SPARTANBURG, SC UNC Greensboro rallied from a 5-0 deficit in the second game of the doubleheader to win the rubber match, 7-6, on Saturday afternoon at Russell C. King Field. The win clinched the series win for the Spartans after UNCG dropped game one of the doubleheader, 13-7.
UNCG improved to 11-18 on the season and 2-11 in the Southern Conference, while Wofford dropped to 14-15 on the year and 5-9 in league play.
Blake Hassebrock picked up the win in the second game after scattering just five hits in a season-high five innings of work. Greg Smith recorded his second save of the season after allowing no hits in a tense ninth inning.
In game two, it appeared as if the Spartans would drop the series after falling behind 5-0 in the second inning. The Terriers had back-to-back singles to lead off the inning and advanced to second and third on a sacrifice bunt. Mike McDonnell hit a two RBI single to left to give the Terriers a 2-0 lead. Wofford hit two doubles and another single in the inning to take the early 5-0 lead.
The Spartans slowly began to chip away at the Terrier lead, as they scored their first run of the evening in the third inning. Brad Raynor hit a leadoff chopper towards the third baseman for an infield single. After a pair of fly outs to center, Raynor stole second before scoring on a Brent O'Berry double to left center.
UNCG narrowed Wofford's lead to 5-4 in the fourth inning. Pedro Leon led off with a single to left and Ed Jayjack followed with a walk to put runners on first and second. Two batters later, Ray Quinones hit a double down the left field line to score Leon from second and move Jayjack to third. Raynor followed with a single to right center to make the score 5-4.
The Spartans were finally able to tie the game at 5 in the sixth inning. Quinones led off with a walk before stealing second. He would later score on Alex Frederick's double to left center.
UNCG eventually broke through in the seventh inning to take a lead it would never relinquish. The Spartans once again had a leadoff hit as Corey Overholtzer hit a single to center field. He would later steal second before moving to third on a fly out to center field. With two outs in the inning, Trevor Edwards hit a single to left field to give the Spartans a 6-5 lead.
The Spartans appeared to have added an insurance run in the top of the ninth on another Edwards RBI single, but it proved to be the winning run in the game.
The Terriers had a leadoff walk in the ninth and followed with a double to right center to put runners on first and second. That is when Smith came into the game to silence the Terrier bats. He struck out the first batter he saw before inducing a ground ball to second to get another batter out although the Terriers scored a run on the play. With the Spartans clinging to a one-run lead, Smith got the Terrier cleanup hitter to fly out to center field to seal the win for UNCG.
The Terriers got the scoring in the bottom of the first in game one. Wofford led off with a single and walk and Kyle Behrendt hit a two-run double to right center to give the Terriers a 2-0 lead.
UNCG responded in the top of the second with three runs to take the early lead. Raymond Frias led off the inning with a single to center before scoring on a Kris Richards double. With two down in the inning, Corey Overholtzer hit hit a two-run home run over the right field wall to put the Spartans ahead 3-2.
Wofford retook the lead in the bottom half of the second with two RBI singles to give the Terriers a 4-3 edge.
The Spartans tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the third when Ray Quinones scored on a Brent O'Berry sacrifice fly to center field.
Ed Jayjack hit his fourth home run of the season down the right field line to give the Spartans their first lead of the afternoon, 5-4.
The Terriers began the sixth inning by loading the bases with one down before Neil Robinette scored on a fielder's choice to knot the game at 5 heading into the seventh inning.
With two down in the top of the seventh the Spartans rallied to push two runs across. Jayjack hit a double and then moved to third on a wild pitch. Jayjack scored on a Quinones double and he moved to third on an error by the second baseman. Quinones would score later on a wild pitch to put the Spartans ahead 7-5.
The Terriers rallied in the bottom of the seventh to take a 10-7 lead. Wofford hit three single and a double and were issued three walks in the inning to score five runs.
Wofford put up three more runs in the bottom of the eighth on three singles and a double to give the Terriers a 13-7 lead.
The Spartans would score one more in the top of the ninth, but it wasn't enough as the Terriers won 13-8.
The Spartans return to the diamond on Wednesday as they host Wake Forest in a midweek battle. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
AGATE
Wofford 10, UNC Greensboro 7 (Game 1)
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UNC Greensboro.......... 031 010 201 - 8 11 2 (10-18)
Wofford....................... 220 001 53X - 13 13 2 (14-14)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro Matt Parish, Greg Smith, Warren Slack, Adam Daufeldt. Wofford Gus White, John Cornely, J.D. Osborne, Drew Sheridan.
Win- John Cornely (2-0) Loss- Greg Smith (3-5) T-3:18 A-439
HR: UNC Greensboro: Corey Overholtzer (2), Ed Jayjack (4).
UNC Greensboro 7, Wofford 6 (Game 2)
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UNC Greensboro.......... 001 301 101 - 7 13 1 (11-18)
Wofford....................... 050 000 001 - 6 12 0 (14-15)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro Alex Shelton, Blake Hassebrock, Zach Furl, Greg Smith. Wofford Bobby DeLuria, J.D. Osborne, Bobby Streisel, Anthony Rowland, Michael Gilmartin.
Win- Blake Hassebrock (1-0) Save- Greg Smith (2) Loss- Michael Gilmartin (2-1) T-2:59 A-439
- UNCG -
