GREENSBORO, N.C. - UNC Greensboro scored one run in the bottom of the ninth and had the tying run on third, but wasn't able to convert the opportunity as College of Charleston completed the series sweep over the Spartans, 6-5, on Sunday afternoon at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Trailing 6-4 entering the bottom of the ninth, pinch hitter Drew Gehringer hit a single to right field. After advancing to second on a balk, Chris Barker was able to reach base on a throwing error by the pitcher, which allowed Gehringer to come around from second and score.
Harry Slade then stepped to the plate and was able to reach on a fielder's choice. Slade advanced to second on a wild pitch and then moved to third on an infield single by Corey Overholtzer. With the tying run on third and the winning run on first, the Cougars were able to end the game by inducing a groundout to first base.
David Peterson picked up the win for the Cougars (17-5, 4-2 Southern Conference) after allowing three runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings of work. He took a no-hitter into the fifth inning as well. Tyler Hollstegge, making his first start of the season, was credited with the loss for UNCG (11-8, 0-3 SoCon) after pitching 4 2/3 innings and giving up four runs on seven hits.
Kris Richards went 2-3 for the Spartans at the plate with a run score, while Slade, Ed Jayjack and Zach Leach each had an RBI.
Jose Rodriguez had a nice day for the Cougars by going 4-5 at the plate with two RBI and a run scored. Rob Kral went 2-3 with an RBI and two runs scored for the visitors as well.
Neither team was able to generate any offense in the early going as the Cougars got on the board first in the top of the fourth with an unearned run. Kral reached on a two-base fielding error by the Spartans to lead off the inning. He advanced to third on a single and scored on Rodriguez's single to center field.
The Cougars were able to extend their lead to 4-0 in the top of the fifth. Cole Rakar hit a one-out bunt single down the third base line and scored from first when Kral followed with a double to left center.
After a Cougar strikeout, Rodriguez hit a single down the left field line to score Rakar from second. Jesse Mesa then hit a double of his own to score Rodriguez from first and give the visitors a four-run lead.
College of Charleston made it a 5-0 game in the sixth inning when Matt Leeds hit a two-out single through the right side to score Jamie Holler.
The Spartans were finally able to get on the board in the bottom half of the sixth though to cut into the Cougar lead. Richards hit a leadoff single through the right side and Barker singled to left field and advanced to second on the throw to put runners on second and third. Slade then hit a chopper through the left side of the infield to score Richards from third and make it a 5-1 contest.
Slade was able to steal second on a Spartan strikeout and Barker made it a 5-2 game after scoring on a groundout. With Lloyd Enzor at the plate, Slade scored from third on a wild pitch to pull the Spartans within, 5-3.
UNCG made it a one-run game in the eighth inning after Enzor drew a two-out walk and Leach followed with a double to center field to allow Enzor to score.
The Cougars added a run though in the top of the ninth when Holler hit a two-out RBI double to make it 6-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth.
The Spartans end their 16-game homestand on Wednesday as they host No. 17 North Carolina at 6 p.m.
AGATE
Coll. of Charleston 6, UNC Greensboro 5
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Coll. of Charleston. 000 131 001 - 6 12 3 (17-5, 4-2)
UNC Greensboro...... 000 003 011 - 5 9 1 (11-8, 0-3)
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Pitchers: Coll. of Charleston - David Peterson; Tom Schiller(7); Heath Hembree(8) and Robert Pritcher. UNC Greensboro - Tyler Hollstegge; Matt Parish(5) and Ed Jayjack.
Win-David Peterson(2-2) Save-Heath Hembree(4) Loss-Tyler Hollstegge(0-1) T-2:51 A-183
- UNCG -
