GREENSBORO, N.C. – A two-out walkoff RBI single by senior infielder Tyler Long plated the winning run Wednesday as UNCG scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to down Wake Forest 9-8 in a nonconference baseball contest at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. It marked the second-straight season that the Blue and Gold defeated WFU on a walkoff hit in Greensboro.

The Spartans (14-15) piled up a season-high 17 hits in the contest while limiting the Demon Deacons (21-14) to nine. Senior outfielder Eric Kalbfleisch led the way with four base knocks while freshman infielder Tripp Shelton produced a career-high effort with three hits. Senior infielder Aaron Wright compiled a 3-for-5 showing while also scoring two runs. Junior infielder Collin Woody and Long both chipped in with a pair of RBI.

UNCG improved to 8-2 at home and is now hitting .342 with 16 home runs and a .583 slugging mark in those contests. The Spartans also extended their school-record streak to 11 games of hitting at least one home run.

Junior LHP Bryant Stafford (1-1) picked up the win after tossing a perfect top of the ninth with two strikeouts. John McCarren (0-2) was saddled with the loss after surrendering the tying and winning runs in the bottom of the frame. UNCG received a nice start from freshman RHP Chad Sykes who struck out four batters in 2 2/3 innings. It was his first collegiate start.

Wake Forest scored the game's first run on a RBI single by Justin Yurchak in the top of the first inning. The Spartans responded with a four spot in the bottom of the second as Long, Shelton and senior infielder Hunter King recorded RBI singles and senior outfielder Zac MacAneney scooted home on a wild pitch to leave UNCG with a 4-1 advantage after two complete frames.

After Jonathan Pryor led off the top of the third with a walk, Will Craig clubbed a two-run home run to left center pulling the Deacs to within a run at 4-3. WFU took the lead back in the top of the fifth as a two-out, two-run Stuart Fairchild single made it 5-4.

The Blue and Gold knotted the score in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a pair of Demon Deacon errors. With two outs, Kalbfleisch reached on a throwing error at short that plated Wright who had singled, advanced to second on a Nate Mondou throwing error and reached third on a groundout.

Wake Forest looked to pull away in the top of the sixth scoring three runs (two unearned) on two hits and a Spartan error, but UNCG stayed close as Woody crushed a two-run homer over the left center field fence with two away in the bottom of the frame. Shelton singled up the middle to begin the half inning and accounted for the other run on the long ball.

The Spartan bullpen went on lockdown mode in the final three innings and limited the Deacs to no runs and just one hit. UNCG was held scoreless in the seventh and eighth frames but put forth the winning rally in its final turn at bat. Wright led off the half inning and tied the contest with a towering home run that cleared the batters eye in center. Kalbfleisch then singled through the right side and was replaced on the bases by pinch runner Nick Chapman. After another strikeout, Chapman advanced to second and into scoring position on a wild pitch. With Long at the dish, Chapman took off on the crack of the bat as Long sent a single through the left side. Pryor attempted to throw Chapman out at home but his throw was off and Chapman crossed home standing up to seal the comeback victory.

UNCG continues its homestand this weekend welcoming Southern Conference opponent Furman to the UNCG Baseball Stadium. The Spartans and Paladins will kick off the three-game series Friday at 6 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.