BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – UNCG wrapped up regular season play Friday evening with a 4-3 nonconference loss at Gardner-Webb. The Spartans drop to 23-25 while the Runnin' Bulldogs end their campaign at 22-31.

UNCG out-hit Gardner-Webb 10-4 and have recorded double figures in the hit column in three-straight contests. Junior Collin Woody led the offensive efforts with three hits, a run scored, a RBI and a home run while senior Hunter King drove in a pair of runs.

Junior RHP Keaton Haack dropped to 0-1 after surrendering two runs (one earned) on no hits with three walks. Beau Hilton improved to 1-1 throwing 2 1/3 perfect innings and striking out four batters.

Both teams put a runner into scoring position in the top of the first but a strikeout in the top half and a fly ball out in the home half kept the game scoreless after one complete inning.

Tyler Best afforded the home team an 1-0 early advantage in the bottom of the third when he hit his fourth home run of the season with one away. Woody responded with his 10th long ball of the season in the top of the fourth to knot the score at one. The scoring continued in the bottom of the fourth as Paul Trick recorded his first home run of the campaign – a solo shot that put the Runnin' Bulldogs back in front 2-1.

Freshmen Tripp Shelton and Zach Almond led off the fifth with a double and single respectively before Almond took second base on a wild pitch. King plated both runners with a bouncer over the third baseman's head but he was thrown out at second trying to stretch his hit into a double. Nonetheless, UNCG pulled back ahead by a 3-2 margin. After a strikeout put two outs on the board, Woody followed with a sharp single to left but senior Eric Kalbfleisch was robbed of extra bases thanks to a nice catch by center fielder Henry Rundio at the center field wall.

The Blue and Gold had a chance to add to its lead in the top of the sixth but with runners on the corners after a Shelton bunt single, Almond hit a ball on the screws on which Rundio made a running catch to keep UNCG off of the board.

Gardner-Webb capitalized on some Spartan miscues in the bottom of the eighth to take the lead. Tyler Best walked and stole second to lead off the half inning and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Ryan Hodge then drew a walk to put runners on the corners. From there, a wild pitch and a passed ball allowed two runs to come across and put the Runnin' Bulldogs back in front 4-3.

The Spartans went down in order to end the game.

UNCG turns its attention to the 2015 Southern Conference Baseball Championship and will attempt to win its first SoCon tournament title and advance to its first NCAA regional since 1997. The Spartans' first round opponent and game time will be determined at the conclusion of Saturday's league schedule.

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.