DURHAM, NC UNC Greensboro allowed six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning as the Spartans fell, 11-3, on Wednesday afternoon at Jack Coombs Field on the campus of Duke University.
Michael Ness pitched three shutout innings of relief for the Blue Devils (6-1) to pick up the win.
Corey Overholtzer led the Spartans (1-5) after going 2-3 with a double and a triple and Ray Quinones extended his hitting streak to a team-best five games.
The Spartans struck early in the top of the first inning for quick 1-0 lead. Pedro Leon and Overholtzer led off the game with a pair of walks before Ray Quinones advanced the runners to second and third on a sacrifice bunt down the third base line. Trevor Edwards was up next and slapped a single through the right side of the infield to plate both runners, but Overholtzer was called out at third after missing the base.
The Blue Devils responded in the fourth inning to take a 6-1 lead. Alex Shelton got Nate Freiman to pop up to lead the inning before Matt Williams hit a single downt he right field line. Gabriel Saade followed that up with a triple to left center to tie the game at 1. Three more hits in the inning made the score 4-1 in favor of the home side. Matt Parish came in to relieve Shelton with two outs in the inning, but Alex Hassan took his first pitch over the left field wall for a two-run home run to make the score 6-1.
The Spartans threatened in the bottom of the fifth inning thanks to a double from Overholtzer. With two outs in the inning, Leon walked before Overholtzer hit a double down the left field line to put runners on second and third, but Quinones flew out to right field to end the inning.
Duke extended their lead to 7-1 in the bottom of the fifth after Nate Freiman hit his third home run of the season that just barely cleared the left field wall.
The Blue Devils made it 10-1 in bottom of the sixth inning after Freiman hit his second home run of the game. He took a 1-1 pitch out to left center for a three-run home run.
The Spartans narrowed the Blue Devil lead to 10-3 thanks to a triple from Overholtzer. Alex Frederick led off the rally with a double to left cent and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Brent O'Berry was up next and reached first after being hit by a pitch. With two outs in the inning, Overholtzer took a pitch off the right center wall to score Frederick and O'Berry.
Duke scored one final run in the bottom of the seventh inning to make the final score 11-3.
UNCG has its SoCon opener on Friday as the Spartans being a three-game series this weekend at the College of Charleston. Friday's game is scheduled for a 6 pm first pitch.
AGATE
Duke 11, UNC Greensboro 3
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UNC Greensboro...... 100 000 200 - 3 7 0 (1-5)
Duke.......................000 613 100 - 11 13 0 (6-1)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro Rob Gilliam, Alex Shelton, Matt Parish, Blake Hassebrock, Warren Slack, Ian Phillips, Zach Furl. Duke Jonathan Foreman, Michael Ness, Ryan Knott, Ben Grisz.
Win- Michael Ness (1-0) Loss- Alex Shelton (0-1) T-2:42 A-212
HR: Duke Alex Hassan (2), Nate Freiman 2 (4).
- UNCG -
