GREENSBORO, N.C. – After the game was delayed one hour and 24 minutes due to rain, UNCG came out and scored a run in each of the first three innings as the Spartans defeated The Citadel, 5-1, on Saturday afternoon at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
The win gave UNCG (30-18, 18-8 Southern Conference) its most wins in the conference since 2000 when the Spartans recorded 20 wins in the SoCon. It was also the Spartans' 11th win in their last 12 games and the first time they have reached 30 wins since 2008.
Brandon Browne (1-2) picked up his first win of the year after pitching five innings and giving up just one run on four hits. Jarett Miller came in to pitch the final 2 1/3 innings and gave up just one hit and struck out one to record his second save of the season.
The Citadel (20-31, 8-18 SoCon) starter Justin Russell (1-5) allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits in just three innings of work.
Cole Harrison had a breakout 3-4 performance on Saturday and drove in three runs, while Eric Brindle also went 3-4 and scored twice. Cody Walker added a pair of doubles to extend his hitting streak to a team-high 10 games.
William Ladd went 2-4 for the Bulldogs and Drew DeKerlegand had the lone RBI as they were limited to five hits on the day.
After the rain delay ended, the Spartans jumped right on Russell and the Bulldogs to plate a run in the home half of the first. John Hein led off with a single to left center and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bobby Martin, his team-leading 16th.
Trevor Edwards then singled to right center to put runners on the corners before Drew Gehringer single on a chopper of the third baseman's head to give UNCG a 1-0 lead. Brindle followed with a single to load the bases with one out, but the Bulldogs worked out of the jam.
The Bulldogs would take advantage of some shaky pitching by the Spartans in the top of the second to knot the game back up at one. With one out, Brad Felder drew a walk before Legare Jones singled up the middle. After a fielder's choice put runners on the corners, Nick Orvin drew a walk to load the bases and DeKerlegand walked as well to score Felder and make it 1-1.
The Spartan offense continued to click early as they used some good fortune of their own to take the lead back. Thomas Troelstrup drew a leadoff walk on eight pitches and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Troelstrup would then take third on a passed ball before scoring on a balk to make it 2-1.
UNCG played small ball again in the third as Brindle had a leadoff single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Walker. Harrison followed with a bloop single to left field to score Brindle and push the Spartan lead out to 3-1.
The score would stay that way until the bottom of the seventh when Harrison struck again. With one out, Brindle singled to the shortstop in the hole and moved to third when Walker doubled off the left-field wall. Harrison then doubled down the left-field line on a drawn-in infield to give UNCG a 5-1 advantage.
The Spartans will look to complete the series sweep against the Bulldogs on Sunday at 1 p.m.
AGATE
UNCG 5, The Citadel 1
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The Citadel......... 010 000 000 - 1 5 0 (20-31, 8-18)
UNCG................ 111 000 20X - 5 12 0 (30-18, 18-8)
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Pitchers: The Citadel - Justin Russell; TJ Clarkson(4); Jeremy Long(8) and Joe Jackson; Grant Richards. UNCG - Brandon Browne; Greg Smith(6); Jarett Miller(7) and Cambric Moye; Zach Leach.
Win-Brandon Browne(1-2) Save-Jarett Miller(2) Loss-Justin Russell(1-5) T-2:41 A-295
Weather: 71 and overcast
- UNCG -
