GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG baseball heads to High Point University for a midweek tilt with the High Point Panthers Tuesday evening. First pitch between the Spartans and Panthers is set for 6:00 p.m. at Willard Stadium on High Point's campus. The Spartans enter 22-13 overall, and High Point is currently 19-16 on the season.
There will be live stats and video available for Tuesday's game. Links for these services will be on the UNCG baseball schedule page. The stream will be available on the Big South Network.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Game 1 - UNCG | Jake Lewis. So. - LHP (0-1, 9.95 ERA, 12.2 IP, 15 Ks) vs. High Point | Jordan Sergent, Jr. - LHP (0-0, 9.00 ERA, 3.0 IP, 3 Ks)
A Little History -- High Point
The Spartans and Panthers have played 28 times, with UNCG holding an 18-10 advantage. Earlier this season the teams were supposed to make their 29th matchup, but the game was cancelled due to severe weather. Last season, UNCG took two of three games in a weekend series with High Point. The teams opened the 2016 season with a home and home series. The first and third games were played in High Point, with Saturday's contest being played in Greensboro.
Scouting the Spartans
UNCG enters after dropping three of its last four games. In last week's midweek contest, the Spartans fell to NC State, 10-1. UNCG dropped the first two games before salvaging Sunday's contest, 13-12.
The Spartan offense is led by freshman standout Caleb Webster (Randleman, N.C./Randleman). Webster has hit for a .434 average in 29 games this season. Since being inserted into the starting lineup, UNCG has gone 20-7. Webster has made just one error and has recorded a .986 fielding percentage. The rookie sensation has recorded hits in 22 of the last 25 games, with seven multiple RBI games. Statistically, Webster the toughest player in the country to strike out. Having struck out just three times this season, his 35.3 at bats between strikeouts is the best ratio in the country. Andrew Moritz (Charlotte, N.C./Providence) has started 34 games this year and leads the team with six triples. That total is tied for the most in the country. The team has hit 29 triples this year, leading the country. Ben Spitznagel (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wabash Valley CC) has hit at a .361 average in 29 games. Spitznagel has hit four doubles and three triples while scoring 28 runs. Cesar Trejo (Greensboro, N.C./Ragsdale) leads the team with seven home runs this season, and has driven in a team-best 38 runs.
Jake Lewis will be starting his second game of the season. Lewis has thrown in 12.2 innings, including a season-long 2.2 innings last week. Lewis has struck out 15 hitters, with a season-high of four against Western Carolina. Alex Sova has made 10 appearances this season, going 1-0 with a 3.21 ERA. He has struck out 16 hitters in 14.0 innings of work. Andrew Wantz has made a team-high 17 appearances on the season. He has worked in 44.1 innings, striking out a team-high 47 hitters. Wantz has earned a 5-2 record and is second on the team with four saves. Chad Sykes leads the team with seven saves in 16 appearances. Since being moved out of the weekend rotation, Jack Maynard has made four appearances. His first bullpen appearance resulted in a 4.0 inning outing, allowing four hits and striking out six hitters. In his last three bullpen appearances, he's surrendered just five hits and one earned run.
Scouting the Panthers
High Point enters the midweek contest having won four of its last five games. The Panthers took two of three games from UNC Asheville over the weekend. In the last midweek contest, High Point defeated Elon, 5-3. In Big South play, High Point has earned a 6-8 record. After dropping the first three games to Winthrop, the Panthers have taken two of three games from all of its weekend opponents and are 3-1 in midweek games.
The High Point offense is led by junior Blake Schunk. Schunk has hit at a .398 average in 28 games this season. He has hit 11 doubles and driven in 17 runs. Austen Zente leads the Panthers with 28 RBI and has hit eight home runs on the season. Zente has also stolen 12 bases and has yet to make an error in the field. The Panthers hit at a .261 average this season and have hit 31 home runs as a team. They have a .401 slugging percentage and have stolen 57 bases.
Jordan Sergent will be making his second start of the season on the hill. Sergent started High Point's last midweek contest, logging 3.0 innings at Elon. He gave up three runs with a walk and struck out three hitters in the outing. Three relievers have made over 10 appearances out of the bullpen. Matt Hodges has earned a 5-1 record with three saves in a team-best 17 appearances. Hodges has thrown in 34.2 innings while allowing 10 earned runs. Rion Murrah has earned a 2-0 record in 12 appearances. Murrah has a 4.05 ERA with a pair of saves in 20.0 innings. He has struck out 17 hitters during his time on the hill. Joe Johnson has also made 10 appearances. Johnson has gone 3-0 in 19.0 innings. He has earned one save with 17 strikeouts.
-UNCG-
