GREENSBORO, N.C. - UNC Greensboro took a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning, but Furman rallied for a run in the eighth and the winning run in the ninth inning as the Spartans fell to the Paladins, 4-3, on Thursday evening at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. Due to the threat of evening showers on Friday, the game time has been moved to 2 p.m. from the original time of 6 p.m.
The loss mathematically eliminated the Spartans from postseason contention as they needed to sweep the Paladins in order to have a chance of making the Southern Conference Tournament.
Ian Parry picked up his fifth win of the season for the Paladins (17-35, 9-19 SoCon) as he pitched a complete game. He allowed just three runs, two earned, on eight hits, while striking out six and walking none. Blake Hassebrock suffered the loss as he went eight plus innings and allowed four runs on 11 hits, while striking out four batters.
The Spartans (20-31, 7-21 SoCon) were led by Eric Brindle, Chris Barker and Corey Overholtzer who all had two hits apiece. Overholtzer, along with Lloyd Enzor and Zach Leach, provided an RBI each for UNCG.
Brian Harrison paced the Paladins on Thursday as he went 3-4 with an RBI and three runs scored. Will Miller had a pair of sacrifice flies in the game to add two RBI.
After the two teams were scoreless through three innings, Harrison got the Paladins on the board first. He led off the top of the fourth inning with a line-drive solo home run to left field to give Furman a 1-0 lead.
That lead didn't last long though as UNCG answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at one. Barker led off the inning with a double down the right field line and two batters later, Enzor hit a single to right center to score Barker and make it a 1-1 game.
The game stayed that way until the top of the sixth inning when Harrison singled on a chopper to the third baseman to lead off the inning. Reese Wade followed with a double down the left field line to move Harrison over to third. Miller then hit a sacrifice fly to center field to easily score Harrison and put the Paladins ahead, 2-1.
Once again though, the Spartans immediately answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game. This time it was Harry Slade who led off the inning with a double. He moved over to third on a passed ball before scoring on a double to left field by Overholtzer to tie the game at two.
The Spartans took their first and only lead of the evening in the bottom of the seventh on a sacrifice fly. Brindle led off with a single up the middle and then moved to third on a throwing error by the catcher on a sacrifice bunt by Drew Gehringer. Leach followed with a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Brindle and put UNCG in front, 3-2.
In what seemed like déjà vu from the sixth inning, Harrison hit a single with one out and Wade followed with a double to put runners on second and third. Miller then hit another sacrifice fly to center field to score Harrison and tie the game at three.
The Paladins broke through for the game-winning run in the top of the ninth on a groundout. J.B. Jenkins led off the inning with a walk before stealing second. He advanced to third two batters later on a single to center field by Will Owens. Aaron Thompkins then hit a groundout to second base, but Owens was running on the play and the Spartans weren't able to turn an inning-ending double play as Jenkins scored to make it 4-3.
It appeared for a second in the bottom of the ninth that UNCG had tied the game as Ray Quinones led off the inning with a blast down the left field line, but his ball hooked just foul of the left field pole.
The two teams will meet for the second game of the series on Friday at 2 p.m.
AGATE
Furman 4, UNC Greensboro 3
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Furman.............. 000 101 011 - 4 12 1 (17-35, 9-19)
UNC Greensboro...... 000 101 100 - 3 8 0 (20-31, 7-21)
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Pitchers: Furman - Ian Parry and Dylan Cole. UNC Greensboro - Blake Hassebrock; Greg Smith(9) and Zach Leach.
Win-Ian Parry(5-6) Loss-Blake Hassebrock(0-7) T-2:23 A-165
HR FUR - Brian Harrison.
Weather: 75 and clear
Hassebrock faced 1 batter in the 9th.
- UNCG -
