GREENSBORO, N.C. - UNC Greensboro starter Colby Hyatt went eight innings for his third consecutive outing of seven or more innings and the Spartans exploded for six runs in the third inning as they completed the three-game sweep over Davidson, 12-5, on Wednesday evening at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Hyatt collected his sixth win of the season and fourth of the month for the Spartans (18-23, 5-16 Southern Conference) as he allowed five runs, three earned, on seven hits over his eight innings. He also struck out a season-high six batters, including catching four of them looking at strike three.
Davidson starter Brian Russell suffered the loss after allowing seven runs on just five hits in 2 1/3 innings of work.
Ray Quinones led the Spartans at the plate on Wednesday as he went 4-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. Eric Brindle and Ed Jayjack also chipped in two RBI apiece as five Spartans added two hits as well.
The Wildcats (18-23, 5-16 SoCon) were led by Sam Payne who went 3-5 with two home runs, three RBI and two runs scored. Leadoff hitter Seth Freeman added the two other RBI for Davidson.
Payne got the scoring started in the top of the first inning after Freeman led off the game with a single up the middle. Payne then stepped to the plate and took a 3-2 pitch out to right field to give Davidson the early 2-0 lead.
The Spartans responded though as Chris Barker was hit by a pitch with one out in the bottom of the first. It was the 17 times in the past 20 games that Barker has been hit by a pitch. He scored later in the inning on an RBI triple by Lloyd Enzor to make it 2-1.
Payne struck again for the Wildcats in the top of the third inning as he blasted a shot down the right field line for his second home run of the evening to put Davidson ahead, 3-1.
UNCG would take the lead for good though in the bottom of the third as the Spartans were able to score six runs on just three hits. Harry Slade drew a leadoff walk, but was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice by Barker. Corey Overholtzer and Enzor then drew back-to-back walks to load the bases for Jayjack.
Jayjack followed with a walk of his own to walk home Barker from third and then Quinones doubled down the left field line on a ball that ricocheted off the third base bag to score two runs and give UNCG a 4-3 lead.
Brindle then hit his own double to score Jayjack and Quinones to make it a 6-3 contest. Brindle scored later in the inning on a single by Kris Richards to give the Spartans a four-run lead.
The Spartans were able to add another run in the fourth inning as Enzor drew a two-out walk and Jayjack made the Wildcats pay as he doubled to right center to score Enzor from first base and to push the UNCG lead to 8-3.
UNCG put together another two-out rally in the sixth inning as Jayjack reached first on a fielder's choice. After stealing second, Quinones singled to right center to score Jayjack and make it a 9-3 ballgame.
The Wildcats answered with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the seventh inning to pull within 9-5 of the Spartans. Will General reached on a fielding error and Michael Zeblo then walked two batters later. A failed pickoff attempt allowed the runners to move to second and third before Freeman hit a two-out single to center field to score General and Zeblo.
The Spartans added an unearned run in the bottom half of the seventh to make it 10-5 before scoring two more runs in the eighth inning. Quinones led off the eighth with a double to left center and after a pair of fly outs, Richards hit an infield single. Slade then singled up the middle to score Quinones and Richards was able to score later on a Wildcat error to make the final score 12-5.
The Spartans will return to action this weekend as they travel to face Western Carolina for a three-game series beginning Friday at 8 p.m.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro 12, Davidson 5
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Davidson............ 201 000 200 - 5 7 2 (18-23, 5-16)
UNC Greensboro...... 106 101 12X - 12 15 4 (18-23, 5-16)
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Pitchers: Davidson - Brian Russell; Mac Hunter(3); Matt Sliwiak(4); Mike Frongello(6); Andy Bass(7); Ian Horkley(8) and Tommy Piacenza. UNC Greensboro - Colby Hyatt; Zach Furl(9) and Zach Leach.
Win - Colby Hyatt (6-3) Loss - Brian Russell (3-3) T-3:13 A-239
HR DAV - Sam Payne 2.
Weather: 64 and clear
- UNCG -
