GREENSBORO, N.C. – After trailing 6-1, UNCG scored six unanswered runs to take the lead, but Furman's Taylor Johnson connected on a go-ahead two-run home run in the top of the ninth as Furman slipped past UNCG, 9-8, at UNCG Baseball Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Furman (15-13, 5-6 SoCon), much like in Friday's opener, put up a run in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead after a half inning of play. UNCG starter Max Povse hit leadoff man Will Owens and Jake Jones followed with a single to put two men on with no one out. The Paladins pulled off a successful double steal setting the table for cleanup hitter Will Miller. Miller put Furman on the board with an RBI groundout.
However, UNCG (14-12, 3-8 SoCon) responded in the bottom half of the frame with a run thanks to an RBI single from redshirt junior Trevor Edwards that scored Bobby Martin.
With the scored tied at 1 after two innings, Furman would plate two runs in the top of the third after Will Muzika produced an RBI groundout to give the Paladins a 2-1 lead. Spartan killer Paul Nitto continued to torment UNCG pitching by delivering the first of his three hits in the form of an RBI double to give Furman a 3-1 lead.
The Paladins struck again in a three-run fifth inning as they chased Povse as Muzika and Nitto hit back-to-back singles to extend their lead to five, 6-1.
Needing to keep it close, UNCG's offense came to life in the bottom of the fifth inning by putting up a five-spot. The rally started as TJ Spina led the inning off with a single and Martin was plunked to put runners on first and second. Zach Leach roped a triple down the right field line, scoring two runs and cutting the deficit in half, 6-3. The Spartans would continue to produce, as Lloyd Enzor smacked a two-run double down the left field line following a Thomas Troelstrup walk to bring UNCG within one, 6-5. Senior Kris Richards belted an RBI single to left field to tie the game at six. Paladin reliever Elliot Warford would end the threat by inducing a groundball double play off the bat of Andrew Spleth.
With the score tied at 6 after five innings, UNCG took its first lead of the game and of the series, 7-6, thanks to an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Troelstrup, who hustled down the line beating the throw by a step.
Dylan Hathcock (2-3) settled in and retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced, but, the ninth inning proved detrimental to the Tampa, Fla., native as he squandered the lead after allowing Johnson to connect on the go-ahead two-run home run. Furman would score an unearned run thanks to an RBI groundout from Nitto, giving the Paladins a 9-7 lead.
The Spartans would not go down easily as Enzor, Richards and Christian Wolfe hit back-to-back-to-back singles to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth. After Spleth notched an RBI via groundout to bring it to 9-8, Paladins' Jacques de Gruy would collect his first save of the season by getting Spina to groundout to short on a bang-bang play at first.
Matt Solter (1-1) picked up the win for Furman by tossing 2/3 of an inning while allowing three hits.
Jones and Nitto paced the Paladins with three hits each and Johnson enjoyed a multi-hit game as he had two hits on the day.
UNCG will try to avoid the sweep as the series finale will take place at 1 p.m. at UNCG Baseball Stadium on Sunday.
AGATE
Furman 9, UNCG 8 (Mar 31, 2012 at Greensboro, N.C.)
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Furman.............. 102 030 003 - 9 10 0 (15-13, 5-6)
UNCG................ 100 051 001 - 8 15 1 (14-12, 3-8)
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Pitchers: Furman - Nate Smith; Elliott Warford(5); Stephen Gary(6); Matt Solter(8);
Jacques de Gruy(9) and Zack Greenwell; Paul Nitto. UNCG - Max Povse; Zach Furl(5);
Jonathan Jones(5); Dylan Hathcock(6); Brennen James(9) and Trevor Edwards.
Win-Matt Solter(1-1) Save-Jacques de Gruy(1) Loss-Dylan Hathcock(2-3) T-3:23 A-312
HR FUR - Taylor Johnson.
Weather: 66 degrees and cloudy
Furl faced 2 batters in the 5th.
Smith faced 4 batters in the 5th.
Hathcock faced 2 batters in the 9th.
- UNCG -
