BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UNC Greensboro gave up five runs in the bottom of the first inning and Samford never looked back as the Bulldogs completed the series sweep over the Spartans with an 8-4 win on Sunday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
Josh Martin picked up the win for the Bulldogs (20-11, 11-1 Southern Conference) after going 6 2/3 innings and giving up just three runs, one earned, on seven hits. Spartan starter Colby Hyatt lasted just 1/3 of an inning and allowed five runs on five hits to be credited with the loss.
Freshman Harry Slade continued his hot hitting for the Spartans (14-18, 2-12 SoCon) by going 3-5 with a double. Zach Leach also added a pair of hits, while Ed Jayjack had two RBI.
Samford was led by Stephen Ballard who went 2-4 with three runs scored as six different Bulldogs had at least one RBI.
The Bulldogs got it all started with one out in the bottom of the first. After a groundout to begin the inning, Samford tallied five consecutive singles before a walk and another single to give the Bulldogs an early 5-0 lead.
UNCG finally got on the board in the top of the fourth inning with a two-out rally. Ray Quinones got it started with a single up the middle and Eric Brindle followed with a single to center field to put runners on the corners. Leach then hit a single of his own to center field to make it a 5-1 ballgame.
Samford continued to add runs though as the Bulldogs answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the fourth. After three consecutive walks loaded the bases with no outs, Bo Smith was hit by a pitch to walk home a run. After a Bulldog line out, Gary Cramer drew a walk to walk home another run as Samford extend its lead to 7-1.
The Bulldogs went on to make it 8-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly. Ballard hit a one-out double to left center and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Mason Meredith then hit a sacrifice fly to left field to allow Ballard to score.
The Spartans continued to fight though as they knocked in a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to pull within, 8-3. With one out, Chris Barker was hit by a pitch and then Drew Gehringer reached on a throwing error that allowed the runners to move up to first and second.
Jayjack then delivered a sacrifice fly to right field to score Barker from third and make it 8-2. Back-to-back walks by Joey Frabasile and Quinones loaded the bases before pinch hitter Cody Walker drew a walk to score Gehringer.
Jayjack had an RBI single in the top of the eighth to score Barker to pull the Spartans within 8-4, but that was all the offense UNCG could muster on the afternoon.
The Spartans will return to action on Wednesday as they hit the road to play Duke. The two teams will meet at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. at 6 p.m.
AGATE
Samford 8, UNC Greensboro 4
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UNC Greensboro...... 000 100 210 - 4 9 2 (14-18, 2-12)
Samford............. 500 210 00X - 8 8 1 (20-11, 11-1)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Colby Hyatt; Tyler Hollstegge(1); Alex Shelton(4); Greg Smith(4); Wes McBride(7) and Ed Jayjack. Samford - Josh Martin; Tyler Vanderheiden(7); Andrew Jones(7) and Brad Moss.
Win-Josh Martin(2-3) Loss-Colby Hyatt(3-3) T-2:52 A-393
Weather: 72 and sunny
Hollstegge faced 1 batter in the 4th.
Vanderheiden faced 2 batters in the 7th.
- UNCG -
