WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Sophomore Alex Frederick had a career-high five RBI and UNC Greensboro had a season-high six doubles as the Spartans cruised past Wake Forest, 13-7, on Wednesday evening at the Wake Forest Baseball Park.
Senior Alex Shelton picked up his first win of the season for the Spartans (16-21) after allowing two runs in 2 1/3 innings. Warren Slack was credited with his first save after pitching the final 3 2/3 innings and allowing just two hits and no runs.
Wake Forest (10-30) starter Alex Weisner was credited with the loss after giving up three runs on five hits in just two innings of work.
Frederick had a breakout game at the plate as he went 3-4 with two doubles to go along with his five RBI. Kris Richards also had three hits for UNCG, while Harry Slade and Zach Leach each added a pair of RBI.
Mark Rhine had an impressive day at the plate for Wake Forest as he went 4-5 with a run scored and Mike Murray went 2-4 with two RBI.
Wake Forest got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the first inning to take the early lead. With one out, Ryan Semeniuk singled to left field and scored later in the inning on a double to left center by Murray to put the Deacs ahead, 1-0.
The Spartans responded with a two-out rally in the top of the second inning to take a 2-1 lead. Ray Quinones delivered a single to right field to get the rally started. Leach followed with a single to right field that fell just beyond the diving effort of the Deacon right fielder that allowed Quinones to come around and score from first.
A single by Richards put two runners on and then Frederick was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Slade then hit a chopper down the third base line for an infield single that scored Leach and gave the Spartans a lead they would never relinquish.
The Spartans took a commanding lead in the top of the third inning as they pushed six more runs across the plate. Corey Overholtzer led off the inning with a double and then moved to third on a wild pitch. Lloyd Enzor was then hit by a pitch before Ed Jayjack singled through the right side to score Overholtzer.
A walk to Quinones loaded the bases before Leach singled up the middle to score Enzor. Richards had a singled up the middle himself to score Jayjack before Frederick stepped to the plate and belted a double to the gap in left center to score Quinones and Leach. A sacrifice fly by Slade scored Richards to put the Spartans ahead, 8-1.
Wake Forest continued to score though as they put up a pair of runs in the bottom half of the third. Steven Brooks led off with a double to left center and scored two batters later on a single by Mac Williamson. Williamson advanced to second on a passed ball before stealing third and scoring on a throwing error by UNCG to make it 8-3.
The Spartans always had a response as they got those two runs back in the top of the fourth. Jayjack singled to lead off the inning and then moved over to third on a double by Quinones. After a ground out and strike out, Frederick once again stepped to the plate and delivered a two-run double to left center to extend the Spartan lead to 10-3.
The Demon Deacons got one run back in the bottom of the fourth as Shane Kroker led off with a single and after a double by Rhine, he scored on a groundout to make it a 10-4 game.
UNCG added one more run in the top of the sixth as Quinones led off with a walk before stealing second. He advanced to third on a single by Richards before Frederick knocked him in on a single through the left side of the infield.
The Demon Deacons continued to fight as they had a two-run double and a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth to pull within, 11-7.
The score would stay that way until the ninth inning when Enzor had an RBI double off the wall and UNCG added a run on a wild pitch to make the final score, 13-7.
The Spartans will return home this weekend as they host Wofford for a three-game series beginning on Friday at 7 p.m.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro 13, Wake Forest 7
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UNC Greensboro...... 026 201 002 - 13 16 2 (16-21)\
Wake Forest......... 102 103 000 - 7 15 0 (10-30)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Matt Parish; Tyler Hollstegge(2); Alex Shelton(4); Greg Smith(6); Warren Slack(6) and Ed Jayjack. Wake Forest - Alex Wiesner; Gabe Feldman(3); Brandon Johnson(3); Ryan McGrath(4); Zach White(4); Ryan Bouton(6); Mark Adzick(7); Joel Ernst(7); Eli Robins(9); Justin Van Grouw(9) and Mike Murray.
Win-Alex Shelton(1-0) Save-Warren Slack(1) Loss-Alex Wiesner(0-2) T-3:29 A-217
Weather: 63 and partly cloudy
Wiesner, A. faced 1 batter in the 3rd.
Feldman, G. faced 5 batters in the 3rd.
Hollstegge faced 2 batters in the 4th.
Smith faced 2 batters in the 6th.
- UNCG -
