BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UNCG rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh and Jonathan Jones came in to close out the final three innings as the Spartans took the rubber game over Samford, 5-3, on Saturday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field. With the win, UNCG moved past Samford into third place in the Southern Conference.
Colby Hyatt (6-2) picked up his third win in eight days as he pitched six innings and allowed three runs on eight hits. Jones was credited with his second save of the year after allowing only two hits in the final three innings.
Kyle Putkonen (5-2) picked up the loss after giving up all five UNCG (21-17, 11-7 SoCon) runs on 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Bobby Martin led UNCG at the plate with a 3-4 performance with an RBI and run scored. Drew Gehringer also went 2-3 including two RBI and a walk.
The Bulldogs (24-17, 12-9 SoCon) were led by Phillip Ervin who went 3-4 with a run scored and Tyler Filliben went 2-4 with two RBI.
The Spartans were able to jump on the Bulldogs early with a pair of runs in the top of the first. John Hein led off the game with a double down the right field line and Martin followed with an infield single. Trevor Edwards then slapped a single to left field to load the bases for Gehringer who delivered a single through the left side to score Hein and Martin and make it 2-0.
UNCG's lead didn't last too long as the Bulldogs tied the game up in the bottom of the second. With two outs and runners on first and second, Filliben hit a line drive just inside the third base bag and went into the left-field corner to allow both runners to score.
The score would stay that way until the bottom of the sixth when Samford would take the 3-2 lead. With one out, Ervin and Kevin Putkonen hit back-to-back singles. Then Stephen Ballard hit a double-play ball to second base, but he was able to hustle down the line and called safe at first. As the Spartans tried to turn the inning-ending double play, Ervin rounded third was able to score on the play to give the Bulldogs the lead.
The Spartans immediately had an answer in the top of the seventh. Thomas Troelstrup led off with a single to right and moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ray Crawford. Kris Richards then delivered an opposite-field triple to tie the game at three.
Eric Brindle followed with a single on the first pitch he saw through the right side of a drawn-in infield to score Richards and make it 4-3. After moving to second on a groundout, Brindle scored when Martin doubled off the wall in left field to give the Spartans a 5-3 lead.
Samford would attempt to mount a rally in the bottom of the ninth, but Saxon Butler would ground out to third base with the bases loaded to end the game.
The Spartans return home to host High Point on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
AGATE
UNCG 5, Samford 3
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UNCG................ 200 000 300 - 5 10 2 (21-17, 11-7)
Samford............. 020 001 000 - 3 10 0 (24-17, 12-9)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Colby Hyatt; Jonathan Jones(7) and Trevor Edwards. Samford - Kyle Putkonen; Lex Rutledge(7); Grant Sides(9) and Brad Moss.
Win-Colby Hyatt(6-2) Save-Jonathan Jones(2) Loss-Kyle Putkonen(5-2) T-2:29 A-228
Weather: 81 and sunny
- UNCG -
