GREENSBORO, NC – UNC Greensboro starter Greg Smith pitched six no-hit innings as the Spartans defeated Albany, 7-3, on Saturday afternoon at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Smith struck out four for the Spartans (6-9) before having to leave the game after the sixth inning due to a high pitch count. Pedro Leon also had a great day for UNCG as he went 2-4 at the plate with three RBI and a run scored.
Albany starter Zach Kraham only lasted three innings for the Great Danes (2-12) before leaving after allowing six runs.
UNCG was able to get on the board in the first inning to jump out to an early lead. Corey Overholtzer singled up the middle and then moved to second on a stolen base. With two down in the inning, Trevor Edwards doubled off the wall in left center to score Overholtzer and put the Spartans up 1-0 after the first inning.
The Spartans broke the game open with five runs in the bottom of the third. Ray Quinones led off the inning with a solo blast over the left field wall for his first home run of the season. After the next two batters popped out, Raymond Frias then reached on an infield single and moved to second after Michael Wall singled up the middle. Eric Temple walked to load the bases and Brent O'Berry was able to score Frias from third on a fielding error by the first baseman. Leon came up with the bases still loaded and it looked like he had hit a grand slam, but the ball hit off the top of the wall in left center and he had to settle for a bases clearing double.
UNCG would sit on that 6-0 lead as Smith kept on cruising through the innings. After the final out in the sixth inning, Smith had thrown 100 pitches and had the leave the game with a no-hitter.
Albany jumped on the Spartan relievers immediately as Brendan Rowland hit a triple off the outfield wall and would later score on a Sean Donovan single to center field to make the score 6-1.
UNCG would get that run back as Leon hit his second double of the afternoon with one down in the inning. He would score two batters later on a Quinones single up the middle.
The Great Danes would get two final runs in the top of the ninth to narrow the final score to 7-3.
UNCG returns to the diamond on Sunday afternoon as the Spartans go for the sweep against Albany. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro 7, Albany 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Albany…………...…...000 000 102 - 3 2 1 (2-12)
UNC Greensboro.......105 000 01X - 7 11 1 (6-9)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: UNC Greensboro – Greg Smith, Matt Parish, Zach Furl, Warren Slack. Albany – Zach Kraham, Ryan White, Alexander Beaulieu, Chris Hackett.
Win- Greg Smith (2-2) Loss- Zach Kraham (0-1) T-2:42 A-251
HR: UNC Greensboro – Ray Quinones (1).
- UNCG -
