GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG took advantage of a pair of Cleveland State errors to push three runs across the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Spartans defeated the Vikings, 5-4, on Friday evening at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Down 4-2 with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Drew Gehringer and Chris Barker drew back-to-back four-pitch walks. After a pitching change, Ray Quinones also drew a walk to load the bases.
After another pitching change, Zach Leach reached on an error by the shortstop that allowed Gehringer and Barker to score to tie the game at four. After another Spartan walk loaded the bases, Matt Crump reached on an error by the Viking second baseman to put UNCG in front, 5-4.
Zach Furl picked up the win for the Spartans (3-2) after throwing a pair of no-hit innings to end the game with one strikeout. Tyler Wynn was credited with the loss for the Vikings (1-3) after walking the only batter he faced.
Barker led UNCG at the plate as he had a 3-4 night with a run scored, while Gehringer went 1-2 with an RBI and run scored.
Tom Carter went 2-4 with an RBI for the Vikings on Friday.
The Vikings struck first with three runs in the top of the fourth inning to take the early lead. Tyler Wynn singled to led off the inning and then stole second before scoring on a single by Chuck Gasti to center field.
With runners on second and third later in the inning, Cleveland State was able to score both runners on a groundout and single to take a 3-0 lead.
UNCG responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the fourth as Eric Brindle led off the inning with a walk. He advanced to second on a groundout before scoring after back-to-back singles by Thomas Troelstrup and Gehringer to make it 3-1.
The Spartans would pull within a run in the bottom of the sixth as Bobby Martin reached on an error to start the inning. After stealing second, Martin would later score on a single by Barker to make it 3-2.
The Vikings came right back with a run in the top of the eighth when Zach Thompson scored on a sacrifice fly.
The Spartans and Vikings will play game two of the series on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
AGATE
UNCG 5, Cleveland State 4
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Cleveland State..... 000 300 100 - 4 6 6 (1-3)
UNCG................ 000 101 03X - 5 6 1 (3-2)
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Pitchers: - BATES, Coty; RUCH, Clayton(6); COOPER, Brandon(6); WYNN, Tyler(8); SAMBULA, Anthony(8); MILLER, Travis(8) and KIRKWOOD, Matt. UNCG - Warren Slack; Jonathan Jones(5); Zach Furl(8) and Matt Crump.
Win-Zach Furl(1-0) Loss-WYNN, Tyler(0-1) T-6:55 pm A-237
Weather: Sunny
BATES faced 1 batter in the 6th.
Jones faced 1 batter in the 8th.
WYNN faced 1 batter in the 8th.
SAMBULA faced 2 batters in the 8th.
- UNCG -
