GREENSBORO, N.C. – Trevor Edwards and Thomas Troelstrup connected on two-run blasts and strong pitching helped UNCG defeat Princeton, 6-3, on Wednesday night at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Princeton (4-8) struck first as Matt Bowman singled up the middle before Sam Mulroy connected on his team-high fifth home run of the year, giving the Tigers an early 2-0 lead after half an inning of play. Mulroy led the Tigers with two hits on the day.
However, the lead was short lived as UNCG (12-8) responded with two runs in the bottom of the first frame. Nick Chapman drew an one-out walk followed by a monster two-run blast to right field by Southern Conference home run leader Edwards two batters later. The homer was Edwards' ninth of the year.
UNCG kept the pressure on in the second inning as Christian Wolfe led off the inning with a double to left. Two outs later, TJ Spina delivered the go-ahead run with an RBI single down the third base line.
With UNCG leading 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth, Spina drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second on a wild-pitch by Michael Fagan. Kris Richards dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move him to third. Two batters later, Troelstrup connected on his fourth dinger of the year to give the Spartans a 5-2 lead.
Princeton threatened in the seventh after Nate Baird drew a four-pitch walk off Spartan reliever Tyler Frazier to start off the inning. Following a fly out, the Tigers' Alec Keller lined out to centerfield and Chapman doubled up Baird at first for an inning-ending double-play.
UNCG turned two double plays on the evening while Princeton had one.
Princeton would take advantage of back-to-back walks from Frazier by scoring on an RBI single from John Mishu to bring the Tigers within two in the eighth, 5-3. Again, UNCG responded with a leadoff double by Enzor and Wolfe followed with an RBI single of his own making it 6-3 in the Spartans' favor.
Princeton starter Fagan (0-1) pitched five innings allowing five earned runs, walking four and striking out two on 83 pitches.
Eric Kalbfleisch (1-0) collected the win for the Spartans with two innings of no-hit ball to go along with a strikeout. The win was the first of his career.
UNCG returns to action this weekend as it travels to Cullowhee, N.C., for a Southern Conference series with Western Carolina. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. on Friday.
AGATE
UNCG 6, Princeton 3 (Mar 21, 2012 at Greensboro, N.C.)
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Princeton........... 200 000 010 - 3 4 1 (4-8)
UNCG................ 210 020 01X - 6 8 0 (12-8)
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Pitchers: Princeton - Fagan, Michael; Makis, Ryan(6); Donatiello, Nick(8) and Mulroy, Sam. UNCG - Dylan Hathcock; Lee Gilliam(3); Eric Kalbfleisch(5); Tyler Frazier(7); Jonathan Jones(8); Brennen James(8) and Trevor Edwards.
Win-Eric Kalbfleisch(1-0) Save-Brennen James(2) Loss-Fagan, Michael(0-1) T-2:25 A-405
HR PRIN - Mulroy, Sam.
HR UNCG - Thomas Troelstrup; Trevor Edwards.
Frazier faced 2 batters in the 8th.
- UNCG -
