GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG baseball team used an impressive offensive display in Friday's season opener to capture a 12-8 victory over local rival High Point at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.

The Spartans won their third season opener in as many tries under head coach Link Jarrett and their victory was the sixth in the last seven meetings with the Panthers. High Point outhit the Blue and Gold 14-12, but UNCG took advantage of six Panther errors and recorded six extra-base hits to rack up its 12 runs.

Senior outfielder Zac MacAneney had a solid day at the plate, notching three hits, two runs scored and a RBI. Newcomer and junior infielder Collin Woody impressed in his Spartan debut as he was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBI and two doubles. Senior outfielder Tyler Long and senior designated hitter Aaron Wright also produced multi-hit efforts with two base knocks, two runs scored and two RBI each. Wright added a home run in the eighth inning to close the scoring for the Blue and Gold.

Junior RHP Ryan Clark, the Southern Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year, picked up his first victory of the season – throwing five innings and allowing four runs on seven hits with a strikeout. John McGillicuddy took the loss for HPU, giving up five runs (all earned) on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts in just 2.2 innings. Senior RHP Tyler Frazier earned his first save of the year after recording the final out of the contest.

After Clark set High Point down in order in the top of the first, the Spartan offense went to work quickly. MacAneney and Long poked singles through both sides of the infield with MacAneney moving to third on Long's hit. With one away, senior outfielder Eric Kalbfleisch smashed a triple to deep left – clearing the bases and giving UNCG a 2-0 advantage. Woody then drew a walk before a fielder's choice play allowed Kalbfleisch to score the Spartans' third run, leaving the home team with a 3-0 lead after one complete.

A RBI groundout in the top of the third made the score 3-1, but the first of Woody's two doubles in the bottom of the frame accounted for two runs and put the Blue and Gold ahead by a 5-1 margin.

Freshman infielder Tripp Shelton reached on an error to begin the bottom of the fourth and he would later come around to score on a sac fly by senior infielder Hunter King to make the score 6-1. The Spartans really began to pull away in the fifth, as a two-run double by Long helped the Blue and Gold put up a four spot to establish a 10-1 cushion. The Panthers struck back for three runs on three hits in the top of the sixth, but a RBI double by Wright served as a response and left the score at 11-4 heading to the seventh inning.

Both teams tallied a run in the eighth, including Wright's first home run of the season, before High Point tried to rally one last time. Spencer Angelis singled up the middle to lead off the top of the ninth and Alexander Gross drew a one-out walk to put runners at first and second. Tony Fortier-Benson then singled to load the bases for Carson Jackson. He came through with a RBI single to cut the Spartan lead to 12-6. Cody Manzella struck out for the second out but a wild pitch permitted another run to come across and cut the UNCG advantage to 12-7. Another wild pitch made it a four-run ballgame, but Frazier fanned Peter Ripke to end the contest.

The Spartans and Panthers will continue their series Saturday in High Point. First pitch at Williard Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Follow the UNCG baseball team all season by logging on to www.uncgspartans.com and following the Spartans' official Twitter accounts @uncgbaseball/@uncgsports.