Box Score GREENVILLE, S.C. – UNCG Baseball shut out the Furman Paladins in a seven-inning game on Sunday afternoon at Latham Stadium. The Spartans defeated Furman 14-0 in the series finale. By Southern Conference rules, the 10-run rule is in effect for the final game of each conference series. UNCG improves to 28-10 overall, and 7-2 in the SoCon. Furman falls to 15-20, and 4-5 in the SoCon.
“So proud of the way our guys played today.” Head Coach Link Jarrett said, “We prepared, offensively, defensively, our base running was exceptional. (Matt) fFrisbee got better as the day went on. His fifth and sixth innings were the best innings we had pitched this week, no doubt. For a freshman to come out and give us a start like that on Sunday, when we really needed it, I'm really proud of our guys. We talk about being at our best on Sundays, and our guys came out and from the first inning on, we were outstanding.”
The top four hitters in the UNCG lineup combined to go 14-for-20, with 11 RBI, 11 runs scored, three home runs and a double. Ben Spitznagel (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wabash Valley CC) finished with another 4-for-5 performance, with an RBI and three runs scored. Spitznagel finishes the series 13-for-15 with 10 runs scored.
Andrew Moritz (Charlotte, N.C./Providence) added another four hit performance with four runs scored and an RBI. L.J. Kalawaia (Wailuku, Hawai'i/Ohlone College) had his fourth five RBI game, including three of the last four games with five RBI. Kalawaia hit two home runs and scored twice.
Collin Woody (Tampa, Fla./College of Central Florida) hit his seventh home run of the year, and drove in four runs on three hits and scored twice. Ryne Sigmon (Danville, Va./Danville CC) finished with two doubles and an RBI. Cesar Trejo (Greensboro, N.C./Ragsdale) also added a pair of hits, a triple and a single, while scoring twice.
Dillon Stewart (Dunn, N.C./Brunswick CC), Michael Goss (Cartersville, Ga./Chattanooga St. CC) and Jake Kusz (Durham, N.C./Riverside) all added a hit as all nine starters recorded at least one hit. UNCG racked up 21 hits in the contest.
Matt Frisbee (Candler, N.C./Enka) (3-2) earned a complete game victory. Frisbee worked a career-high 7.0 innings, allowing two hits, and striking out five hitters in the process.
The Spartans wasted no time getting on the board in the top of the first inning. Spitznagel led off with his 10th hit of the series, before another single from Moritz put two on. After a Kalawaia ground out, Woody hammered his seventh home run of the season to left center to put UNCG up 3-0 after the first half inning.
UNCG added to its lead in the top of the third. After a lead off single from Moritz, Woody singled to put runners on first and second. Sigmon ripped his second double of the game to bring in Moritz and a throwing error allowed Woody to cross the plate and UNCG led 5-0 after two and a half innings.
The Navy and Gold tacked on two more in the top of the fifth inning. Kalawaia started the inning with a solo home run to right field. Stewart followed, drawing a one-out walk. A single from Goss put him in scoring position before a Kusz single brought Stewart in.
The Spartans tacked on four more in the top of the sixth. After a lead off triple from Trejo, Spitznagel singled to bring him in. Another single form Moritz put two on for Kalawaia who launched a three-run home run to right field to put UNCG up 11-0.
UNCG tacked on three more in the seventh. After a singles from Trejo and Spitznagel, UNCG used back-to-back-to-back RBI singles from Moritz, Kalawaia, and Woody pushed the lead to 14-0.
The Spartans return to action on Wednesday, April 20th at 6:00 p.m. as they travel to Elon University to take on the Phoenix in a midweek contest.
-UNCG-
