GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG baseball welcomes the Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks for a three-game series this weekend at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. The series will feature one game on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 4:00, 2:00 and 1:00, respectively. The Spartans enter the weekend at 2-6, while the Hawks are 0-6 on the season.
Each game will have live stats and will be streamed on the UNCG Sports YouTube page. Links for each of these services are located on the UNCG baseball schedule page. Fans can stay updated on games by following @UNCGScores and @UNCGBaseball on Twitter. Fans can follow UNCG baseball on Instagram at uncg_baseball_.
In two previous meetings between the schools, UNCG holds a 2-0 advantage. Last season, UNCG and the Hawks met in a midweek tilt, resulting in an 8-2 Spartan victory.
Probable Pitching Matchups (Subject to change)
Friday – Jack Maynard (RHP) vs. Wesley Martin (RHP)
Saturday – Bryce Hensley (LHP) vs. Zach Mills (RHP)
Sunday – Matt Frisbee (RHP) vs. Steven Cook (RHP)
The Spartans are coming off of a midweek tilt against No. 6 NC State in which UNCG fell, 8-2. The Blue and Gold was supposed to play another midweek against triad-foe High Point, but after two innings, severe weather lead to a cancellation of the contest.
In two weekend series in 2017, UNCG has gone 1-2 in each. In the opening series against No. 4 South Carolina, the Spartans dropped the first two games, before rallying back to earn a 1-0 victory in the finale. Against Michigan State last weekend, UNCG fell 5-4 on Friday night, and 22-16 Saturday. The Blue and Gold notched another Sunday victory, defeating Michigan State 4-1.
Tripp Shelton (Winston-Salem, N.C./West Forsyth) continues to pace the Spartan offense. The junior shortstop has hit for a .379 average with one extra-base hit. He earned a sacrifice bunt in Tuesday's matchup with NC State. Andrew Moritz (Charlotte, N.C./Providence) started the season a little slow, but has been able to get back on track as of late. The sophomore outfielder has hit for a .355 average, is currently on a four-game hit streak and has had multi-hit performances in three of the last four games. Michael Goss (Cartersville, Ga./Chattanooga State CC) leads the team with two home runs and has driven in six RBI.
The weekend rotation will be the same as the previous two weeks for UNCG. Jack Maynard (Crozet, Va./Patrick Henry CC) will start Friday. Maynard, a junior, has started the previous two Friday night games, logging 7.1 combined innings with four strikeouts. Bryce Hensley (Asheville, N.C./Catawba Valley CC) gets the ball Saturday. Hensley has thrown 7.2 innings, striking out five batters. Matt Frisbee (Candler, N.C./Enka) will start the finale. Frisbee has logged 7.0 innings in each of his first two starts, earning a 2-0 record. The sophomore has earned a 0.64 ERA, having allowed just one earned run and striking out nine batters.
Maryland-Eastern Shore has hit for a .288 team average, led by Ryan Rotondo's .435 average. Rotondo has started all six games, earning ten hits and an RBI. Jordan Wesley has started all six games, recording a .333 average. Jamison Trower leads the team with four RBI, while Dallas Culotta and Dominic DeBlasie each have hit a home run.
The Hawks will feature a new rotation this weekend. Wesley Martin remains, but moves from Sunday to Friday night. Zach Mills takes over on Saturday, with Steven Cook moving from Saturday to Sunday. Martin has stared two games, logging a team-high 10.0 innings. Opponents hit .270 against him as he has allowed seven earned runs with five strikeouts. Zach Mills has the best ERA on the Hawk pitching staff, earning a 2.25 in 4.0 innings. Mills has appeared in three games, recording seven strikeouts, and allowing just one earned run. Cook has started two games, logging 5.0 innings, striking out three batters.
UNCG and Maryland-Eastern Shore begin the three-game series at 4:00 p.m. Friday afternoon.
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