Box Score GREENSBORO, N.C. – Dillon Stewart (Dunn, N.C./Brunswick CC) and L.J. Kalawaia (Wailuku, Hawai'i/Ohlone College) combined for 11 RBI in a 17-9 victory over the Georgetown Hoyas on Thursday evening at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. The Spartans racked up 15 hits in the contest, the eighth time this season the Spartans have earned 15 or more hits in a game. UNCG improves to 16-6 on the season, with the Hoyas falling to 11-11.
“Their starting pitcher was very effective.” Head Coach Link Jarrett said, “He kept the ball down and he did a good job. It was a competitive game and it was fun to see us figure some things out. It's good to see Dillon Stewart have a great day, a couple home runs and then just missing a third was great. Offensively we managed our at bats pretty well tonight. Hunter (Smith) wasn't his sharpest but he still kept us in it. (Andrew) Wantz came in and chewed up some innings. (Ben) Kerner got us out of a jam in the ninth. Stewart was in the cage early today, so it was nice to see him come in and deliver some big blows.”
Eight of nine starters earned at least one base hit for the UNCG offense, led by Stewart and Kalawaia's three hits apiece. Stewart scored three times and drove in six on two home runs and is now tied for the team lead in home runs. Kalawaia had a triple and two singles in the game and scored two runs of his own.
Tripp Shelton (Winston-Salem, N.C./West Forsyth) finished a perfect 3-for-3 and scored a pair of runs while reaching base in all five at bats in the game. Ben Spitznagel (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wabash Valley CC) finished with a pair of hits and scored two runs. Andrew Moritz (Charlotte, N.C./Providence) had two hits, scored three runs and drove in one run. Moritz has now had multiple hits in six-straight games.
Collin Woody (Tampa, Fla./College of Central Florida) ended the night 1-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Jake Kusz (Durham, N.C./Riverside) finished 1-for-4 with an RBI and a pair of runs scored. Cesar Trejo (Greensboro, N.C./Ragsdale) also finished with a hit in the contest.
Hunter Smith (Whiteville, N.C./Whiteville) started the game, going 5.0 innings, allowing nine hits and six runs. Andrew Wantz (Holly Springs, N.C./Holly Springs) (3-0) picked up the win in relief, throwing 2.1 innings, allowing two hits and one earned run. Zach Kuchmaner (Charlotte, N.C./Marvin Ridge) logged 1.1 innings, allowing a pair of hits and two earned runs. Ben Kerner (Cary, N.C./Brunswick CC) got the final out of the game on the only batter he faced.
The Hoyas took an early lead as UNCG gave up a run in the first inning of the fifth-straight game. After a lead off double, a pair of ground outs brought in the run to give Georgetown a 1-0 lead.
UNCG took the lead in the bottom of the frame. After a lead off double from Spitznagel and a single from Shelton, Kalawaia reached on the RBI fielder's choice before Woody singled through the left side to score Kalawaia and give the Spartans a 2-1 lead.
Georgetown answered back in the top of the second, scoring two runs to take a 3-2 lead. A walk, a sacrifice bunt and a double brought in the first run, with a single to left bringing in the second run to take the lead.
The Spartans tied the game back up in the bottom of the second frame. With one out, Stewart belted his fifth homer of the season to left and tied the game up 3-3.
The Hoyas regained the lead in the top of the fourth inning, scoring one run. After a one-out double from Beau Hall, a single through the right side from Michael DeRenzi scored Hall and gave the Hoyas the 4-3 lead.
UNCG regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Kusz singled to start the frame and scored on Moritz's third triple of the season. Moritz scored on Stewart's single up the middle, and Stewart came around on a sacrifice fly from Kalawaia.
Georgetown regained the lead in the top of the fifth inning. Joseph Bialkowski led the inning off with a solo home run to left, and Chase Bushor scored on a safety squeeze from Eric Webber.
The Spartans regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth frame, scoring seven runs. With one out, UNCG singled, reached on an error, and then benefitted from five-straight walks to score three runs. Stewart belted his second homer in the game, and put the Spartans up 13-6.
UNCG added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh before a two-run home run from DeRenzi cut the lead 14-8.
The Navy and Gold tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the eighth on a bases clearing triple from Kalawaia. Georgetown scored one in the top of the ninth to trim the lead to 17-9.
The Spartans and Hoyas return to action on Friday, Mar. 24th at 2:00 p.m. at the UNCG Baseball Stadium for the second game of a three game series with Georgetown.
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