Box Score GREENVILLE, S.C. – L.J. Kalawaia (Wailuku, Hawai'i/Ohlone College) drove in five runs for the fourth time this season, and scored three more in an 18-11 victory over the Furman Paladins on Saturday afternoon at Latham Stadium. Kalawaia now has 11 multi-RBI games this season, and his third-straight game with multiple RBI. UNCG improves to 27-10 on the overall and 6-2 in the Southern Conference. Furman falls to 15-19, and 4-4 in the SoCon.
“Incredible win today, fighting back after being down early.” Head Coach Link Jarrett said, “We didn't get a quality start on the mound and our guys continued to battle and battle all day. Kerner came in in the middle of the game and had one of his best outings for us to get us through after that start. We stretched Sykes out a little bit, and he answered. Our guys made big pitches when we needed to. I'm proud of the way our guys made adjustments. Norman (Furman) is a very different pitcher than a lot of the guys we saw after him. I thought we continued to battle and chip away. (Dillon) Stewart told me in the dugout when we were down big, 'Coach, you don't need to worry, we're going to come back and win,' and when you have a guy and a team that thinks like that, that's a very unique trait. I'm proud of our team.”
Ben Spitznagel (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wabash Valley CC) racked up another multi-hit performance, going 4-for-5 with four runs scored and an RBI. Spitznagel is now 9-for-10 in the series. Collin Woody (Tampa, Fla./College of Central Florida) continues to lead the team in RBI, driving in three on two hits, bringing his season total to 46.
Jake Kusz (Durham, N.C./Riverside) and Cesar Trejo (Greensboro, N.C./Ragsdale) hit in the eighth and ninth spots of the order, but each had multiple RBI performances. Kusz finished 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI and three runs scored. Trejo drove in three runs, and scored three more.
Ryne Sigmon (Danville, Va./Danville CC) drove in two runs on one hit, with Michael Goss (Cartersville, Ga/Chattanooga St. CC) bringing in one run and scored two in the game.
Andrew Moritz (Charlotte, N.C./Providence) extended his hitting streak to 23 games after going 1-for-5 with a run scored in Saturday's win.
Bryce Hensley (Asheville, N.C./Catawba Valley CC) started on the mound, and went 2.0 innings giving up nine hits, and seven earned runs. Ben Kerner (Cary, N.C./Brunswick CC) (3-0) earned the win in relief, going a career-high 3.1 innings, allowing six hits, three runs and struck out one hitter. Chad Sykes (Creedmoor, N.C./Voyager Academy) (3) earned the save, his third of the year. Sykes entered in the bottom of sixth inning, with a 12-10 lead. Sykes worked 3.2 innings, allowed four hits, one run and struck out four hitters.
UNCG took an early lead in the top of the first frame. Moritz singled and scored on a triple from Kalawaia. Woody ground out to second but Kalawaia scored on the play and gave the Spartans a 2-0 lead.
The UNCG lead was short lived however, as Furman sent nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the frame. After the first inning, UNCG trailed 5-2.
Kusz cut into the lead in the top of the second by virtue of a Kusz solo home run to right center.
Furman extended its lead in the bottom of the second. After a lead off single from Carter Grote, a double from Cameron Whitehead scored Grote. Sky Overton singled to left to bring in Whitehead but was cut down trying to stretch it into a double.
The Spartans brought in another run in the top of the third inning. After a lead off single from Spitznagel, Kalawaia drew a walk before executing a double steal to put runners in scoring position. Woody flew out to right to bring in Spitznagel and trim the lead to 7-4.
Furman again responded to the Spartan rally, scoring two runs in the bottom of the third on a two-run home run from Matt Towarnicky.
UNCG responded and took a 10-9 lead after scoring six runs in the top of the fourth inning. Sigmon led off getting hit by a pitch and moved to third on a failed pick off attempt. Goss double to score him before moving to third after a walk and an error on a Trejo sacrifice bunt. Spitznagel legged out an infield hit to score one and keep the bases loaded. Kalawaia singled to score a pair before a double from Woody brought Kalawaia in and take the lead 10-9.
The Spartans added to their lead in the top of the seventh, scoring two runs on a bases-loaded single from Sigmon.
The Paladins cut into the Spartans lead, scoring a solo run in the bottom of the sixth. After a lead off single, and an error put two on, a wild pitch moved both into scoring position. A sacrifice fly from Jake Crawford brought in the run and cut the lead to 12-10 Spartans.
UNCG added a run in the seventh. Trejo started with a lead off single and a walk to Spitznagel put two runners on. Moritz delivered a sacrifice bunt to put runners in scoring position before a Kalawaia ground out scored Trejo.
The Spartans broke the game open in the top of the eight, scoring five runs. Kusz and Kalawaia had RBI singles, but the big blow came from Trejo who hit his fifth home run of the season, a three run shot. UNCG went up 18-10 after seven and a half innings.
Furman added a run on a pair of extra-base hits in the bottom of the eighth.
The Spartans and Paladins will face off in the rubber match of the series on Sunday, April 17th at 1:00 p.m. at Latham Stadium.
-UNCG-
