BOX SCORE (PDF)
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG baseball team battled Wake Forest toe to toe for much of Tuesday's nonconference game, but the Demon Deacons tallied seven runs in the seventh inning and picked up an 11-4 victory inside the UNCG Baseball Stadium. The Spartans are now 17-20 overall while WFU improves to 20-20.
Senior outfielder Zach Leach led the Blue and Gold at the dish, going 3-for-4, while classmate and outfielder Christian Wolfe turned in a 2-for-3 performance to extend his hitting streak to 14 games. Additionally, redshirt sophomore infielder Ray Crawford and junior outfielder Cole Harrison each drove in two runs to account for the Spartans' four RBI.
Sophomore RHP Adam Boghosian (0-1) took the loss in what was a staff day for the UNCG pitchers. He allowed one run in an inning pitched while striking out two. The Spartans used nine pitchers in all as freshman RHP Ryan Clark pitched his fifth consecutive scoreless inning in the ninth.
The game was scoreless through two innings before Wake Forest jumped in front 1-0 in the top of the third thanks to a two-out bases loaded walk by Boghosian. He would strike out Matt Conway looking to escape further damage.
The Demon Deacons plated another pair of runs in the top of the fifth as with two outs, Crawford committed an error at third which allowed two runners to cross home safely. Wake Forest walked three times in the frame. The home side drew within two in the bottom of the inning. Redshirt freshman infielder Nin Marrero reached on a throwing error by the WFU shortstop before Wolfe singled down the right field line. Crawford then came through with a RBI single up the middle which plated Wolfe from second and made the score 3-1.
A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases for the Deacs with no outs in the seventh. Brett Armour brought two runs home with a RBI single through the left side before Mark Rhine stepped up with the bases still full of Wake Forest runners and drove a pitch deep over the left field wall for a grand slam. Pat Blair completed the seven-run inning for the visitors with a two-out RBI double to right center to leave the Demon Deacons leading 10-1 at the stretch.
Wake Forest added another run in the eighth due to another error at third base to extend its advantage to 11-1. Junior infielder Sean Guite walked to lead off the bottom of the ninth and sophomore outfielder Zac MacAneney singled on the infield before Marrero advanced Guite to third and reached on a fielder's choice play. Harrison then crushed a ball to left that bounced off the top of the wall and back into the outfield for a RBI triple which plated both runners. Crawford would add a RBI groundout to account for the final score.
UNCG returns to the diamond this weekend for a Southern Conference series at Davidson. The Spartans and Wildcats will open the three-game set Friday, April 19 at Wilson Field in a 7 p.m. first pitch.
- UNCG -
