CHARLESTON, S.C. – UNC Greensboro held a 1-0 lead going into the sixth inning, but The Citadel rallied to score one run in the final three innings it batted as the Spartans fell to the Bulldogs, 3-1, on Sunday afternoon at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.
Reliever Raymond Copenhaver picked up the win as he pitched the final three innings for the Bulldogs (34-20, 21-6 Southern Conference) and allowed just two hits, while striking out three. Warren Slack took the hard luck loss as he pitched a complete game and allowed just three runs on eight hits, while striking out six bulldogs.
Alex Frederick was one of four Spartans to have to hits on the afternoon as he had the lone RBI for UNCG. Zach Leach also had a nice afternoon as he went 2-3 and scored the lone run.
Grant Richards led the Bulldogs as he went 2-4 with an RBI and run scored. Kyle Jordan added the only other RBI for The Citadel on Sunday.
UNCG had opportunities to score early, but could never push a run across the plate. In the first inning, the Spartans had runners on the corners with no outs and failed to score a run.
In the third inning, UNCG had runners on second and third with only one out again, but a pair of fly outs ended the threat.
The Spartans finally broke through in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI single by Frederick. Leach led off the inning with a single through the right side and then advanced to second on a groundout. Taylor Schwarz followed with a walk to put runners on the corners before Frederick singled up the middle to score Leach and give UNCG a 1-0 lead.
UNCG looked like it might extend that lead with another run in the fifth inning, but the Spartans had a runner thrown out at home to end the inning. With two outs, Eric Brindle singled and Leach doubled to right center, but the Bulldogs got the ball in quick and Brindle was thrown out at the plate on the relay throw.
Slack held the Bulldogs to just three hits over the first five innings, but The Citadel finally got to him with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game. Brad Felder led off the inning with a single and then a pair of walks loaded the bases with one out. Jordan then reached on a fielder's choice to the third baseman to score Felder and make it a 1-1 ballgame.
The Bulldogs took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the seventh as Richards got things started with a single down the left field line. He advanced to second and then third on a pair of wild pitches before scoring the go-ahead run on a failed pickoff attempt at first base that got away to make it 2-1.
The Citadel added an insurance run in the eighth inning as Justin Mackert led off with a single and scored later in the inning on a single by Richards to make the final score, 3-1.
UNCG returns to the diamond next weekend as the Spartans will host Furman in the final regular season series beginning on Thursday at 7 p.m.
AGATE
The Citadel 3, UNC Greensboro 1
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UNC Greensboro...... 000 100 000 - 1 10 3 (20-30, 7-20)
The Citadel......... 000 001 11X - 3 8 1 (34-20, 21-6)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Warren Slack and Zach Leach. The Citadel - Michael Clevinger; Raymond Copenhaver(7) and Grant Richards.
Win-Raymond Copenhaver(3-1) Loss-Warren Slack(3-9) T-2:36 A-605
Weather: 81 and sunny
- UNCG -
