GREENSBORO, NC UNC Greensboro rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to score five runs in three innings and avenge an earlier loss this season as the Spartans defeated NC State, 5-3, on Tuesday night at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. Less than a month ago, UNCG dropped a 4-3 heartbreaker to the Wolfpack when the game-tying run for the Spartans was thrown out at the plate to end the game.
Freshman Zach Furl picked up his first win of the season for the Spartans (15-19) after pitching 3 1/3 innings of no-hit relief. Sophomore Ray Quinones went 2-4 at the plate, including his 11th double of the season to lead all batters.
NC State starter Joey Cutler allowed five runs in five innings for the Wolfpack (19-22) to pick up his fourth loss of the season.
Despite having to wait through an hour and 37 minute rain delay, NC State wasted no time in jumping out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. After the first two batters were retired, Pratt Maynard singled up the middle before moving to second on Drew Poulk's walk. Pat Ferguson followed with a double down the left field line to score Maynard and Poulk.
The Spartans were finally able to break through in the third inning as they narrow the Wolfpack lead to 2-1. Brad Raynor led off the inning with as single up the middle and Raymond Frias followed with a walk. The two runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch and Raynor later scored on a foul out to the left fielder.
UNCG was finally able to take the lead it would never relinquish in the fourth inning. Pedro Leon walked to lead off the inning and scored when Quinones hit a double down the right field line. Drew Gehringer then walked and Quinones and Gehringer moved to second and third on a fly out to deep right field. Raynor followed with a ground ball to shortstop Dallas Poulk who overthrew the first baseman. That allowed Raynor to move to second and Gehringer and Quinones to score to put the Spartans ahead 4-2.
The Spartans stretched their lead to 5-2 in the fifth inning when Corey Overholtzer hit a single to center field and scored later in the inning on Quinones' RBI single off the tip of the first baseman's glove.
NC State was able to narrow UNCG's lead to 5-3 in the sixth inning when Kyle Wilson scored on Chris Schaeffer's RBI single through the left side, but the Wolfpack would only register two hits the rest of the evening.
The Spartans return to the diamond on Friday as they travel to Davidson for a three-game SoCon series. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro 5, NC State 3
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NC State.................. 200 001 000 - 3 5 1 (19-22)
UNC Greensboro...... 001 310 00X - 5 6 0 (15-19)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro Blake Hassebrock, Zach Furl, Warren Slack, Greg Smith, Rob Gilliam. NC State Joey Cutler, Kyle Rutter, Grant Sasser, Jake Buchanan.
Win- Zach Furl (1-0) Save- Rob Gilliam (3) Loss- Joey Cutler (0-4) T-3:07 A-443
- UNCG -
