carrier knocked a single through the left side of the field to bring in Gaski.

With UNCG holding the 6-1 advantage, the Cougars scored two in the top of the eighth to cut the lead to 6-3. Needing just two to tie, CofC was shut down in the ninth as UNCG took the Cougars three up, three down and walked away with the victory.

The Spartans and the Cougars are back in action tomorrow afternoon at UNCG Baseball Stadium for a 2pm game. They will follow with a 1pm first pitch on Sunday.

For news about UNCG baseball, complete season schedule, and any other information regarding Spartan athletics log onto www.UNCGSpartans.com.

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UNC Greensboro 6, College of Charleston 3 (May 02, 2008 at Greensboro, NC)