Box Score GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG Baseball rallied late to earn the series sweep over the East Tennessee State Buccaneers 9-7 on Sunday afternoon at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. The Spartans scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to take the lead before shutting the door in the ninth. UNCG improves to 31-11 overall, and 10-2 in the Southern Conference. ESTU falls to 16-23, and 3-9 in the SoCon.
“The short game was the difference offensively in that game.” Head Coach Link Jarrett said, “(Dillon) Stewart, (Devin) Ruiz and (Collin) Woody had great days at the plate. Woody had some really key at bats. We don't bunt alot, but we work on it constantly. Cesar (Trejo), (Michael) Goss had great bunts, and (Ben) Spitznagel had a perfect squeeze. Offense is about scoring runs, you have to find ways to score. I was really proud that we had the opportunity to use that facet of our game. (Matt) Frisbee gave us another quality start today. (Andrew) Wantz and (Chad) Sykes continue to solidify the end of games for us. Tough one today, it was a grinder and I'm proud of the way we finished.”
Dillon Stewart (Dunn, N.C./Brunswick CC), Collin Woody (Tampa, Fla./College of Central Florida) and Ruiz each ended with three hits in the contest. Stewart racked up three RBI with a run scored on three doubles, Woody added an RBI on two doubles, with Ruiz finishing with an RBI, and two runs scored.
Michael Goss (Cartersville, Ga./Chattanooga St. CC) added a pair of hits, to go with a run scored. Jake Kusz (Durham, N.C./Riverside) finished with a hit, scored three runs and drove in another. Ben Spitznagel (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wabash Valley CC) added a hit and drove in two.
Ryne Sigmon (Danville, Va./Danville CC) and Cesar Trejo (Greensboro, N.C./Ragsdale) each went hitless but scored a run. Trejo added the RBI that took the lead in the bottom of the eighth.
Matt Frisbee (Candler, N.C./Enka) started on the mound. Frisbee went 5.0 innings, allowing four hits, four runs, three earned with one strikeout. Andrew Wantz (Holly Springs, N.C./Holly Springs) worked 2.1 innings in relief, surrendering three hits, and a pair of earned runs. Chad Sykes (Creedmoor, N.C./Voyager Academy) (3-2) earned the win, throwing 1.2 innings allowing four hits, and one earned run while striking out three batters.
The Spartans grabbed an early lead, getting a run in the bottom of the first. Stewart drew a walk and moved to second on a Kalawaia ground out. Woody laced a double down the third baseline to bring Stewart in and put UNCG up 1-0.
ETSU tied the game up the following half inning. A Blake Rowlett single and a hit by pitch put two on. A deep fly to centerfield moved the runners up before a sacrifice fly from Caleb Longley tied it 1-1.
UNCG regained the lead, scoring three runs in the bottom of the second frame. Ruiz connected for a two-strike single through the right side to start the frame, and scored on a Kusz single. Goss followed with another single to put two on before a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. Stewart doubled to left field to bring in two and take the lead at 4-1.
The Spartans tacked on insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings. Spitznagel had an RBI single in the fourth to score Kusz, with Ruiz sending a chopper up the middle to score Sigmon an increase the lead to 6-1.
The Buccaneers rallied back in the top of the sixth inning. ETSU plated four runs on four hits and was aided by one UNCG error.
ETSU tied the game at six in the top of the eighth. A lead off single from Rowlett started the inning before he moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Robby McCabe sacrificed to move him into position. Kevin Phillips delivered a double to tie the game at six each.
The Spartans rallied and were able to score three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take the late lead. Ruiz started the frame with a single through the left side before a hit by pitch put two on. Goss executed a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Trejo caught a pitch off the end of the bat and hit it softly to the ETSU second baseman who was playing on the infield grass. The throw to the plate was late and Ruiz was able to slide around the tag for the go-ahead run. A safety squeeze from Spitznagel scored Kusz before a double from Stewart brought Trejo around to give UNCG a 9-6 cushion.
The Buccaneers rallied to score a run in the ninth, but could only score one run after loading the bases with no outs.
UNCG returns to action on Tuesday, April 26th at 6:00 p.m. as they host the Campbell Camels at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
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