BOX SCORE (PDF)
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Sophomore right hander Max Povse twirled a complete-game, five-hit shutout and the UNCG baseball team touched up College of Charleston for 17 hits on the way to a 12-0 victory Friday night at Patriots Point.
It was the first complete game and shutout for Povse in his career and first for the Blue and Gold since March 30, 2007 when Ryan Falcon blanked Georgia Southern on just two hits in a 2-0 UNCG victory.
The Spartans won their third-straight Southern Conference contest to improve to 16-14 overall and 4-6 in the league. UNCG also reached double figures in runs for the sixth time this season and is now 6-0 in those games. Additionally, the shutout is the first for the Blue and Gold in league play since May 21, 2011 when the Spartans blanked Wofford 15-0 in Spartanburg.
Povse struck out seven in the game while walking just two batters to raise his record to 2-1. He limited the third-place Cougars to just three hits in the first six innings and retired eight consecutive batters in the middle frames.
A total of eight Spartans tallied hits on the night, including a pair of three-hit performances by junior catcher Cambric Moye and redshirt freshman infielder Nin Marrero. Senior infielder Trevor Edwards turned in a 2-for-4 effort with three RBI and three runs scored. He also drew a pair of walks. His home run in the fourth was his team-leading ninth of the season and 35th of his career – the most of any active SoCon player.
The Spartans got the scoring started early in the game with Wolfe and Edwards ripping doubles to each side of the outfield - giving UNCG a 1-0 advantage. It was the 12th double for Wolfe this season as he came into the contest tied for the league lead in two-baggers.
The Blue and Gold strung together a pair of two-out hits to put runners on first and third in the second, but redshirt sophomore infielder Ray Crawford grounded out to second base to end the threat and leave the score at 1-0.
Senior infielder Lloyd Enzor crushed a one-out double to right field in the fourth inning before Marrero singled on the infield and then stole second after Wolfe struck out. Crawford came up with a huge two-out hit, scooting a ball through the right side which scored both runners. With Crawford sitting on first, Edwards got a hold of a pitch and drove it out of the park to extend the UNCG advantage to 5-0.
UNCG tacked on another run in the top of the fifth to make the score 6-0 when Enzor recorded a base hit after senior infielder TJ Spina laced a triple to center field. The Cougars avoided further damage with Enzor at third and Marrero at second as Wolfe struck out and Crawford grounded out to short on a bang-bang play at first.
Keeping the offense rolling in the sixth, the Spartans plated two more runs on a single by Spina which plated sophomore outfielder Eric Kalbfleisch and Edwards. Kalbfleisch reached on a fielder's choice after Edwards drew a walk and advanced to third on the fielder's choice.
College of Charleston put up a threat in the sixth, but after a leadoff double by Ryan Welke and a walk to Morgan Phillips, Povse bore down and induced a popout as well as two flyouts to shut the Cougars down and keep the score at 8-0.
A four-run seventh inning pushed the Spartans over double figures in runs as a RBI single by Moye and a three-run bomb by Kalbfleisch stretched the score to 12-0. It was Kalbfleisch's first long ball of the year.
Povse was strong right until the end, giving up just single hits in the seventh and ninth innings to preserve the shutout.
UNCG continues its series with College of Charleston Saturday at Patriots Point. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
- UNCG -
