GAME ONE BOX SCORE (PDF) | GAME TWO BOX SCORE (PDF)
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG baseball team could not stop Western Carolina's Southern Conference winning streak Saturday as the Catamounts downed the Spartans in a doubleheader by scores of 10-7 and 15-5 at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
One of the highlights of the day was senior outfielder Christian Wolfe extending his hitting streak to 21 games, surpassing Ricky Orton's 20-game stretch which occurred during the 2007 campaign. Senior infielders Trevor Edwards and Lloyd Enzor ended the day both 4-for-9 at the plate with a combined four RBI and four runs scored.
Western Carolina (30-17, 18-6) is the first team in the SoCon to reach 30 wins and has now captured 11-straight victories in league play. The Spartans fall to 18-26 overall and 6-15 in Southern Conference action.
Game 1
Senior LHP Corey Taylor began game one on a high note, setting down the Catamounts in order. UNCG was able to capitalize in the bottom of the inning, as Wolfe and junior outfielder Cole Harrison poked back-to-back singles into right field. Edwards grounded out to advance the runners before sophomore outfielder Eric Kalbfleisch doubled to deep center to score the runners and make it 2-0 in the Spartans' favor.
The teams could not push across any runs in the second and third frames, but Western Carolina cut the UNCG lead in half in the top of the fourth as Adam Martin hit a two-out solo home run to left field. The Spartans could not answer in the bottom half of the inning as the Catamounts would take the lead in the fifth.
Dale Urquhart was hit by a pitch to lead off things before Bradley Strong laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner to second. A single up the middle by Danny Bermudez loaded the bases with one out before Aaron Attaway laced a single to right field to tie the game. The second out came by way of a Julian Ridings strikeout, but Tyler White was hit by a pitch to fill the bases once more. Jacob Hoyle would then give the visitors the lead for good as he roped a single to right field to bring home two runs and push the score to 4-2.
The Catamounts extended their cushion to 7-2 in the sixth, plating four runs on five hits. A triple by Strong and double by Bermudez accounted for two of the runs while a wild pitch and RBI single completed the scoring in the inning.
A run in the top of the seventh pushed the WCU advantage to seven runs before the Spartans made a charge in the bottom of the eighth. Edwards and Enzor doubled to begin the inning before consecutive singles by Kalbfleisch and Spina loaded the bases – still with no outs on the board. Junior catcher Cambric Moye worked a walk on a 3-1 count to make the score 9-4 and redshirt sophomore infielder Ray Crawford kept the hit parade going with a RBI single to score Kalbfleisch and Wolfe fouled out deep enough behind third base to plate Spina and bring the Spartans to within 9-6.
The teams traded runs in the ninth as the Blue and Gold's comeback efforts fell just short. A RBI single by Moye accounted for the game's final margin.
Taylor was tagged with the loss as he threw five complete innings, giving up five runs on five hits while striking out six batters. Sophomore RHP Tyler Frazier was responsible for three of the Catamount tallies, hurling two-thirds of an inning and allowing four hits.
Enzor was 2-for-5 in the contest while also scoring two runs and driving in one. Kalbfleisch and Moye combined for four RBI as they tallied two apiece.
Game Two
Offense ruled the day to begin game two as the teams combined for seven runs and seven hits in the first inning alone. Western Carolina scored four of the runs before UNCG responded with three of its own in the bottom of the frame.
Unfortunately, the Catamounts took over the game from there – netting four runs in the second and third innings to take a commanding 8-3 advantage. A double by White with two outs in the top of the third was the big blow as WCU tallied eight hits in the first three frames.
After a scoreless fourth stanza, Western Carolina put the game away with four runs in the fifth and sixth innings. The lead grew to as much as 15-3 before a two-run shot over the right field fence by Enzor ended the scoring run and provided the final score.
Both Edwards and Enzor recorded multiple-hit efforts for the second-straight contest while Enzor drove in three runs to pace the Spartans offensive attack.
Sophomore RHP Lee Gilliam took the loss for UNCG, giving up eight runs on eight hits in three innings with four strikeouts. Freshman RHP Ryan Clark and sophomore RHP Brennen James threw the final two frames, keeping the Catamounts scoreless and without a hit.
The Blue and Gold returns to the diamond Tuesday, April 29, wrapping up a four-game homestand with a contest against crosstown neighbor North Carolina A&T. First pitch at the UNCG Baseball Stadium is slated for 6 p.m.
- UNCG -
