CHARLESTON, S.C. – With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Rob Kral took the first pitch he saw back up the middle to score two runs and give College of Charleston a 6-5 walk-off win over UNCG on Saturday evening at Patriots Point.
With UNCG holding on to a slim 5-4 lead entering the bottom of the ninth, Rob Harding led off with a walk and Jamie Holler laid down a bunt single to put two runners on and no outs. After a sacrifice bunt by Marty Gantt, Kral singled up the middle to score Harding and Holler and give the Cougars a 6-5 win.
Jake Zokan (1-1) pitched the final two outs in the ninth to pick up the win for College of Charleston (31-17, 15-8 Southern Conference). Dylan Hathcock (2-1) was credited with the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings of work.
The Spartans (26-18, 15-8 SoCon) were led by Thomas Troelstrup who went 2-4 with three RBI, while Drew Gehringer also went 2-4 and scored a pair of runs.
Kral led the Cougars as he went 3-4 with three RBI and two runs scored on the night. Jose Rodriguez also had a pair of hits and Daniel Aldrich knocked in a pair of runners.
The Cougars were able to jump on Browne early as Kral hit a one-out home run to right field to take the early 1-0 lead.
UNCG was able to get that run back in the top of the second as it manufactured a run. Gehringer led off the inning with a single to right before moving over to second on a sacrifice bunt. Cody Walker then followed with a single to center field to score Gehringer and tie the game at one.
With the score still that way in the top of the sixth, Bobby Martin hit a one-out infield single. After a fly out, Gehringer singled down the right field line. The Cougar right fielder was late to get to the ball and Martin tried to score, but was thrown out at the plate on a close call.
College of Charleston took advantage of that as they put up two runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead. With two outs and Kral on first after a walk, Aldrich hit a towering shot to right field to take a 3-1 lead.
Once again, UNCG had an answer in the next half inning to cut the Cougar lead in half. Eric Brindle led off and reached on an error before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a strikeout, Troelstrup hit a double to left center to score Brindle and make it a 3-2 game.
The Spartans used some good fortune in the top of the eighth to score three runs and take the lead. With one out, Gehringer hit into a fielder's choice to reach first before stealing second. Gehringer then swiped third and the throw down from the catcher sailed into left field to allow Gehringer to score and tie the game at three.
Brindle then reached on a fielding error by the second baseman and Andrew Spleth followed with a walk. Joe Hager followed with an infield single to the second baseman before Troelstrup singled to center field to score Brindle and Spleth and put UNCG in front, 5-3.
The Cougars came back in the home half of the eighth to cut the UNCG lead down to 5-4. Marty Gantt led off with a walk and Matt Leeds hit a one-out double down the left-field line to score Gnatt to make it a one-run game. CofC would go on to load the bases later in the inning, but reliever Dylan Hathcock got Cole Rakar to pop up to the shortstop.
The Spartans and Cougars will wrap up the series with a rubber game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
AGATE
College of Charleston 6, UNCG 5
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UNCG................ 010 000 130 - 5 9 0 (26-18, 15-8)
Coll. of Charleston. 100 002 012 - 6 9 3 (31-16, 15-8)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Brandon Browne; Greg Smith(6); Dylan Hathcock(8) and Cambric Moye; Trevor Edwards. Coll. of Charleston - David Peterson; Nick Osterman(9); Jake Zokan(9) and Rob Kral.
Win-Jake Zokan(1-1) Loss-Dylan Hathcock(2-1) T-2:48 A-382
HR COFC - Rob Kral; Daniel Aldrich.
Weather: 74 and sunny
Smith faced 1 batter in the 8th.
- UNCG -
