CULLOWHEE, N.C. – UNC Greensboro exploded for four runs in the third inning and six runs in the fifth inning as the Spartans cruised past Western Carolina, 14-2, to claim the three-game series on Sunday afternoon in Hennon Stadium.
Colby Hyatt worked over seven innings for the fourth consecutive time as he picked up his seventh win of the season for the Spartans (20-24, 7-17 Southern Conference). He went eight innings on Sunday and allowed just two runs, one earned, on 10 hits, while striking out seven batters.
Catamount starter Preston Hatcher was credited with the loss after giving up five runs, only one earned, on four hits in 3 1/3 innings.
Joey Frabasile, who came in for Lloyd Enzor in the second inning, performed exceptionally off the bench as he went 4-6 with a pair of doubles, two RBI and three runs scored. Kris Richards went 3-6, while Eric Brindle went 2-5 with a pair of RBI.
Austin Schultz, Tyler Kirkpatrick, Trevor Collias and Bryant Noteboom all had a pair of hits to lead the Catamounts (26-16-1, 9-11-1 SoCon).
The Catamounts were the first team on the board though as they put up one run in the bottom of the second inning. Collias led off the inning with a single and then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Spartan catcher. He then scored on a groundout to give WCU a 1-0 lead.
The Spartans immediately responded though with a four-spot in the top of the third inning to take a lead they would never relinquish. With one out, Richards doubled to left field and then scored as Alex Frederick reached on a two-base throwing error.
After Chris Barker was hit by a pitch for the 19th time in the past 23 games, Corey Overholtzer reached on a throwing error by the second baseman to allow Frederick to score from second. Frabasile then stepped to the plate and belted a double to the gap left center to score Barker and Overholtzer and make it a 4-1 ballgame.
The Catamounts responded with their final run of the afternoon in the bottom of the third to pull within 4-2. With two outs, Kirkpatrick hit a double down the left field line and then scored on a throwing error by UNCG on an infield single by Ross Heffley.
UNCG got that run back immediately though as Richards got things going with an RBI single with one-out in the top of the fourth. Alex Frederick followed with a walk before Harry Slade hit a chopper through the right side of the infield to score Richards from second and put UNCG ahead, 5-2.
The Spartans blew the game open though in the fifth inning though as they pushed six runs across the plate. Frabasile led off the inning with a double to right center before advancing to third on a wild pitch. After Ed Jayjack drew a walk, Frabasile scored on a wild pitch that also allowed Jayjack to advance to second.
Jayjack moved to third on a groundout before scoring on an RBI single up the middle by Brindle. Richards followed with a single through the right side before Frederick walked again to load the bases. Slade then reached on a fielding error by the second baseman to score Brindle and Richards to make it 9-2.
The inning continued as Barker singled to center field to load the bases before Overholtzer hit into a fielder's choice to score Frederick. Slade would go on to score by stealing home later in the inning as him and Overholtzer performed a double steal to give UNCG an 11-2 lead.
UNCG continued to pour it on as they scored another run in the top of the sixth inning. Jayjack led off the inning with a single to left center and Ray Quinones followed with a walk. They moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt before Jayjack scored on a wild pitch to make it 12-2.
Frabasile hit a one-out single up the middle to start another scoring rally in the seventh and Quinones followed with a single of his own two batters later. Frabasile scored to make it 13-2 on a double to right center by Brindle.
UNCG would go on to tack on one final run in the top of the ninth as Frabasile scored a wild pitch to make the final score, 14-2.
The Spartans return home this week as they host North Florida for a pair of midweek games beginning on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro 14, Western Carolina 2
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UNC Greensboro...... 004 161 101 - 14 15 3 (20-24, 7-17)
Western Carolina.... 011 000 000 - 2 10 4 (26-16-1, 9-11-1)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Colby Hyatt; Matt Parish(9) and Ed Jayjack. Western Carolina - Preston Hatcher; TJ Page(4); Adam Curtis(5); Andrew Blackwell(5); Kyle Stewart(7) and Ollie Goulder; Radley Haddad; Russell Robertson.
Win-Colby Hyatt(7-3) Loss-Preston Hatcher(0-1) T-3:18 A-249
Weather: 78 and sunny
- UNCG -
