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Box Score 2 SAVANNAH, Ga. – The UNCG baseball team lost a pair of nonconference games in Savannah, Ga. Saturday, falling 2-1 to Charlotte before dropping a 4-2 decision to NC State at Grayson Stadium. The Spartans dip to 2-6 overall while the 49ers evens their record at 3-3 and the Wolfpack improves to 5-3.
Charlotte 2, UNCG 1
A contest that saw just seven combined hits between UNCG and Charlotte went the 49ers way as they scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and held on for a 2-1 victory. The Spartans turned a pair of double plays in the game to keep the Charlotte offense at bay.
Senior outfielder Eric Kalbfleisch, freshman infielder Tripp Shelton and freshman designated hitter Devin Ruiz notched a hit apiece for the Blue and Gold while four 49ers recorded one hit each. Junior LHP Bryant Stafford (0-1) was tagged with the loss after throwing 1 2/3 innings and allowing one run on two hits with two strikeouts. UNCG received a strong start from junior RHP Ryan Clark who gave up just one run on two hits with three strikeouts in six and a third innings of work. Trevor Gay recorded the win for Charlotte as he produced one and two-thirds scoreless and hitless innings.
The Spartans struck for the game's first run in the top of the third. Junior infielder Collin Woody was hit by a pitch to lead off and took third base after a failed pickoff attempt with one out on the board. He would slide home safe when Shelton put a nice bunt down and reached on a fielder's choice.
UNCG made the run stand until the bottom of the fifth. Brett Netzer clubbed a leadoff triple to center and scored on a sacrifice fly by Zach Jarrett. That would leave the score at 1-1 after five complete.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth and Nick Daddio on first, the Spartans looked to keep the 49ers off the board and the game tied heading into the ninth inning. However, Daddio stole second to bring up Derek Gallello. He was then able to send a single through the middle that scored Daddio for the winning tally.
The Blue and Gold received a leadoff single from Ruiz to open the top of the ninth as senior Nick Chapman replaced him on the bases. Chapman was able to take second base with two outs on a wild pitch and Kalbfleisch drew a walk before Woody was hit by a pitch to load the bases. UNCG could not push the winning run across, however, as junior catcher Jake Hall grounded into a fielder's choice to end the game.
NC State 4, UNCG 2
NC State took advantage of three UNCG errors in the second contest of the day to come away with a 4-2 win. The Spartans led through the first five innings of the game before the Wolfpack took the upper hand for good in the bottom of the sixth.
Senior RHP Brennen James (0-2) was outstanding in the loss as he tossed a career-high six and two-thirds innings and allowed just two earned runs on six hits. He struck out five and walked only one. Brian Brown (2-0) picked up the victory after he threw six innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits with four strikeouts and a walk.
UNCG did not have a player with more than one hit while NSCU received a 2-for-4 performance from Logan Ratledge. Woody and sophomore catcher Jake Kusz notched a hit and a run scored each for the Spartans.
As in the first game of the day, the Blue and Gold scored first. In the top of the third, Woody led off with a single before Kusz drew a walk. After a Shelton strikeout, a failed pickoff attempt moved both runners into scoring position. Woody was able to score on a wild pitch while Kusz came home on an infield single by senior outfielder Tyler Long to make the score 2-0 heading into the bottom of the frame.
NC State broke through in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs on three hits and two Spartan errors. James had retired 12-straight batters before the one-out rally occurred. The go ahead and eventual winning run came with two outs on an error at second.
The Wolfpack scored another unearned run in the bottom of the seventh to account for the final score. Kusz roped a two-out double to right field in the top of the eighth, but a strikeout ended UNCG's final threat as the Spartans went down in order in the top of the ninth.
The Blue and Gold closes the weekend Sunday morning with a rematch against NC State. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
