RALEIGH, NC UNC Greensboro rallied to score two runs in the top of the ninth, but potential tying run Brent O'Berry was called out at home as the Spartans fell to NC State, 4-3, on Tuesday evening at Doak Field.
Alex Sogard pitched three innings of two-hit relief for the Wolfpack (13-10) to pick up the win and Kyle Rutter escaped with his first save of the season.
UNCG starter Matt Parish picked up the loss for the Spartans (7-10) after allowing four runs in four innings of work. Freshman Zach Furl pitched great in relief, allowing just two hits in 3 2/3 innings of work.
Down 4-1 heading into the final frame, Jacob Golliday led off the inning with a single up the middle. Eric Temple came into run for Golliday and advanced to second on a Michael Wall walk. Kyle Rutter then came in to pitch for the Wolfpack and got the first batter to strike out. O'Berry followed with a walk to load the bases with only one out. Rutter got the next batter to strike out before Corey Overholtzer singled through the left side to score Temple and make the score 4-2. Ray Quinones followed with another single through the left side to score Wall from third. O'Berry was waved around third and it appeared that he might have slid under the tag at home, but the home plate umpire ruled O'Berry out to end the game.
The Wolfpack got on the board in the bottom half of the second to jump out to an early 3-0 lead. After a leadoff single by Drew Poulk, consecutive fielder's choices left runners on first and second with one down. Wade Moore followed with a double to the gap in right center to clear the bases and give NC State a 2-0 lead. During the next at-bat, Moore stole third and scored on throwing error by the catcher.
The Spartans were able to get one of those runs back in the top of the fourth to narrow the deficit to 3-1. UNCG loaded the bases thanks to two walks and a single to lead off the inning before Wolfpack starter Zak Sinclair was relieved by Alex Sogard. Sogard came in a struck out the two batters before Pedro Leon scored from third on a passed ball to make the score 3-1. Sogard struck out the final batter of the inning to end the Spartan threat.
NC State got that run back in the bottom half of the inning to retake a three-run lead. The Wolfpack strung together three singles in the first four at-bats of the inning to extend their lead to 4-1.
UNCG returns home Wednesday to face High Point in the final midweek game this week. The Spartans and the Panthers will meet at 6 p.m. at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
AGATE
NC State 4, UNC Greensboro 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------
UNC Greensboro.......000 100 002 - 3 8 3 (7-10)
NC State.................030 100 00X - 4 9 1 (13-10)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: UNC Greensboro Matt Parish, Zach Furl, Blake Hassebrock. NC State Zak Sinclair, Alex Sogard, Grant Sasser, Vance Williams, Kyle Rutter.
Win- Alex Sogard (2-2) Save Kyle Rutter (1) Loss- Matt Parish (1-1) T-3:02 A-948
- UNCG -
