Box Score GREENSBORO, N.C. – Andrew Moritz (Charlotte, N.C./Providence) delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the eighth inning for UNCG to pick up a come-from-behind victory over the Marist Red Foxes on Saturday afternoon. The Spartans edged out Marist, 8-6 at the UNCG Baseball Stadium as they now improve to 13-5 on the season. Marist falls to 5-9.
“Coming back from being down 5-0, that was a great win for us.” Head Coach Link Jarrett said, “They had some different types of arms that we had to deal with, but I thought we did a great job. (Collin) Woody's grand slam was huge. (Jake) Kusz had a great at bat late, battling and extending the inning. (Ryne) Sigmon had a big base hit, and then (Andrew) Moritz with the backside base knock off that sidearm pitcher, that's a good win. (Andrew) Wantz did a good job coming in and calming the game down, posting some zeros and allowed us to get back into it. (Chad) Sykes had another good outing there at the end. We've been able to progress his stuff and get him more comfortable closing out games. I'm proud of our guys today.”
Moritz finished the afternoon 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and a run scored. Ben Spitznagel (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wabash Valley CC) and Cesar Trejo (Greensboro, N.C./Ragsdale) each finished 3-for-4 with Spitznagel scoring a run and Trejo driving one in.
Collin Woody (Tampa, Fla./College of Central Florida) went 2-for-4 and hit his team-leading fifth home run, a grand slam in the third inning. It's the third grand slam for the UNCG offense this season. Ryne Sigmon (Danville, Va./Danville CC) finished the afternoon 2-for-4 with the game-tying RBI in the eighth, and scored the eighth run of the game.
Tripp Shelton (Winston-Salem, N.C./West Forsyth) and L.J. Kalawaia (Wailuku, Hawai'i/Ohlone College) each finished with a hit and scored one run apiece.
Bryce Hensley (Asheville, N.C./Catawba Valley CC) got the start, but could only go 1.0+ innings before being replaced by Andrew Wantz (Holly Springs, N.C./Holly Springs). Wantz went 6.0 innings, allowing only four hits, one run, and struck out six. Chad Sykes (Creedmoor, N.C./Voyager Academy) (1-1) finished the game up, throwing the final 2.0 innings and retiring all six batters he faced.
Marist jumped out to an early lead again in Saturday's matchup, scoring twice in the first inning. After a lead off walk, a UNCG error put runners on the corners. A passed ball scored the first run, and a pair of ground outs plated the second, giving the Red Foxes a 2-0 advantage.
Marist tacked on three more in the top of the second, highlighted by a two-RBI single from Andrew Rouse.
The Spartans cut into the lead in the bottom of the third inning. After two singles and a walk loaded the bases, Woody belted his team-leading fifth home run, and the UNCG's third grand slam of the season for the UNCG offense to trim the lead to 5-4 Marist.
UNCG knotted the game up in the following inning, scoring a solo run. Moritz scored on a single from Trejo as the Spartans and Red Foxes stayed tied at five for two innings.
Marist regained the lead in the top of the seventh inning. After a lead off triple from Rouse, a ground out from Greg Kocinski gave Marist a 6-5 lead.
The Spartans stormed back in the bottom of the eighth inning. With two outs, Dillon Stewart (Dunn, N.C./Brunswick CC) was able to draw a walk, and Jake Kusz (Durham, N.C./Riverside) reached on an error to put the tying and winning run on base. Sigmon then singled and moved to second on the throw home as Stewart came around to tie the game back up at six. Moritz then slapped a base hit to left to bring in Sigmon and Kusz and go up 8-6.
The Spartans return to action on Sunday, Mar. 20th as they host the Marirst Red Foxes for the series finale at 1:00 p.m. at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
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