GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG baseball team returned home Saturday after eight-straight games on the road, splitting a doubleheader with Princeton. The Spartans won the first game by a 12-3 score in seven innings before the Tigers rebounded in game two with a 14-9 victory. UNCG moves to 3-8 overall while Princeton goes to 1-4.

Game One

UNCG scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning to seize control early in a 12-3, seven-inning victory.

The Spartans out-hit the Tigers 15-7 and used a quality start from junior RHP Ryan Clark (2-1) who struck out a career-high 10 batters in six innings of work. He picked up the win after allowing just one run on four hits. Chad Powers (0-2) took the loss for Princeton as he tossed four innings and gave up seven runs (three earned) on nine hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

Senior infielder Aaron Wright produced a stellar effort at the plate, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored, two RBI and his second home run of the season. Senior outfielder Zac MacAneney also enjoyed a fine effort with two hits in five at bats, a run scored and three RBI. Additionally, sophomore catcher Jake Kusz chipped in with two hits and two runs scored.

With two outs in the bottom of the second in a scoreless game, senior outfielder Eric Kalbfleisch and Kusz struck out before Wright doubled and senior infielder Hunter King walked. Freshman designated hitter Devin Ruiz drew a walk as well to load the bases for freshman infielder Tripp Shelton. A fielding error at short allowed Wright and King to race home for a 2-0 UNCG lead, but the Spartans were not done there. MacAneney then crushed a two-run double to left center that extended the Spartans' advantage to 4-0 after two complete.

The teams traded runs in the third inning before the Blue and Gold started to pull away in the fourth. MacAneney and junior infielder Collin Woody homered in the inning to leave UNCG with a 7-1 cushion. Another home run, this time by Wright, made it an 8-1 contest in the fifth and the Spartans put the game away in the bottom of the sixth.

The rally began with two outs as Kusz doubled to center and Wright brought him home with a RBI single. A consecutive double and triple by Ruiz and Shelton plated three more runs to push the UNCG lead to 12-1. The Tigers would add two runs on three hits in the top of the seventh to account for the final nine-run margin.

Game Two

Princeton scored six times in the first two innings and held off a late UNCG rally to take the second game of the doubleheader 14-9. The teams combined for 23 runs and 28 hits while the Tigers made two errors.

Senior RHP Brennen James (0-3) gave up eight runs in a tough four-inning outing. He struck out two and walked two while surrendering 11 hits. Keelan Smithers nabbed the win after tossing four innings and allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits with four walks and two strikeouts. A total of four Spartans produced multiple hits with junior catcher Jake Hall recording an additional two runs scored and two RBI. MacAneney added three RBI and a run scored.

Zack Belski gave the Tigers an early lead in the top of the first with a RBI single after two wild pitches moved Danny Hoy from first to third. The Spartans came up with the tying run in the bottom of the second thanks to a RBI triple by Ruiz.

Princeton broke the contest open in the top of the third, scoring five runs on five hits. The big blow came off the bat of Paul Tupper who hit a grand slam in the frame.

After the Tigers stretched their lead to 11-1 after the top of the fifth, UNCG put up a big answer in the bottom of the frame. MacAneney reached on an error to lead things off before senior outfielder Tyler Long and Woody notched two-straight singles to load the bases. Kalbfleisch drew a bases-loaded walk for the first tally and Hall followed with a two-run double. After two pop up outs, Shelton worked a bases-loaded walk and MacAneney smoked a bases-clearing triple to deep center. When the smoke cleared, the Spartans found themselves within three runs at 11-8.

Wright scored on a balk to bring the score to 11-9 in the bottom of the seventh and he had a great chance to pull UNCG even or into the lead with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth. He put a nice swing on the ball, but the Princeton shortstop had him shaded correctly and snagged a liner to end the threat and leave his team with a two-run cushion.

The Tigers put the game out of reach in the top of the ninth, scoring three more runs on two hits.

The teams will complete their series with another doubleheader tomorrow with game one beginning at 11 a.m. The first contest is scheduled for seven innings while the second will go the full nine frames.

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