CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel's Austin Pritcher tossed a four-hit complete game shutout and Justin Mackert went 2-for-4 with an RBI as The Citadel defeated UNCG, 3-0, on Friday evening at Joseph P. Riley Park.
Pritcher (3-3) was lights out from the first pitch as he struck out a season-high seven batters the first time through UNCG's lineup. This was no ordinary victory for the Bulldogs, either, as the win was the 700th career win for head coach Fred Jordan.
With both teams tied for eighth place in the Southern Conference coming into the game, The Citadel (14-21, 5-8 SoCon) scored a run in the bottom of the second after an RBI single from Bailey Rush. The run proved to be the decisive one as Pritcher was masterful in shutting out UNCG for the first time since April 1, 2010, when Elon accomplished the feat with a 1-0 victory.
The Bulldogs scored two insurance runs in the bottom of the third to extend their lead to 3-0. Mason Davis led off the inning with a triple to right field and Mackert followed up with an RBI single that hit Spartans starter Tyler Hollstegge in the foot. Mackert continued to be a one-man wrecking crew as he stole second and third before scoring the game's final run on a throwing error.
UNCG (18-14, 4-9 SoCon) had only five runners reach base and only once had a runner reach third. The Spartans threatened in the sixth inning by putting runners on the corners. Moye was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a fielder's choice. Zach Leach extended his hitting streak to eight games with a single up the middle to put runners on the corners, but Pritcher buckled down and struck out Thomas Troelstrup to end the threat.
Pritcher ended the evening with a season-high nine strikeouts on 125 pitches. He was the first pitcher since former teammate Matt Talley to throw a complete game shutout against UNCG. Talley tossed his gem on May 15, 2010.
Garner, N.C., native Kris Richards went 1-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to a team-high nine games. Besides Richards and Leach, TJ Spina was the only Spartan to record a hit for UNCG.
The Spartans' Hollstegge (3-4) was tagged with the loss as he allowed three runs (two earned) in 2 2/3 innings of work while allowing six hits and striking out one batter.
For the second game in a row, UNCG's bullpen was dominant as Jonathan Jones, Zach Furl and Adam Boghosian threw 5 1/3 innings of one-hit shutout ball.
UNCG and The Citadel square off in game two on Saturday at 2 p.m.
AGATE
The Citadel 3, UNCG 0 (Apr 13, 2012 at Charleston, S.C.)
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UNCG................ 000 000 000 - 0 4 2 (18-14, 4-9)
The Citadel......... 012 000 00X - 3 7 1 (14-21, 5-8)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Tyler Hollstegge; Jonathan Jones(3); Zach Furl(6); Adam Boghosian(8) and
Cambric Moye. The Citadel - Austin Pritcher and Joe Jackson.
Win-Austin Pritcher(4-2) Loss-Tyler Hollstegge(3-4) T-2:24 A-287
Weather: 68 degrees and sunny
- UNCG -
