Box Score GREENVILLE, S.C. – UNCG Baseball fell 8-5 to the Samford Bulldogs in the first round of the Southern Conference Tournament on Wednesday evening at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C. The Spartans racked up 12 hits but were unable to erase a four run Bulldog fourth inning. UNCG falls to 37-20 on the season, while Samford improves to 33-24.
Jake Kusz (Durham, N.C./Riverside) led the Spartans at the plate. The junior catcher finished 3-for-4 with four RBI, a home run, a double and scored a run. L.J. Kalawaia (Wailuku, Hawai'i/Ohlone College) also added three hits, including one double.
The Spartans got another multi-hit performance from Ryne Sigmon (Danville, Va./Danville CC) who added two hits. Cesar Trejo (Greensboro, N.C./Ragsdale) made the most of his one hit, hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the third frame.
Ben Spitznagel (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wabash Valley CC), Collin Woody (Tampa, Fla./College of Central Florida), and Tripp Shelton (Winston-Salem, N.C./West Forsyth) all added one hit. Dillon Stewart (Dunn, N.C./Brunswick CC) did not reach base via hit, but earned two walks and scored two runs.
Hunter Smith (Whiteville, N.C./Whiteville) (6-5) started and picked up the loss. The redshirt junior threw 3.2 innings, allowed 10 hits, eight earned runs, and struck out six batters. Andrew Wantz (Holly Springs, N.C./Holly Springs) came on in relief and kept UNCG in the game. The sophomore threw the final 5.1 innings, allowing just one hit and tying a career-high with eight strikeouts.
Samford took a quick lead in the top of the second inning on an Austin Edens solo home runs.
UNCG took their first lead of the game in the bottom half of the second frame. Stewart drew a walk before Sigmon reached on a single through the left side. Kusz connected for his ninth home run of the season, an opposite field shot to put the Spartans up 3-1.
The Bulldogs regained the lead in the top of the third inning. After a two-RBI triple from Hunter Swilling, Heath Quinn singled back to the pitcher to score another and give Samford the 4-3 lead.
Trejo knotted the game up in the bottom of the third inning, belting a solo home run to the top of the building beyond the left field wall.
Samford added four runs to regain the lead in the top of the fourth inning. Back-to-back singles from Jordan Fucci and Danny Rodriguez put two on before Frankie Navarrete tripled to score two. T.J. Dixon followed with a single to score Navarrete before Quinn singled to put the Bulldogs up 8-4.
UNCG cut into the Samford lead, plating a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. After Stewart led off with a walk, he advanced to third on a hit and run from Sigmon. Kusz singled back up the middle to trim the lead to 8-5, Bulldogs.
The Navy and Gold threatened again in the seventh, but were unable to bring another run across.
The Spartans are back in action on Thursday, May 25th at 12:30 p.m. at Fluor Field as they will face the Wofford Terriers in an elimination game in the second round of the SoCon Tournament.
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