BOX SCORE (PDF)
CHARLESTON, S.C. – A six-run third inning was all College of Charleston needed to even its Southern Conference series with the UNCG baseball team as the Cougars recorded an 11-3 victory Saturday night at Patriots Point. The Blue and Gold falls to 16-15 overall and 4-7 in league play while College of Charleston improves to 17-13 and 8-5.
A trio of Spartans recorded at least two hits in the game as sophomore outfielder Eric Kalbfleisch ripped a career-best three doubles in the game to increase his season total to 10 and finish 3-for-4 at the dish. Senior infielder TJ Spina hit his second home run of the season in the ninth inning, giving UNCG 27 total round-trippers.
Senior LHP Corey Taylor took the loss and dropped to 0-4 on the season. He threw three innings, giving up six runs on eight hits and three walks.
On a positive note, senior outfielder Christian Wolfe extended his current hitting streak to eight games while senior infielder Trevor Edwards reached base for the 15th-straight contest.
Just as last night, the Spartans broke onto the scoreboard first – this time in the top of the second. Kalbfleisch led off with double to left center before, with two outs, Enzor blistered a ball through the left side of the infield and plated Kalbfleisch to make it 1-0.
UNCG threatened to add to its advantage in the third, but after singles by redshirt sophomore infielder Ray Crawford and senior infielder Trevor Edwards, junior catcher Cambric Moye struck out and Crawford was thrown out trying to take third base.
In the third inning, the Cougars finally broke through for the first time in the series and did it in a big way – striking for six runs on seven hits to jump in front 6-1. College of Charleston strung four singles and a triple together to account for the scores. The home side kept the hits coming in the fourth and added to its advantage thanks to three hits off senior reliever Dominique Vattuone.
The top of the sixth provided UNCG's next chance to score as Kalbfleisch ripped a one-out double to center. He would be stranded at third, however, as seniors Zach Leach and TJ Spina grounded out in consecutive at bats to end the inning.
The game got away from the Spartans in the sixth as two UNCG errors at second base led to three unearned runs for the Cougars and made the score 10-1. College of Charleston added another run in the eighth before Spina crushed a one-out, two-run home run deep to left center to provide the final margin.
The teams will conclude their league series with the rubber game Sunday. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. at Patriots Point.
- UNCG -
