SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Three UNCG pitchers combined to pitch a five-hit shutout in a 5-0 win in game one before Colby Hyatt and Tyler Hollstegge combined for a four-hit shutout in a 15-0 victory in the second game of the doubleheader over Wofford on Saturday at Russell C. King Field.
Combined with UNCG's 3-0 win on Friday night, UNCG shut out the Terriers in all three games. It is the first time since 1994 that a Southern Conference team has shut out an opponent in a three-game league series.
The Spartans (34-18, 22-8 SoCon) have also won eight games in a row and 15 of their last 16 games. The 22 SoCon wins matches the school record for the most league wins that was set in 1998, UNCG's first year in the conference. The 34 overall wins is also the most by a UNCG team since 2003.
In game one, Brandon Browne (2-2) pitched five innings for the Spartans (33-18, 21-8 SoCon) and allowed just three hits, while striking out two. Greg Smith and Jonathan Jones each pitched two innings of relief and allowed just a hit each.
Tom Dolinak (4-7) was credited with the loss for Wofford (22-33, 9-21 SoCon) after allowing three runs on nine hits in five innings of work.
Bobby Martin went 3-4 with an RBI and two runs scored in the game, while Cody Walker and Cambric Moye each went 3-5 on the afternoon. Walker's performance increased his team-best hitting streak to 13 games, but he saw that snapped in the second game.
After neither team was able to push a run across the plate in the first four innings, UNCG put up three runs in the top of the fifth. Moye got the inning started with a single to center field and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.
After a single to left center by John Hein put runners on the corners, Martin reached on a fielder's choice that scored Moye. Trevor Edwards then followed with a line drive home run to right field to make it 3-0.
Martin would go on to lead off the top of the seventh with a double down the left-field line to get the Spartan offense going again. Edwards followed with a walk before both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt. Eric Brindle then hit a fly ball to deep center field to allow Martin to score and make it 4-0.
The Spartans added a final run in the ninth on an RBI single by Moye to make the final score 5-0.
In game two, Hyatt (8-2) pitched seven innings in just 68 pitches, while yielding only four hits. Hollstegge came in for the final two innings and didn't allow a hit.
Brandon Yarusi (1-6) picked up the loss after giving up five runs (three earned) on seven hits in four innings of work.
Ray Quinones went 3-6 with five RBI and two runs scored in the final game and Brindle added a 3-4 performance with two RBI and a run scored. Andrew Spleth also went 3-6 and scored three times, while Thomas Troelstrup had a 2-5 day with an RBI and three runs scored.
The Spartans got things going in the third inning when Quinones hit a three-run home run to left field to give UNCG the 3-0 lead. Walker would hit a sacrifice fly later in the inning to make it 4-0.
After Troelstrup had an RBI double in the fourth, he scored on a passed ball in the sixth inning to stretch the Spartan lead to 6-0.
The Spartans blew the game open in the seventh inning by putting up seven runs, all unearned, to take a commanding 13-0 advantage. Quinones had a two-run double in the inning and Brindle also had a two-run single as the Terriers committed two errors in the inning.
UNCG would tack on another two runs in the top of the ninth to make the final score 15-0.
The Spartans will hit the diamond again on Wednesday as they play seventh-seeded Furman at 9 a.m. in the first round of the Southern Conference tournament.
AGATE
UNCG 5, Wofford 0 (Game 1)
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UNCG................ 000 030 101 - 5 15 1 (33-18, 21-8)
Wofford............. 000 000 000 - 0 5 0 (22-32, 9-20)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Brandon Browne; Greg Smith(6); Jonathan Jones(8) and Cambric Moye. Wofford - Tom Dolinak; Bobby Streisel(6); Ryan Traylor(8); Pete Noordsy(8); Jesse Morris(9) and David Roney.
Win-Brandon Browne(2-2) Loss-Tom Dolinak(4-7) T-2:58 A-0
HR UNCG - Trevor Edwards.
Weather: 82 and sunny
UNCG 15, Wofford 0 (Game 2)
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UNCG................ 004 101 702 - 15 16 0 (34-18, 22-8)
Wofford............. 000 000 000 - 0 4 4 (22-33, 9-21)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Colby Hyatt; Tyler Hollstegge(8) and Trevor Edwards. Wofford - Brandon Yarusi; Drew Sheridan(5); Thomas Nichols(7); Alex Wilson(7); John Cornely(9) and Luke Feisal; David Roney.
Win-Colby Hyatt(8-2) Loss-Brandon Yarusi(1-6) T-2:22 A-439
HR UNCG - Ray Quinones.
Weather: 84 and sunny
Nichols faced 2 batters in the 7th.
- UNCG -
