BOX SCORE (PDF)
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG baseball team recorded double-digit hits for the fourth-straight game, but the Blue and Gold left 10 men on base while Elon scored five runs in the first two innings to complete the series sweep by an 8-4 score Sunday at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
A trio of Spartans recorded three hits in the game with redshirt sophomore infielder Ray Crawford (Greensboro, N.C./Dudley) also scoring two runs. Redshirt freshman Nin Marrero (Greensboro, N.C./Western Guilford) plated a pair of RBI while senior infielder Trevor Edwards (Toronto, Ontario, Canada/Taddle Creek Academy) and sophomore outfielder Eric Kalbfleisch (Pilot Mountain, N.C./North Stokes) were the other two UNCG players with three base knocks.
Junior Dylan Thompson (Snow Camp, N.C./Guilford Technical CC) was saddled with his third loss of the season, giving up five runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk. The Spartans used eight pitchers in the contest with the final six holding Elon scoreless after the fourth inning. The UNCG staff also posted seven strikeouts and induced a pair of double plays.
A RBI triple by Alex Swim fueled the first inning for Elon as the Phoenix added a sacrifice fly to score Swim and make the score 2-0. UNCG tried to answer in the bottom of the inning, but after singles from redshirt sophomore Ray Crawford and senior infielder Trevor Edwards, the Spartans struck out and popped out to end the threat.
Thompson was able to get the first two Phoenix batters out in the top of the second, but Marrero botched a ground ball which would have gotten the Blue and Gold out of the inning unscathed. Elon capitalized as the next four batters recorded hits – resulting in three runs which pushed the score to 5-0.
UNCG pulled a run back in the bottom of the second when Kalbfleisch led off with a double and was brought home by a Marrero RBI single. However, the Phoenix tacked on three more runs in the fourth to grab an 8-1 lead thanks to four hits in the frame. Swim accounted for two of the runs with a double down the right field line with one out.
In the bottom of the fifth, Crawford led off with a single before Edwards doubled to left field with one out to score him and make it an 8-3 ballgame. Neither team scored in the sixth or seventh innings. With one away in the home half of the eighth, junior catcher Cambric Moye (Goldsboro, N.C./Eastern Wayne) and Kalbfleisch put together consecutive singles before senior infielder TJ Spina (Newberry, Fla./Santa Fe) also singled to load the bases. Marrero reached on a fielder's choice play in the next at bat and Moye was able to score to bring the Spartans to within 8-3. Elon escaped further damage by getting sophomore outfielder Zac MacAneney (Gibsonville, N.C./Western Alamance) to ground into a fielder's choice which resulted in Marrero getting forced out at second.
The Blue and Gold put together one last rally in the bottom of the ninth as Crawford led off with a double down the right field line. Edwards singled through the right side with one away before senior infielder Lloyd Enzor (Whiteville, N.C./Southeastern CC) poked a single through the right side to score Crawford. Moye came up next but grounded into a double play to end the game.
UNCG returns to action Tuesday, March 19 when the Spartans travel to Raleigh for a matchup with No. 17 NC State. First pitch at Doak Field at Dail Park is scheduled for 6 p.m.
- UNCG -
