GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG fell into an early 2-0 hole, but rattled off eight unanswered runs behind a complete-game performance from Colby Hyatt to complete the series sweep over Georgia Southern, 8-3, on Sunday afternoon at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Hyatt (7-2) picked up his Southern Conference-tying seventh win of the season for UNCG (25-17, 14-7 SoCon) as he pitched his second complete game of his career. In his nine innings of work, Hyatt allowed only three runs on 10 hits, while striking out three and allowing no walks on 137 pitches.
Georgia Southern (25-19, 13-8 SoCon) starter Joe Lower (0-1) allowed six runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Trevor Edwards had an impressive day as he went 3-4 with two RBI and Andrew Spleth added a 2-3 performance with an RBI and two runs scored. Chris Barker also added a two-run pinch-hit single for the Spartans.
Victor Roache continued his phenomenal season as he went 2-4, including his nation-best 23rd home run of the season. Eric Phillips and Shawn Payne also added a pair of hits and an RBI each.
Hyatt and the Spartans didn't get off to a good start as the Eagles put up a pair of runs in the top of the first. Scooter Williams led off the game with a single and then stole second. He would then move over to third on a groundout and score on another groundout to make it 1-0. Roache then hit a towering shot down the left field line that was just in fair territory to give Georgia Southern a two-run lead.
The Spartans were able to cut that lead in half in the bottom of the first as Ray Quinones drew a leadoff walk. He moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt before Edwards hit a two-out double to right field to make it 2-1.
UNCG was able to knot the game at two in the home half of the second as Cody Walker hit a leadoff single. After a fielder's choice by Cole Harrison put Walker out at second, Spleth hit a double down the left-field line to move Harrison to third. Harrison then scored on an infield single by Thomas Troelstrup to make the score 2-2.
The score would stay that way until UNCG broke the game open with five runs in the bottom of the sixth. Bobby Martin hit a leadoff single and advanced to third on another sacrifice bunt. Edwards then singled to center field to score Martin and give UNCG a 3-2 advantage.
It appeared as if that would be all UNCG would get as Eric Brindle hit into a fielder's choice to make it two outs in the inning. Walker and Harrison drew back-to-back walks to load the bases before Spleth followed with a six-pitch walk to score Brindle and make it 4-2.
Barker then hit his two-run pinch-hit single right back up the middle to score Walker and Harrison. Quinones would draw another walk and Martin would follow with the same to score one more run and make it 7-2.
UNCG would add one more run in the bottom of the eighth when Spleth led off with a double that was just fair down the right field line before later scoring on an RBI single by Quinones.
Georgia Southern would get a run in the top of the ninth when Payne led off with a solo home run to left center, but that would be it as UNCG would win 8-3.
The Spartans won't compete again until next weekend due to exams as they will travel down to College of Charleston for a three-game series between the two teams tied for second in the SoCon.
AGATE
UNCG 8, Georgia Southern 3
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Georgia Southern.... 200 000 001 - 3 10 0 (25-19, 13-8)
UNCG................ 110 005 01X - 8 11 1 (25-17, 14-7)
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Pitchers: Georgia Southern - Joe Lower; Justin Hess(6); Ryan McCafferty(6); Taylor Burke(7); Jarret Leverett(8); Colin Snow(8) and Tom Richardson. UNCG - Colby Hyatt and Trevor Edwards.
Win-Colby Hyatt(7-2) Loss-Joe Lower(0-1) T-3:34 A-292
HR GSU - Victor Roache; Shawn Payne.
Weather: 70 and cloudy
Hess faced 2 batters in the 6th.
- UNCG -
