GREENSBORO, N.C. – For the second time in as many days, UNCG and James Madison played 12 innings, but this time the Spartans came out on top as they defeated the Dukes, 4-3, on Saturday night at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
After UNCG (18-15) tied the game in the seventh inning, the teams battled to a 3-all tie until the bottom of the 12th inning. Drew Gehringer led off the inning with an infield single that bounced over the pitcher's head and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt.
After an intentional walk to Trevor Edwards, Eric Brindle grounded into a fielder's choice to put runners on the corners. Pinch hitter Joe Hager then stepped to the plate and took the first pitch he saw right back up the middle to easily score Gehringer and give UNCG the 4-3 walk-off victory.
Colby Hyatt, the normal Sunday starter for UNCG, came in to pitch the final six innings of relief to pick up his fourth win of the season as he allowed just one run on five hits.
James Madison (24-12) reliever Trent Cundiff was credited with the loss after allowing one run on two hits in just 2/3 of an inning.
Coming off an impressive 5-for-5 performance on Friday, Gehringer went 2-5 on Saturday with an RBI and two runs scored. Edwards also added an RBI on a sacrifice fly and drew a walk in the contest.
Leadoff hitter Johnny Bladel had a nice night for the Dukes as he went a perfect 4-4 at the dish with two RBI and a walk. Ian Haynes also went 2-5 with an RBI and run scored in the losing effort.
The Spartans were able to take the early lead as Gehringer led off the bottom of the first with an eight-pitch walk. A single by Bobby Martin advanced him to third and Edwards hit a sacrifice fly to the warning track in center field to score Gehringer and put UNCG in front, 1-0.
The Dukes came right back in the top of the second to tie the game when Matt Tenaglia drew a one-out walk. He then proceeded to steal second before scoring on a two-out single up the middle by Haynes.
James Madison took its first lead of the evening in the fifth inning when Billy Logan hit a two-out double down the left-field line and Bladel followed with a single up the middle to give the Dukes a 2-1 advantage.
The Dukes would stretch it to 3-1 in the top of the seventh when Haynes singled to lead off the inning and later scored on another RBI single by Bladel.
UNCG responded, though, in the home half of the seventh with a two-out rally. Chris Barker came in to pinch hit and slapped a single to right field and John Hein followed with a single to left field. Gehringer then singled up the middle to score Barker and move Hein over the third. On the first pitch to Martin, the Dukes reliever threw it to the backstop, which allowed Hein to come home and tie the game at three.
UNCG had a chance to take the lead in the eighth inning when it loaded the bases, but couldn't come up with a run until Hager's single in the 12th inning.
The Spartans and Dukes will meet in the rubber game of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
AGATE
UNCG 4, James Madison 3
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James Madison....... 010 010 100 000 - 3 9 1 (24-12)
UNCG................ 100 000 200 001 - 4 9 1 (18-15)
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Pitchers: James Madison - Scott, Evan; Brown, D J.(5); Weiner, James(9); Cundiff, Trent(12) and Logan, Billy; Lowery, Jake. UNCG - Brandon Browne; Colby Hyatt(7) and Cambric Moye; Trevor Edwards.
Win-Colby Hyatt(4-2) Loss-Cundiff, Trent(1-1) T-3:23 A-241
Weather: 66 and mostly sunny, wind SW18
- UNCG -
