BOX SCORE (PDF)
GREENVILLE, S.C. – The UNCG baseball team racked up a season-high 21 hits en route to a 16-4 Southern Conference victory over Furman Friday evening at Latham Stadium.
The Spartans, winners of three-straight games, improve to 22-27 overall and 9-16 in league play while the Paladins fall to 26-23 and 12-16.
A total of six UNCG batters tallied multiple-hit efforts as the Spartans were led by senior outfielder Christian Wolfe and sophomore outfielder Zac MacAneney who recorded four hits apiece. Sophomore outfielder Eric Kalbfleisch and redshirt sophomore infielder Nin Marrero ended up with three hits each while Marrero and junior outfielder Cole Harrison were both credited with three RBI. MacAneney also scored four runs and picked up two RBI.
UNCG used the long ball to its advantage as senior infielder Trevor Edwards and junior catcher Cambric Moye each hit one out of the park. Edwards now has a team-leading 11 round trippers – the most of any active SoCon player – while he is just one short of tying the program career record.
The Blue and Gold took advantage of five Paladin errors and forced Furman to use seven pitchers in the contest. UNCG also struck out just three times while the Spartan pitching staff tallied eight whiffs of its own. Additionally, UNCG produced its most base knocks since also recording 21 in a game against the College of Charleston May 4, 2008.
Sophomore RHP Max Povse earned his fourth victory of the season on the bump, throwing six strong innings and allowing just three runs while scattering eight hits and striking out five. The bullpen combined to hold Furman to just one run on two hits.
The Spartans got the offense rolling right away as Wolfe led off with a single to short before advancing to third on two consecutive wild pitches. Senior infielder TJ Spina followed with a double to center which scored Wolfe for the first run of the contest. Edwards then reached on a fielding error at second which allowed Spina to move to third. Senior infielder Lloyd Enzor would ground into a double play, but Spina crossed home safely to make it 2-0 after a half inning.
Povse worked around a two-out hit in the bottom of the first before the Blue and Gold tacked on another run in the second thanks to a two-out RBI single by Marrero.
The home side got on the board in the bottom of the frame via a solo home run by Alex Abrams, but the Spartans answered with a big inning in the top of the third. With one away, Edwards drilled a 1-1 pitch over the wall in center before Moye followed with a two-run shot to left with Kalbfleisch on base after he dropped in an infield single. A RBI single by Harrison completed the scoring in the inning as UNCG plated four runs to move in front 7-1.
The Paladins drew within four runs in the bottom of the fifth as with two outs, Will Muzika hit a two-run home run to dead center to make it a 7-3 ballgame. With the momentum seemingly swinging in the Paladins' favor, Spina came up with a clutch two-out RBI single to shallow right in the top of the sixth as the Spartans extended their cushion to five runs.
Enzor led off the seventh with a single up the middle after fighting off a few pitches and Kalbfleisch followed with a double to deep center to give UNCG runners at second and third with no outs. After a pitching change, Moye grounded out to third before MacAneney sent a ball into left on the first pitch he saw for a RBI single. Harrison kept the hit parade going, coming through with a single up the middle which scored MacAneney and Kalbfleisch to push the score to 11-3.
A sacrifice fly by Edwards scored Wolfe after the right fielder doubled to lead off the eighth and the Spartans would tack on four more runs on three hits and three errors to complete their scoring. The Paladins would plate a consolation run in the bottom of the ninth to account for the final margin.
The teams will continue their series Saturday at Latham Stadium. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.
- UNCG -
