Box Score CONWAY, S.C. – Spartan Baseball earned a come-from-behind victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday afternoon at Springs Brooks Stadium. UNCG came back from being down 4-1 in the eighth inning to force extra innings before eventually scoring the winning run in the tenth inning. UNCG is now 3-0 in the Coastal Carolina Invitational hosted by Coastal Carolina.
“This was an incredible come-from-behind victory.” Head Coach Link Jarrett said, “Their starting pitcher did a great job navigating our guys. The eighth inning really changed the momentum of the game. With (Ben) Spitznagel's base-hit bunt, (Tripp) Shelton drawing the walk and L.J. (Kalawaia) getting another base-hit bunt, that tactic changed the momentum. (Devin) Ruiz coming in and driving in a run, and (Jake) Kusz's home run was an adrenaline shot for everyone. (Michael) Goss hadn't a great day at the plate, but that hit at the end was clutch. That was a heck of a win against a great baseball team.”
UNCG improves to 11-4 on the season, with Illinois falling to 6-5. The Spartans connected for 10 hits in the game, making 13 out of 15 games this season with double-digit hits. Michael Goss (Cartersville, Ga./Chattanooga St. CC) and Jake Kusz (Durham, N.C./Riverside) each had one hit in the game, but none were bigger. Kusz hit his second home run of the season in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. Goss had the walk off single to score the winning run and give UNCG the game.
Tripp Shelton (Winston-Salem, N.C./West Forsyth), L.J. Kalawaia (Wailuku, Hawai'i/Ohlone College) and Andrew Moritz (Charlotte, N.C./Providence) each had two hits in the game. Moritz scored once and Kalawaia added a pair of runs in the game. Collin Woody (Tampa, Fla./College of Central Florida) finished 1-for-5 with an RBI, and Ben Spitznagel (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wabash Valley CC) went 1-for-4 with a run scored.
On the mound, UNCG used three pitchers to earn the win. Bryce Hensley (Asheville, N.C./Catawba Valley CC) started and earned his fourth-consecutive quality start (6.0 innings pitched, less than three runs allowed). Hensley worked 6.0 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and striking out a pair. Easton Welch (Randleman, N.C./Randleman) worked one inning, giving up two runs in the process. Woody (1-0) earned the win, throwing the final 3.0 innings. Woody struck out four hitters and allowed only one hit.
The Fighting Illini took the lead in the top of the first inning. A lead off single and a walk put the first two runners on. A pair of groundouts later, Illinois took a 1-0 lead.
UNCG tied the game up in the bottom of the fifth inning. Moritz led off with a bunt hit and moved to second on a Spitznagel ground out. Shelton hit a chopper back through the middle that the sliding shortstop was unable to field, and kicked the ball into shallow centerfield, allowing Moritz to score on the play.
Illinois regained the lead the next half inning. After a one out double from Pat McInerney, a single from Trent Hammond brought him around and put the Illini up 2-1.
The Fighting Illini grabbed another run in the top of the seventh. A lead off single from Adam Walton and a sacrifice bunt from Dan Rowbottom moved him to scoring position. UNCG walked Anthony Drago to put runners on the corners. Illinois executed a delayed double steal, allowing both runners to take the next base and go up 3-1.
Illinois tacked on another insurance run in the top of the eighth inning. Mark Skonieczney got on with a walk and came around to score on a double form Michael Hurwitz.
UNCG scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth to make it a one run game. Two bunt hits and a walk to the top of the order loaded the bases. Woody brought in the first run on a fielder's choice, and an RBI ground out from Ruiz trimmed the lead to 4-3 Illini.
The Spartans continued their comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning against Illinois closer, Nick Blackburn. On the first pitch of the at bat, Kusz drilled a solo home run to left field to tie the game and force extra innings.
In the bottom of the tenth, UNCG used a walk, an excuse-me single and a hit by pitch to load the bases for Goss. Goss drove a pitch back through the box to bring in Kalawaia and give the Spartans the 5-4 come-from-behind victory.
The Spartans return to action on Sunday, Mar. 13th as they will play Coastal Carolina in the finale of the Coastal Carolina Invitational at 3:00 p.m. at Springs Brooks Stadium.
-UNCG-
