BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford scored six unanswered runs to take game one 7-5, but UNCG came back in game two and scored three runs in the top of the tenth inning to give UNCG a 4-1 lead and the split on Friday at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
In the second game, UNCG (20-17, 10-7 Southern Conference) starter Brandon Browne had an impressive performance. He pitched seven innings and allowed just one run on three hits. At one point he retired 12 batters in a row from the third through seventh inning. The entire pitching staff combined to hold Samford (24-16, 12-8 SoCon) without a hit over the final seven innings.
Over the two games, Trevor Edwards led the Spartans by going 4-10 at the plate with two RBI and two runs scored. Eric Brindle also had a nice day as he went 3-7 with two runs scored and Bobby Martin added two RBI in game one.
In game two, Samford struck early with its lone run in the bottom of the first. Michael Johnson led off with a single to left field and then moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt. Saxon Butle then singled up the middle to score Johnson and give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.
The Spartans were able to tie the game in the top of the third when Edwards hit a towering solo shot over the right field wall to make it 1-1.
The score would stay that way until the top of the 10th inning. With one out, Chris Barker singled up the middle and stole second before Brindle drew a walk. The Bulldogs then made a pitching change, but Edwards took the fourth pitch he saw through the right side of the infield to score Barker and put UNCG ahead, 2-1.
After Thomas Troelstrup drew a walk, Ray Quinones hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Brindle. The Spartans made it 4-1 when Edwards scored on a wild pitch.
Dylan Hathcock (2-0) picked up the win in the second game after going 2 2/3 innings and allowing no hits, while striking out the final batter of the game. Arthur Strauss (0-1) was credited with the loss after allowing two runs on two hits in 1 1/3 innings of work.
In the first game of the day, the Bulldogs also took the early lead in the first inning. Johnson led off the first game with a single to right field and later scored on an RBI single by Butler to take a 1-0 lead.
The Spartans came back with a five-spot in the top of the third to take a 5-1 lead. With one out, Brindle singled to right center and moved to second after John Hein drew a walk. Martin then doubled to left field to score both runners and put UNCG ahead, 2-1.
UNCG would get RBI singles from Drew Gehringer, Barker and Troelstrup later in the inning to stretch it to a four-run lead.
Samford would come back with two runs in the fourth and fifth inning though to tie the game at five.
The score would stay that way until the bottom of the eighth. With two outs and the bases loaded, Butler slapped a single to left center to score a pair of runs and give the Bulldogs the 7-5 victory.
The Spartans and Bulldogs will wrap up the series with a rubber game on Saturday with a game at 3 p.m. EST
AGATE
Samford 7, UNCG 5 (Game 1)
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UNCG................ 005 000 000 - 5 10 0 (19-17, 9-7)
Samford............. 100 220 02X - 7 10 2 (24-15, 11-8)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Warren Slack; Jarett Miller(6) and Cambric Moye; Zach Leach. Samford - Joshua VanFleteren; Gil Walker(4); Tyler Vanderheiden(7); Andrew Jones(9) and Brad Moss.
Win-Tyler Vanderheiden(2-0) Save-Andrew Jones(9) Loss-Jarett Miller(3-2) T-2:34 A-0
Weather: 82 and partly cloudy
UNCG 4, Samford 1 (Game 2)
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UNCG................ 001 000 000 3 - 4 8 0 (20-17, 10-7)
Samford............. 100 000 000 0 - 1 3 0 (24-16, 12-8)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Brandon Browne; Zach Furl(8); Greg Smith(8); Dylan Hathcock(8) and Trevor Edwards. Samford - Charles Basford; Arthur Strauss(9); C.K. Irby(10) and Brad Moss.
Win-Dylan Hathcock(2-0) Loss-Arthur Strauss(0-1) T-2:33 A-349
HR UNCG - Trevor Edwards.
Weather: 82 and mostly sunny
Furl faced 1 batter in the 8th.
- UNCG -
