CHARLESTON, S.C. - Matt Talley pitched a complete-game shutout and The Citadel scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to break open a 1-0 pitcher's duel as UNC Greensboro fell to the Bulldogs, 5-0, on Saturday afternoon at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.
Talley picked up his sixth win for the Bulldogs (33-20, 20-6 Southern Conference) as he allowed just seven hits over his nine innings and struck out eight Spartans. UNCG starter Colby Hyatt picked up his first loss in over a month as he allowed five runs, four earned, on seven hits in five innings of work.
Corey Overholtzer led the Spartans (20-29, 7-19 SoCon) on Saturday as he went 3-4 at the plate and added a pair of stolen bases.
Justin Mackert paced the Bulldogs as he went 3-4 with a run scored, while five other Bulldogs had one RBI.
The Spartans threatened in the top of the first inning as they had runners on second and third, but Talley got a strikeout and induced a groundout to get out of the inning.
The Bulldogs got on the board in the bottom of the second inning as Mackert hit a double down the left field line for their first hit. He advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Jordan to give The Citadel a 1-0 lead.
The game stayed that way until the fifth inning as the Bulldogs put up four runs to take a commanding 5-0 lead. With one out, William Ladd singled to left center before stealing second base. Nick Orvin then singled to right field on a ball that landed just in front of the diving efforts of Drew Gehringer to score Ladd from second. Orvin then stole second as well before a Bulldog groundout made it two outs in the inning.
Matt Simonelli followed with a double off the wall in left center to score Orvin before scoring on a single by Bryan Altman to give The Citadel a 4-0 lead. Altman then stole second and followed that by stealing third and scored on a throwing error by the catcher to make it a five run lead for the Bulldogs.
After the fifth inning, the Spartans didn't have another runner reach second base until Eric Brindle's leadoff double in the ninth inning, but he wasn't able to score.
The two teams will wrap up the series on Sunday with a 1 p.m. contest.
AGATE
The Citadel 5, UNC Greensboro 0
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UNC Greensboro...... 000 000 000 - 0 7 2 (20-29, 7-19)
The Citadel......... 010 040 00X - 5 8 0 (33-20, 20-6)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Colby Hyatt; Alex Shelton(6); Matt Parish(6) and Zach Leach. The Citadel - Matt Talley and Grant Richards.
Win-Matt Talley(6-3) Loss-Colby Hyatt(7-4) T-2:26 A-725
Weather: 78 and sunny
- UNCG -
