GREENSBORO, N.C. - UNC Greensboro starter Colby Hyatt pitched the first complete game for UNCG since 2007 as the Spartans defeated Davidson, 7-1, on Wednesday evening at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. The game clinched the series win for the Spartans over the Wildcats this season.
Hyatt, who carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning, allowed just one run on six hits over the nine innings for the Spartans (14-15, 2-9 Southern Conference). The lone blemish for Hyatt was allowing a leadoff solo home run in the top of the sixth inning.
Davidson starter Ian Horkley was credited with the loss for the Wildcats (13-16, 4-10 SoCon) after allowing four runs on six hits in three innings of work.
Eric Brindle sparked the Spartans at the plate by going 3-4 with two RBI and Lloyd Enzor also added a pair of hits and two RBI. Leadoff hitter Harry Slade continued his hot play as of late with a double and a triple as well as two runs scored.
The Wildcats were led by Michael Zeblo who went 1-3 with a home run. Will General also chipped in a pair of hits for the visitors.
The Spartans immediately gave Hyatt some support as they score at least one run in the first three innings. Slade led off the first for UNCG by being hit by a pitch. Chris Barker followed and laid down a sacrifice bunt, but the catcher's throw to first sailed into right field to allow Slade to move to third and Barker to second.
After a fly out by UNCG, Ray Quinones slapped a single to right field to score Slade and put the Spartans ahead, 1-0.
Slade once again started it for UNCG as he reached on a fielder's choice in the second inning to put two outs on the board. Barker followed with a single and Corey Overholtzer delivered a single to center field to score Slade and make it a 2-0 game.
With two outs in the third inning, Enzor singled to right field and then Zach Leach was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Brindle then cleared the bases and he delivered a triple into the right field corner to give the Spartans a 4-0 lead.
Hyatt cruised through the first few batters as he was effective from the first pitch by forcing batters to put the ball in play and allowing his defense to work behind him. He retired the first 10 batters on six groundouts and four fly outs before yielding a walk to Sam Payne. He quickly worked out of that in the fourth inning by inducing Danny Weiss into a 6-4-3 inning-ending double play.
Andrew Barna had a leadoff single for Davidson in the fifth inning to break up Hyatt's no-hitter and General followed with another single to put two runners on for the Wildcats. Hyatt retired the next three batters to work out of that jam.
The Wildcats finally were able to touch Hyatt in the top of the sixth inning as Zeblo took a 3-1 pitch over the wall in right field to pull the Wildcats within 4-1.
That was as close as Davidson would get though as the Spartans immediately gave Hyatt three more insurance runs in the bottom half of the sixth. With one out, Barker drew a walk before Overholtzer singled to put runners on first and second. After a fly out made it two outs, Ed Jayjack walked to load the bases.
After a Wildcat pitching change, Enzor delivered a single to right field to score Barker and Overholtzer. Leach followed with a single of his own to score Jayjack and push the Spartan lead to 7-1.
Hyatt continued to control the Wildcat batters through the final innings as he ended up retiring the side in order in six of the nine innings.
The Spartans will continue SoCon play this weekend as they make the trip to Birmingham, Ala. to face Samford in a three-game series beginning on Friday at 6 p.m. CDT.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro 7, Davidson 1
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Davidson............ 000 001 000 - 1 6 1 (13-16, 4-10)
UNC Greensboro...... 112 003 00X - 7 12 0 (14-15, 2-9)
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Pitchers: Davidson - Ian Horkley; Mac Hunter(4); Brian Russell(4); Thomas Middour(6); Mike Frongello(6); Andy Bass(7) and Tommy Piacenza. UNC Greensboro - Colby Hyatt and Ed Jayjack.
Win-Colby Hyatt (3-2) Loss-Ian Horkley (2-3) T-2:38 A-318
HR DAV - Michael Zeblo.
Weather: 77 and sunny
- UNCG -
