WILMINGTON, N.C. – UNCG scored three runs in the top of the first inning Friday and did not relent, recording a 10-4 nonconference baseball victory over UNCW at Brooks Field.

The win was the first road triumph for the team this season and only the second home loss for the Seahawks. UNCW received votes in many of the national Top 25 polls this week.

UNCG (6-9) played with a number of underclassmen in the contest as several regular starters were suspended for the game due to a violation of team rules. The Spartans out-hit the Seahawks (10-5) 12-6 while the teams combined for three errors. The Blue and Gold scored double-digit runs for the fourth time this season while producing double figures in hits for the fifth time in the last seven games. Additionally, Clark and junior LHP Bryant Stafford combined for 12 strikeouts, marking the fifth time this campaign the staff has compiled 10 or more strikeouts – including four of the last seven outings.

Junior RHP Ryan Clark was stellar, improving to 3-1 on the season. He allowed just one run on two hits in seven innings pitched while striking out eight batters and walking three. Nick Monroe (1-1) took the loss for UNCW as he gave up five runs on five hits with four walks and two strikeouts in just three innings pitched.

Freshman outfielder Devin Ruiz had a big day at the dish, going 3-for-5 with three RBI. Freshman infielder Austin Embler, sophomore outfielder Ryne Sigmon and junior catcher (playing as the DH) Jake Hall also racked up multiple-hit efforts. A total of seven Spartans tallied hits in the game while the top three in the lineup accounted for six runs scored. Steven Linkous was 2-for-5 with a RBI to pace the Seahawks.

UNCG drew two walks and produced three hits in the top of the first to jump ahead by a 3-0 score. Sigmon drew a bases-loaded walks with two outs before Ruiz smoked a two-run double to center. Sigmon was thrown out at the plate to end the half inning and keep the Spartan lead at three. Embler picked up his first career hit in the inning with a leadoff single through the left side.

The Blue and Gold added to its lead in the top of the third. Redshirt junior infielder Ricky Guile looped a single to right field before moving to third on a passed ball and a wild pitch. Junior infielder Collin Woody then drew a walk and Guile would race home on a ball four wild pitch to make it 4-0. Sigmon added another run, tattooing a single up the middle that scored Woody and left the Spartans with a 5-0 lead headed to the bottom of the inning.

UNCW broke onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the third as a Steven Linkous triple scored Robbie Thorburn to cut UNCG's advantage to 5-1. Clark limited the Seahawks to just one run, however, as he notched a strikeout and induced a pop up to escape further damage.

The Spartans continued to score in the top of the fourth, taking advantage of a couple of UNCW errors. Those miscues led to two runs for the Blue and Gold as UNCG stretched its lead to 7-1. Hall just missed a grand slam in the inning but settled for a sac fly to account for the seventh run. The scoring settled down from there as Clark worked through the middle innings keeping the Seahawks off of the scoreboard.

After barely missing the grand slam earlier, Hall got his homer in the seventh – a leadoff shot over the fence in left center to extend the Spartan cushion to 8-1. UNCG worked the bases loaded with no outs later and cashed when Sigmon drew a walk to leave the Blue and Gold with a 9-1 lead at the stretch.

A RBI double by Ruiz stretched the Spartan advantage to nine runs in the top of the eighth before a two-run double from Corey Dick cut the lead to 10-3 in the bottom of the inning. 

Ruiz kept the hit parade going in the top of the eighth with a RBI double to make the score 10-1 before UNCW responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame to slice the Spartan advantage to seven runs. The Seahawks would add an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth before Stafford fanned Casey Golden looking to end the contest.

UNCG continues its weekend with two games Saturday at Brooks Field. The Spartans will face Columbia at Noon before facing off with UNCW at 4 p.m.

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