GREENVILLE, NC UNC Greensboro tied a season-high with 18 hits as the Spartans took the second game of the series over Furman in commanding fashion, 14-4, on Friday evening at Latham Stadium to force a rubber game on Saturday afternoon.
Alex Shelton picked up the win for the Spartans (19-29, 6-21 SoCon) after allowing only three run in 5 2/3 innings of work. Bradley Raynor was an offensive juggernaut as he went 3-3 with four RBI and three runs scored to lead UNCG at the plate.
Jay Friedman was credited with the loss for the Paladins (22-28, 10-19 SoCon) after giving up six runs in just 2 2/3 innings.
After a 21 minute delay due to rain, the Paladins wasted little time in jumping out to an early 3-0 lead. Marcus Rose led off the bottom of the first with a single to left field and after stealing a base he scored on Connor Lind's RBI single through the left side. Brian Harrison followed with a triple to deep centerfield to score Lind. Harrison later scored on a sacrifice fly to put Furman ahead, 3-0.
That was all the Paladins would be able to score on the evening as Shelton didn't allow another run over his final 4 2/3 innings of work.
The Spartans responded with a pair of runs in the second inning to cut Furman's lead to 3-2. With one out, Rob Gilliam singled through the left side and Raymond Frias followed with a double down the left field line. Raynor walked to load the bases and Gilliam scored when Kris Richards hit into a fielder's choice. Frias scored later in the inning when Drew Gehringer hit another double down the left field line.
Pedro Leon knotted the game at 3 when he led off the top of the third inning with a blast over the wall in left center. Ray Quinones and Gilliam then delivered a pair of singles before Raynor hit another shot over the left center wall to put UNCG ahead for good, 6-3.
The Spartans tacked on one more run in the fifth inning when Rob Gilliam reached on a fielding error. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Frias before moving to third on a single by Raynor. Richards then delivered a single to centerfield to score Gilliam and give UNCG a 7-3 lead.
UNCG put 10 batters to the plate in the sixth inning as they pulled out to a 12-3 lead. The Spartans strung together five singles and a pair of walks in the inning to push five runners across the plate.
The Spartans added two more runs in the eighth inning to extend their lead to 14-3. Raynor led off the inning with a walk and Gehringer followed with a single up the middle. Corey Overholtzer then delivered a two-run double to right center to score Raynor and Gehringer.
Furman added one more run in the bottom of the eighth to make the final score 14-4.
The Spartans and Paladins wrap up their three-game series on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Latham Stadium. The game will be the regular-season finale for both squads.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro 14, Furman 4
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UNC Greensboro........024 015 020 - 14 18 4 (19-29)
Furman.................... 300 000 010 - 4 9 3 (22-28)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro Alex Shelton, Blake Hassebrock, Zach Furl. Furman Jay Friedman, Bobby Lyne, Marc DeDecker, Daniel Stallsmith, Mike Waller.
Win- Alex Shelton (1-6) Loss- Jay Friedman (2-5) T-3:18 A-252
HR UNC Greensboro: Pedro Leon (4), Bradley Raynor (2)
- UNCG -
