GREENVILLE, S.C. – UNCG dropped game one of the doubleheader, 6-5, in 12 innings before coming back in game two to cruise past the Paladins, 11-4, on Sunday afternoon at Latham Stadium.
Eric Brindle had a great day at the plate as he went 4-8 in the two games with five RBI and three runs scored. John Hein went 1-3 in the two games with a double, three walks and four runs scored, while Andrew Spleth went 2-5 with two RBI and two runs scored in game two.
Colby Hyatt picked up the win for UNCG (14-8, 6-3 Southern Conference) in game two as he went seven innings and allowed four runs, just one earned, on six hits. Furman (13-13, 6-5 SoCon) starter Tyler Wood picked up the loss after allowing six runs, three earned, on six hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Dylan Cole picked up the win in game one after pitching the final two innings without allowing a hit and striking out two batters. Tyler Hollstegge was credited with the loss despite pitching four phenomenal innings. The reliever allowed only one run on one hit and struck out five batters.
Taylor Johnson went 2-5 with three RBI and a run scored for the Paladins in game one.
With the game tied at five in game one, Furman was able to break the deadlock in the bottom of the 12th inning. Will Miller led off with a double to right center and Taylor Johnson and Reese Wade followed with back-to-back walks to load the bases. After a pitching change, Alex Abrams singled to left center to score Miller and give the Paladins the walk-off victory, 6-5.
The Spartans jumped on the Paladins early as they put up a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. With one out, Eric Brindle walked and scored on a double to the gap in right center by Bobby Martin. Two batters later, Thomas Troelstrup hit a double of his own to right field that scored Martin and made it 2-0 in favor of the visitors.
Furman came right back in the home half of the inning as Owens led off with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Will Muzika then reached on a Spartan error and stole second to put two runners in scoring position. With two outs, Taylor Johnson slapped a single to left field to score the two unearned runs and tie the game at two.
The score would stay that way until the top of the fifth inning when Drew Gehringer led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Later in the inning, Brindle delivered a double off the wall in center field to give the Spartans a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of that inning, it looked like the Paladins were going to take the lead. With a runner on first, Muzika hit a blast to left field, but Cody Walker reached over the wall and brought it back to preserve UNCG's lead.
The Spartans took advantage of that and pushed another run across the plate in the top of the sixth to extend their lead to 4-2. Troelstrup led off with a single up the middle and then advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches. Ray Quinones would hit a sacrifice fly down the left field line later in the inning to score Troelstrup.
The Paladins were able to mount a rally in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead. Owens and Rob Fondu led off with back-to-back walks before advancing on a sacrifice bunt. A sacrifice fly and an RBI double by Johnson tied the game at four. After a passed ball moved Johnson to third, Reese Wade hit a bloop single into left center to five Furman the 5-4 lead.
The Spartans were able to answer back in the next half inning with a two-out hit. Zach Leach led off with a single up the middle and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a strikeout, Drew Gehringer hit a line-drive double off the left field wall to score Leach and tie the game at five.
In the second game, UNCG fell behind early as Furman put up a run in the bottom of the first. Owens led off with a single, stole second and then moved over to third on a groundout. He would later score on a wild pitch to give the Paladins a 1-0 lead.
The Spartans took the lead for good with a two-out rally in the top of the third inning. John Hein got things started with a double down the left field line and then scored on an RBI single down the right field line by Brindle. Edwards followed with a double to left center to allow Brindle to score from first and give UNCG a 2-1 lead.
UNCG added to that lead in the fourth as Andrew Spleth led off with a single and then advanced on a sacrifice bunt. He would go on to score later in the inning on a single to left field by Gehringer to make it 3-1.
A pair of Paladin errors led to three Spartan runs as UNCG opened up the game in the top of the fifth. Hein walked to open the inning and Edwards followed with a walk of his own two batters later. With two outs, Spleth hit a ground ball to the shortstop and his throw sailed past the first baseman to allow Hein to score and Edwards and Spleth to move to second and third.
Zach Leach then hit another ground ball to the shortstop and the shortstop sailed his throw again to allow two more runs and give UNCG a 6-1 lead.
UNCG extended its lead to 9-1 in the sixth inning when Brindle hit a three-run home run off the top of the center field wall and over for his first-career home run.
The Paladins struck for three unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh inning before UNCG came back with a two-run single from Spleth in the top of the eighth to make it 11-4.
The Spartans will return home on Tuesday as they host ACC foe NC State at 6 p.m. at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
AGATE
Game 1: Furman 6, UNCG 5
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UNCG................ 200 011 010 000 - 5 9 1 (13-8, 5-3)
Furman.............. 200 000 300 001 - 6 7 0 (13-12, 6-4)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Brandon Browne; Jarett Miller(5); Zach Furl(7); Dylan Hathcock(7); Tyler Hollstegge(8); Greg Smith(12) and Zach Leach; Cambric Moye. Furman - Daniel Stallsmith; Matt Plate(6); Drake Browne(8); Dylan Cole(11) and Paul Nitto.
Win-Dylan Cole(2-0) Loss-Tyler Hollstegge(2-1) T-3:33 A-251
Weather: 40 and cloudy
Miller faced 2 batters in the 7th.
Game 2: UNCG 11, Furman 4
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UNCG................ 002 133 020 - 11 11 2 (14-8, 6-3)
Furman.............. 100 000 300 - 4 7 2 (13-13, 6-5)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Colby Hyatt; Dylan Hathcock(8); Greg Smith(9) and Cambric Moye. Furman - Tyler Wood; John Paterson(5); Stephen Gary(6); Jay Friedman(7); Brant Masters(8); Kevin Gottlieb(9) and Paul Nitto.
Win-Colby Hyatt(3-1) Loss-Tyler Wood(2-2) T-2:50 A-251
HR UNCG - Eric Brindle.
Weather: 42 and cloudy
Hathcock faced 1 batter in the 9th.
- UNCG -
