HIGH POINT, NC Corey Overholtzer hit a two-out triple off the top of the wall in right center to score two runs in the top of the 12th to propel the Spartans to a 9-7 win over High Point in 12 innings on Wednesday night at Williard Stadium. It was the first extra-inning win for the Spartans this season.
UNCG reliever Rob Gilliam recorded his fourth win of the season for the Spartans (16-23) after silencing the Panther bats. Gilliam pitched the final six innings of the game, allowing just one hit and striking out six. Gilliam also received the start at first base for his first start in the field in his career.
High Point reliever Jeremy Berg picked up just his second loss of the season after giving up two runs in the final four innings for the Panthers (17-25).
The Spartans wasted no time in taking the lead after scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. Brent O'Berry led off the game with a chopper up the middle for a single. Overholtzer walked to move O'Berry to second before a Spartan strike out. Pedro Leon then hit a potential inning-ending double play towards the shortstop, but the ball hit the leg of the second base umpire to give Leon an automatic single. O'Berry then scored on a wild pitch and Overholtzer scored to make it 2-0 on a ground out by Drew Gehringer.
UNCG took advantage of Yevoli's early control issues to extend its lead to 3-0 in the third inning. Overholtzer led off the inning with a walk before advancing to second on a single through the left side by Ray Quinones. Pedro Leon walked to load the bases before Overholtzer scored on a double play.
The Spartans tacked on two more runs in the top of the fourth when the first four batters in the inning reached base safely. Brad Raynor led off the inning with a single through the right side and Raymond Frias followed with a walk. Kris Richards loaded the bases when he reached first on his sacrifice bunt attempt. O'Berry then hit a bloop single down the left field line to score Raynor and Frias and put the Spartans ahead, 5-0.
The Panthers erupted for four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull within 5-4. Eric Marion led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on Pablo Rosario's single up the middle. Marion moved over to third when Jeff Cowan grounded into a double play. After Alfie Wheeler walked, Bill Manion hit an RBI single to centerfield to put High Point on the board, 5-1. Billy Alvino followed by taking a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left center to make the score 5-4.
The Spartans responded in the top of the sixth with a run to extend their lead to 6-4. Frias singled to right field to lead off the inning and scored later in the inning when O'Berry reached base on a fielding error by the Panther shortstop.
The Panthers rallied for three runs in the bottom half of the sixth to take their first lead of the game, 7-6. With one down, Spencer Andrews hit a single and Marion followed with a line drive home run over the right field wall to tie the game at 6. Wheeler hit a RBI single later in the inning to knock in Rosario who hit a double earlier in the inning.
Down by one and just six outs remaining, Richards tied the game at 7 after taking the first pitch of the eighth inning out to left field for his second home run of the season.
After not being able to knock in runners in scoring position in the 10th and 11th innings, the Spartans finally broke through in the top of the 12th inning. Joey Frabasile led off the inning with a single to the shortstop before he moved to second on Richards' walk two batters later. Frabasile was thrown out at third when O'Berry reached on a fielder's choice. With two outs, Overholtzer drove a ball that appeared to be heading out, but hit the top of the wall in right center and bounced back into play. Richards and O'Berry scored on the play to give the Spartans a 9-7 lead.
Gilliam came back out and continued to cruise as he got the final batter of the game to strike out swinging.
The Spartans return home this weekend as UNCG hosts Western Carolina to kick off a three-game series. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday evening at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro 9, High Point 7
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UNC Greensboro...... 201 201 010 002 - 9 15 4 (15-23)
High Point............... 000 043 000 000 - 7 11 1 (17-24)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro Warren Slack, Blake Hassebrock, Zach Furl, Greg Smith, Rob Gilliam. High Point Al Yevoli, Corey Swickle, Zach Scott, Jeremy Berg.
Win- Rob Gilliam (4-4) Loss- Jeremy Berg (3-2) T-3:46 A-421
HR: UNC Greensboro: Kris Richards (2); High Point: Billy Alvino (2), Eric Marion (2)
- UNCG -
