GREENSBORO, N.C. - Ed Jayjack hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning to give UNC Greensboro the lead for good and Lloyd Enzor added some insurance runs with a two-run homer of his own in the eighth inning as the Spartans defeated Cleveland State, 8-4, on opening day at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Greg Smith picked up the win for the Spartans as he pitch five innings of one-hit relief, while striking out seven. Joey Gradney was credited with the loss after giving up five runs, four earned, in just 2 2/3 innings of work.
Things didn't get off to the start that the Spartans (1-0) envisioned as Cleveland State struck for four runs in the top half of the second inning. After getting the first out of the inning, the Spartans allowed five consecutive hits, one being a double, as the Vikings (0-1) pushed three runs across. A two-out single by Tom Carter gave Cleveland State its final run of the inning.
Taylor Schwarz and Eric Brindle led off the third inning with a pair of walks and a walk to Overholtzer later in the inning loaded the bases. After an infield fly, Jayjack was issued a walk to score the first run of the season for UNCG.
The Spartans continued to struggle at the plate in the early going before breaking through with four runs in the fifth inning. With one out in the inning, Drew Gehringer reached on a throwing error by Tyler Wynn. After another Overholtzer walk, Enzor delivered a double that skipped off the left field line and into the corner to allow Gehringer and Overholtzer to score and pull UNCG within 4-3. Ed Jayjack followed with a towering shot over the right field wall that scored Enzor to give the Spartans a 5-4 advantage.
UNCG pushed another run across the plate in the seventh inning as Harry Slade delivered a single to left field that scored Ray Quinones from second.
After Overholtzer received his fourth walk of the evening to lead off the eighth inning, Enzor hit a home run that went off the light pole in left field to make the final score, 8-4.
The Spartans and Vikings return to the diamond on Saturday at 1 p.m. for the second game of the three-game series.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro 8, Cleveland State 4
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Cleveland State........ 040 000 000 - 4 8 2 (0-1)
UNC Greensboro...... 001 040 12X - 8 10 0 (1-0)
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Pitchers: Cleveland State - SAMBULA, Anthony; GRADNEY, Joey(5); BLANKEMEYER, Nate(7) and SHAFFER, Kyle. UNC Greensboro - Warren Slack; Matt Parish(2); Greg Smith(3); Colby Hyatt(8) and Ed Jayjack.
Win-Greg Smith (1-0) Loss-GRADNEY, Joey (0-1) T-2:52 A-203
HR: UNCG - Lloyd Enzor; Ed Jayjack.
- UNCG -
