BOX SCORE (PDF)

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG baseball team jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in the first inning and made it stand as the Spartans downed Army 7-4 Friday in their season opener at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. The contest marked a victorious UNCG debut for head coach Link Jarrett. 

"I am really proud of the guys, especially the seniors," Jarrett said. "Dylan Hathcock (Tampa, Fla./Gaither) came in and gave us some great innings while Max Povse (Cary, N.C./Green Hope) was able to limit the damage early. We put some great swings together today, obviously with Lloyd Enzor (Whiteville, N.C./Southeastern CC) getting hold of the ball for his two-run shot, and I am really pleased." 

Hathcock relieved starter Povse in the top of the fourth inning and threw 4.1 innings to earn his first win of the season. He gave up one unearned run and struck out five before senior Corey Taylor (Fallston, Md./Fallston) recorded the final four outs of the contest for his second career save. 

Senior outfielder Christian Wolfe (Bel Air, Md./John Carroll) served as the Spartans' leadoff hitter and did not disappoint, going 3-for-5, while senior infielders Trevor Edwards (Toronto, Ontario, Canada/Taddle Creek Academy) and Enzor each delivered two RBI. As a team, UNCG came away with 13 hits while limiting Army to just five. The teams also combined to leave 20 men on base and committed six errors between them. 

The Black Knights struck first in the top of the first as Daniel Cortes drew a walk and Grant Van Orden was able to move him over with a sac bunt. Mark McCants followed with a single through the middle which plated Cortes. Povse induced a groundout and pop up to escape further damage. 

The Spartans jumped all over senior All-America pitcher Chris Rowley in the bottom of the frame as four of the first five batters posted hits – including a two-run triple by sophomore designated hitter Eric Kalbfleisch (Pilot Mountain, N.C./North Stokes). Edwards also smashed a double to right center which scored senior outfielder Zach Leach (Herndon, Va./Herndon). 

With two outs in the top of the second, Cortes reached on a fielder's choice that plated Michael Sands unearned and cut the UNCG cushion to 3-2. Army would knot the score at three in the top of the next inning with another unearned run. Patrick Mescher was hit by a pitch with one out and moved over on a Harold Earls single before Alex Jensen reached on an error by Edwards at third which scored Mescher. 

The Black Knights threatened again in the top of the fourth, but with one out and the bases loaded, Hathcock entered and picked off Cortes at third before striking out Mescher looking to terminate the rally. 

Enzor provided the deciding blow in the bottom of the fourth as junior outfielder Cole Harrison (Key West, Fla./Key West) reached on an error by the shortstop before Enzor got hold of a pitch in his wheelhouse and cranked it to left center for his sixth career round-tripper. UNCG would tack on another run to move in front 6-3 in the bottom of the fifth on a sac fly foul out by junior catcher Cambric Moye (Goldsboro, N.C./Eastern Wayne) which brought home senior infielder TJ Spina (Newberry, Fla./Santa Fe). The teams traded runs in the sixth inning to account for the final margin. 

Hathcock competed his stellar day in the top of the eighth with two outs. Taylor then struck out three of the last four batters to seal UNCG's opening day victory. 

Weather permitting, the Spartans and Black Knights will meet again Saturday at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. First pitch is tentatively scheduled for 2 p.m. 

- UNCG -