BOX SCORE (PDF)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UNCG baseball team fell behind 12-1 after seven innings and rallied for eight runs in the eighth inning to make it a ballgame, but the Spartans could not complete the comeback as Samford picked up a 15-9 Southern Conference victory Friday night at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
UNCG (19-27, 6-16 SoCon) outhit the Bulldogs (25-21, 10-11) 14-9, but committed three costly errors which led to four unearned runs.
The Spartans were led by senior infielder TJ Spina who recorded a hit with two runs scored and a pair driven in. He also drew two walks. Sophomore RHP Max Povse was tagged with the loss after throwing five and two-thirds innings and giving up eight runs – three of which were unearned. He struck out eight in the game for the third time this season.
Samford scored the game's first run when redshirt freshman infielder Nin Marrero threw high of first base trying to complete an inning-ending double play. Povse got C.K. Irby to fly out to right center to end the threat. UNCG tried to answer in the top of the fourth, but after senior infielder Lloyd Enzor led off with a single to left center, sophomore outfielder Eric Kalbfleisch struck out swinging and junior catcher Cambric Moye popped up to short before Enzor was caught stealing to end the inning.
Another miscue, this time by Povse, led to another unearned run for the Bulldogs as the pitcher threw the ball away trying to pick off a Samford runner with one away. Povse was able to recover and induce a flyout to end the frame.
The Spartan troubles in the field continued in the fifth as the Bulldogs plated two runs on a hit and a UNCG error. Zeth Stone ripped a triple to center with one out, scoring Austin Allison who had walked to begin the inning. However, Stone was able to score when the throw from center got past third base to increase the home team's lead to 4-0.
Enzor broke up the shutout in the sixth as Spina walked and stole second with one out before moving third on a single by senior infielder Trevor Edwards and scoring on a sacrifice fly to right. Kalbfleisch walked to put runners on first and second, but Moye flew out to shallow right to terminate the threat after the teams were pulled off the field for a brief rain delay.
Samford blew the contest open in the sixth inning as the Spartans were plagued by three walks, two hit batters and a wild pitch. The Bulldogs also recorded two hits in the frame and scored six runs to make it a 10-1 game.
After the home side tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the seventh, the UNCG offense exploded for eight in the eighth to make it a ballgame once more. The Spartans rapped out seven hits, three of the doubles, and took advantage of a Samford error as they pulled to within 12-9.
The Bulldogs would put the game away in the bottom of the eighth, responding with three runs as Samford assumed a 15-9 advantage. Phillip Ervin hit a two-run home run to deep center for the big blow – his 11th round-tripper of the season. That would be the final score as UNCG went down in order in the ninth.
Due to forecasted inclement weather Sunday in the Birmingham area, the teams are now scheduled to play a doubleheader Saturday to end the series. First pitch of game one will now be at 3 p.m. ET with the second game approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first contest.
- UNCG -
