BOX SCORE (PDF)
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Appalachian State broke open a close game with five runs in the seventh and eighth innings to walk away with a 9-5 victory over the UNCG baseball team in the series finale of a Southern Conference series Sunday at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
The Spartans pounded out 15 hits in the game but left 16 men on base. UNCG is now 17-19 overall and 5-10 in league play while the Mountaineers improve to 20-11 and 10-7.
Senior outfielder Christian Wolfe extended his hitting streak to 13 games and finished 2-for-5 at the dish as one of six Spartans to tally multiple hits. Classmate and infielder Lloyd Enzor recorded his fourth home run of the season as part of a three-run fourth inning.
Sophomore RHP Lee Gilliam suffered just his second loss of the season, throwing six and two-thirds innings allowing seven runs on 10 hits with six strikeouts. Classmate LHP Caleb Henley pitched a solid two scoreless frames in relief as he gave up no hits.
A RBI single by Noah Holmes with two outs gave ASU a one-run lead after the top of the first. Wolfe was able to get to second thanks to a leadoff walk in the bottom of the inning, but he would stay there as junior catcher Cambric Moye struck out swinging.
The Mountaineers plated a big three runs in the top of the second to extend their lead to 4-0. Gilliam got Brandon Burris to strike out with the bases loaded for the second out, but Jaylin Davis drove a ball to right center that fell for a bases-clearing triple.
UNCG made it a ballgame in the fourth, scoring three runs on four hits. Senior infielder TJ Spina was hit by a pitch with one away before Enzor stepped up and nailed a 1-2 pitch high over the left field wall to make it a 4-2 affair. Wolfe and redshirt sophomore infielder Ray Crawford tallied singles after a groundout by redshirt freshman infielder Nin Marrero and Edwards followed with a base knock of his own to bring home Wolfe. Edwards and Crawford advanced to third on a wild pitch, but Moye grounded out to third to end the inning with ASU leading 4-3.
It did not take long for the Spartans to tie the game in the fifth as sophomore outfielder Eric Kalbfleisch led off with a double to left. He moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt by senior outfielder Zach Leach. Marrero came through with two outs and ripped a single up the middle to score Kalbfleisch. Crawford came up later in the inning with two outs and the bases loaded, but he struck out swinging to keep the score tied.
Appalachian State put the game away in the seventh and eighth innings, racking up five runs on five hits to move in front 9-4. UNCG would close the scoring in the ninth with two outs as Wolfe tallied a RBI single which plated Spina who had led off with an infield single.
The Blue and Gold returns to action Tuesday, April 16, hosting Wake Forest for the teams' second and final meeting of the season. First pitch at the UNCG Baseball Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.
- UNCG -
