GREENSBORO, NC UNC Greensboro scored at least one run in the final four innings as the Spartans defeated The Citadel, 8-3, on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at the UNCG Baseball Park. Sunday's game that was originally scheduled for 1 p.m. has been moved up an hour to 12 p.m. due to the threat of rain in Greensboro on Sunday.
UNCG reliever Rob Gilliam picked up his third win of the season for the Spartans (13-19, 3-12 SoCon) after giving up just two hits and one unearned run in 3 1/3 innings of relief. Senior Pedro Leon went 3-4 with three RBI and a run scored to lead the Spartans at the plate.
The Citadel starter Asher Wojciechowski was credited with just hit second loss of the season after giving up six runs (three earned) in 6 1/3 innings for the Bulldogs (22-15, 10-7 SoCon).
After neither team was able to produce a run in the first four innings, the Spartans took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Raymond Frias led off with a walk before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kris Richards. After a Spartan strike out, Corey Overholtzer hit a double down the left field line to score Frias and put UNCG on the board. Leon followed with a single through the left side that narrowly missed Overholtzer to give the Spartans a 2-0 lead.
The Bulldogs answered with two runs of their own in the top half of the sixth inning to tie the game at 2. Nick Orvin had a leadoff single before Richard Jones hit a towering shot over the right field wall to make the score 2-2.
UNCG responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the sixth after Michael Wall led off the inning with a bunt for a single. Wall scored later in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Richards to give the Spartans a 3-2 lead.
The Citadel was able to tie the game again in the top of the seventh on an unearned run. With one down in the inning, Sid Fallaw hit a single up the middle and Kyle Jordan followed with a double to left field. Fallaw would then score on a passed ball before Gilliam was able to retire the final two batters in the inning to end the threat.
The Spartans took the lead for good in the bottom of the seventh thanks to some sloppy defense by the Bulldogs. Overholtzer led off with a single and advanced to third after a throwing error by the first baseman allowed Leon to reach second on a sacrifice bunt. Trevor Edwards' ground out to second base allowed Overholtzer to score to put the Spartans ahead 4-3. Ray Quinones followed with a double to left center to score Leon from third. Quinones would score later in the inning when it appeared Drew Gehringer had been picked off first for the final out of the inning. As Gehringer was in a run down, Quinones broke home and was able to slide behind the tag to give UNCG a 6-3 lead.
UNCG would add two more in the eighth inning when Leon hit a two RBI double to center field to score Overholtzer and Richards.
The Spartans and the Bulldogs will meet on Sunday for the final game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro 8, The Citadel 3
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The Citadel.............. 000 002 100 - 3 9 4 (22-15)
UNC Greensboro......000 021 32X - 8 9 0 (13-19)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro Greg Smith, Rob Gilliam. The Citadel Asher Wojciechowski, Raymond Copenhaver, Zach Garrett.
Win- Rob Gilliam (3-3) Loss- Asher Wojciechowski (2-2) T-2:55 A-419
HR: The Citadel: Richard Jones (11)
- UNCG -
