CHARLESTON, SC – In the top of the ninth, UNC Greensboro senior Greg Feltes unleashed a no out grand slam to extend the Spartan advantage over Wofford in game six of the 2008 Southern Conference Baseball Tournament. Three innings earlier, fellow senior Tim Carrier had hit a two-run shot out of the left side of Joseph P. Riley Park to record UNCG's 62nd homer of the season and set a new program record. After holding the Terriers silent in the bottom half of the ninth, UNCG took the 14-5 game six victory and will advance to game 10 scheduled for 3:30pm on Friday.
A set of singles and a walk loaded the bases for the designated hitter from Rocky River, OH to send a 1-0 count over the left center wall. With the addition of Feltes' and Carrier's homers, just two out of UNCG's Thursday afternoon lineup have not gone over the wall against the Terriers. During the regular season series, Pedro Leon, Ricky Orton, Matt Gaski, Sean Snell, and Ray Quinones all homered with the Terriers on the mound and all five came out of the April 12, 16-9 victory.
Heading into the second inning in a 1-1 tie, UNCG put up four runs to not only take the lead, but give themselves a four-run advantage. The Spartans posted another four in the sixth and a single run in the seventh while holding the Terriers to just four heading into the ninth. With Feltes' additional four runs, UNCg came away with the 14-5 win.
In just his third start of the season, sophomore Rob Gilliam (4-4) earned his fourth win. Normally used as a closer, the Chapel Hill, NC native tossed 99 pitches in his 7.0 innings of work while allowing just three runs off of six hits. Wofford starter Tom Dolinak (2-4) was tagged with the loss after giving up the initial five UNCG runs. During his 2.2 innings at the rubber, he struck out four and walked three.
The Spartan sticks were led by Greg Feltes who finished the evening 4-for-5 with four RBI, three runs scored, and the ninth inning grand slam. Tim Carrier was 1-for-3 with four RBI, a run, and a two-run home run. The Terriers were led by Michael Gilmartin who went 2-for-4 with three RBI, two runs scored, and a home run.
Senior Sean Snell was plated in the first to give UNCG the early 1-0 lead. After leading off the game with a double down the left field line, Snell was pushed to third on a single to third base by senior Matt Gaski before a sacrifice fly to centerfield by Ricky Orton brought in across the plate.
The Terriers answered back with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at 1-1. After reaching on a walk, Kyle Behrendt stole second to put himself in scoring position. A ground out pushed him over to third before a single up the middle by Shane Kirkley brought him across the plate to tie the game.
UNCG regained the lead in the second with a four-run inning. Gaski put himself in scoring position with a double off of the left field wall, Orton took his 56th walk of the season and then both were moved on a single through the left side by senior Greg Feltes. In the next at-bat, senior Tim Carrier sent a sacrifice fly to centerfield to allow Gaski to come down the third baseline and break the 1-1 tie. A pair of two-out singles and walk brought in three more to give the Spartans the 5-1 lead over the Terriers.
After being held scoreless with back-to-back three up, three down innings, Michael Gilmartin led off the fourth with a solo over the left field wall. The homer was seventh of the season, the team's 73rd. The Terriers threatened for more with bases loaded, but were kenneled as UNCG turned 4-6-3 for their 56th double play of the season to close out the inning.
UNCG padded their lead in the sixth as Carrier unleashed a two-run shot over the left field fence. With Feltes on first, Carrier recorded his fifth homer of the season and pushed the team total to 62 to set a new program record. A pair of singles by sophomore Corey Overholtzer and freshman Ray Quinones plated two more to give UNCG the 10-3 advantage. Overholtzer's hit through the left side extended his hit streak to seven straight. His longest of the season was a 10-game clip from April 25-May 7.
In the sixth, Wofford scored a run off of a left field double by Jake Williams. Williams nearly made it a triple, but was picked off with a throw from right to short to third to close out the inning. The Spartans answered back in the top of the seventh win another run scored off of a Carrier sacrifice fly.
The Terriers notched two more in the eighth with a left field home run by Michael Gilmartin, but the late push was erased as Feltes launched the team's second grand slam of the season over the left field wall to give UNCG the 14-5 victory.
In the SoCon Tournament, the Spartans now lead the Terriers are 2-1.
With the game six win, UNCG advanced to play the loser of the Elon/Georgia Southern game slated for 8pm this evening.
For more news on UNCG baseball, ticket prices, a complete season schedule, and all other Spartan athletic information log onto www.UNCGSpartans.com.
# # UNCG #
UNC Greensboro 14, Wofford 5 (May 22, 2008 at Charleston, S.C.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
UNC Greensboro...... 104 004 104 - 14 19 1
Wofford..................... 100 101 020 - 5 8 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Rob Gilliam; Warren Slack(8); James White(8).
Wofford - Tom Dolinak; Ben Austin(3); Chip Hunt(7); Michael Gilmartin(9).
HR UNCG - Greg Feltes (14); Tim Carrier (5).
HR WOF - Michael Gilmartin 2 (9).
Hunt faced 3 batters in the 9th.
