GREENSBORO, N.C. - With the score tied at six heading into the bottom of the eighth, UNCG got a two-run single from Corey Overholtzer before Ed Jayjack put the game out of reach with a grand slam off the scoreboard in right field to lead UNC Greensboro over Harvard, 12-7, on Thursday evening at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Colby Hyatt picked up his second win of the season for the Spartans (11-5) after pitching the final two innings. Harvard (3-7) reliever Jonah Klees was credited with the loss after allowed six runs on just four hits in just two innings of work.
Overholtzer and Jayjack lead the Spartans at the plate on the evening. Overholtzer went 3-4 with two RBI and three runs scored, while Jayjack finished the night 2-3 with six RBI and one run scored. Jayjack's six RBI marked the most by a Spartan since Ricky Orton hit three home runs en route to a seven RBI performance against College of Charleston of May 3, 2008.
Jeff Reynolds, Sean O'Hara and Brent Suter each had a pair of hits for the Crimson, while Tyler Albright added three RBI for the visitors.
UNCG got on the board in the first inning for the sixth time this season to take the early 1-0 lead in a game that saw three ties and four lead changes. Overholtzer hit a one-out single up the middle before advancing to second on a wild pitch. After a UNCG groundout moved Overholtzer to third, Jayjack hit an infield single to the shortstop to allow Overholtzer to score and put the Spartans ahead.
Harvard battled back to tie the game at one in the top of the third after Suter led off the inning with a double to right center. Suter advanced to third on a fly out to right field before scoring on a groundout to the shortstop to make it 1-1.
UNCG immediately responded in the bottom half of the third as Taylor Schwarz and Chris Barker drew back-to-back walks to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt by Overholtzer moved the runners over and Schwarz scored a batter later on an RBI single to Ray Quinones. Barker would score later in the inning on a sacrifice fly to center field by Jayjack to put UNCG ahead, 3-1.
The Crimson was able to get one of those runs back in the fifth inning when Suter tripled down the right field line with two outs. He went on to score two batters later on a single to center field.
The Spartans extended their lead back to two runs in the bottom of the fifth on a wild play with Jayjack at the plate. Overholtzer hit a single to left field and then stole second. The catcher's throw down to second base sailed into center field where the centerfielder sailed a throw into the Harvard dugout to allow Overholtzer to walk home and put the Spartans in front, 4-2.
The seesaw contest continued in the sixth inning when the Crimson was able to tie the game at four apiece. Harvard hit three singles to load the bases and was able to score one run on a fielder's choice. The Crimson got another run on a wild pitch by UNCG to make the score 4-4.
UNCG took the lead right back in the bottom of the sixth as Zach Leach led off the inning by being hit by a pitch before advancing to second on a wild pitch. A single by Harry Slade pushed him over to third where he went on to score on a safety squeeze bunt by Eric Brindle to give the Spartans a 5-4 lead. Slade scored later in the inning on an RBI single through the left side of the infield by Barker to make it 6-4.
The Crimson had a one-out rally in the top of the eighth inning to tie the game up again. O'Hara hit an infield single to and moved to second on a walk to Dan Zaliskas. Albright then cleared the bases as he hit a double to the wall in left center to make it a 6-6 game.
Once again, the Spartans had the answer in the bottom half of the inning. Slade began the charge with a one-out single through the right side and Joey Frabasile hit a single to center field to move Slade to second. After a Spartan strikeout made it two outs, Barker was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Overholtzer then hit a laser up the middle that deflected off the Crimson pitcher to allow Slade and Frabasile to score and put the Spartans ahead, 8-6.
Quinones then drew a walk to load the bases for Jayjack, who took a 1-0 pitch off the scoreboard in right field for the first grand slam of the senior's career.
The Spartans return to the diamond as they host College of Charleston for a three-game series beginning Friday at 7 p.m. at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro 12, Harvard 7
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Harvard............. 001 012 021 - 7 11 2 (3-7)
UNC Greensboro...... 102 012 06X - 12 10 0 (11-5)
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Pitchers: Harvard - Hulse, Conner; Morris, Evan(6); Klees, Jonah(7) and Albright, Tyler. UNC Greensboro - Matt Parish; Zach Furl(4); Tyler Hollstegge(5); Warren Slack(6); Colby Hyatt(8) and Zach Leach.
Win-Colby Hyatt(2-1) Loss-Klees, Jonah(0-1) T-2:47 A-222
HR HARV - Way, Marcus.
HR UNCG - Ed Jayjack.
Weather: 65 and sunny
- UNCG -
