Box Score SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG used an impressive all-around performance to earn a 6-1 victory over the Wofford Terries on Sunday afternoon. Devin Ruiz (Pennsauken, N.J./Paul VI) hit his first and second home runs of his career to help the Spartans take the weekend series with the Terriers. Ruiz ignited a four-run ninth to put the game out of reach. UNCG turned two double plays and had three pitchers combine to limit Wofford to one run on eight hits.
UNCG improves to 35-14, and 13-5 in the Southern Conference with the win. The 35 wins are the most wins in a season since 2003 for UNCG Baseball. Wofford falls to 27-23 overall and 9-9 in the SoCon.
“I'm very proud of our team, the way they played today and yesterday after what happened on Friday night.” Head Coach Link Jarrett said, “The way we came out and pitched, and defended was awesome to watch. Keaton's (Haack) went five innings and probably could have continued, but when we flipped that lineup over we thought the best thing to do was to get (Chad) Sykes in the game. Sykes pitched great, and then (Andrew) Wantz wants that ball any time you'll give it to him. We sometimes flip flop those roles to maximize their abilities within the context of how that game is going. Defensively, there's about eight plays we made today that I thought were above average. Our infield play was great, L.J. (Kalawaia) and (Ryne) Sigmon played well in the outfield. Offensively it wasn't happening early, but Devin (Ruiz) ran a couple out of the park that were huge. We knew they were going to Stillman (Wofford) late, and to mount that kind of rally late, shows how tough our kids are. We had some incredible at bats to put the game away in the ninth. That was a big win and a very important series for us.”
Ben Spitznagel (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wabash Valley CC) paced the Spartan offense, going 4-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. L.J. Kalawaia (Wailuku, Hawai'i/Ohlone College) finished with a pair of hits and two RBI.
Michael Goss (Cartersville, Ga./Chattanooga St. CC) finished with a hit and a run scored. Cesar Trejo (Greensboro, N.C./Ragsdale) added a pair of runs.
Collin Woody (Tampa, Fla./College of Central Florida) added his 11th sacrifice fly of the season to score a run and paces the nation in that category.
Keaton Haack (Greensboro, N.C./Pitt CC) (4-2) earned the win, going 5.0 innings, allowing three hits and striking out two batters. Chad Sykes (Creedmoor, N.C./Voyager Academy) threw 2.2 high-stress innings. The sophomore surrendered four hits and an earned run while striking out one.
Andrew Wantz (Holly Springs, N.C./Holly Springs) (3) earned his second save in as many games, working the final 1.1 innings. Wantz surrendered one hit and struck out one batter to finish the game.
The Spartans took the lead in the top of the second inning. Ruiz took a 1-2 pitch over the fence in right field to give the Spartans an early 1-0 lead.
UNCG tacked on another in the top of the third. After two walks and a Spitznagel single, Woody hit his 11th sacrifice fly of the season to bring in a run and extend the lead to 2-0. Woody leads the nation in sacrifice flies this season.
With two outs in the eighth, Wofford was able to cut the UNCG lead in half. After a single from Brett Hash, Dylan May ripped a double down the left field line to score Hash and cut the lead to 2-1.
The Spartans tacked on four insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning. Ruiz led off the frame with a no doubt home run to center field to increase the lead to 3-1. Goss ripped a single through the left side before stealing second base. Spitznagel dropped his fourth hit of the afternoon to shallow right field to score Goss and bring the lead to 4-1 UNCG. With the bases still loaded, Kalawaia singled through the right side to bring in a pair and push the lead to 6-1.
UNCG returns to action on Wednesday May 11th as they travel to Asheville, N.C. for the final midweek game of the season at 6:00 p.m.
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