GREENSBORO, N.C.  – UNCG baseball completes the doubleheader sweep of visiting UMES on Saturday, taking down the Shore Hawks by finals of 16-3 and 8-5. Alex Hoppe struck out 10 UMES batters while the Spartan offense collected a season-high 16 runs during game one, before coming back to clinch an 8-5 win in game two. 

The Spartans jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first three frames of the early game, grabbing their first run of the day on a Jacquez Koonce single in the second. UNCG tacked on another two runs during the 3rd, as Caleb Webster led off the frame with a double to left, coming home on a sac fly from Hogan Windish later in the inning. Josh Madole scored the Spartans' third run on a Shore Hawks fielding error, one of five the side would have in the game. 

UNCG erupted for seven runs during the bottom half of the fifth, where Webster once again led off the inning with a knock, this time on a triple to right center. The third baseman recorded two hits in the inning, as the entire Spartan lineup came to bat, combining for three knocks, a pair of hit by pitches and a walk. The Shore Hawk defense committed two errors in the inning, with six of the Spartans' runs going down as unearned. 

Taking a 10-3 lead into the bottom of the eighth, the Spartans provided even more insurance with a six-run frame. Freshman Tom Grose collected his first collegiate hit with a leadoff single, followed by another hit by pitch and freshman Grant Jarman's first-ever hit to load the bases. Spencer Smith brought in a pair with a single to center, before freshman catcher Robbie O'Neal collected his first career hit on a grand slam to right field to complete the Spartans' 16-3 win in game one.

Starting righty Alex Hoppe moved to 2-0 on the year, tossing a career-high 7.0 innings and 91 pitches in the Spartans' first win of the day. Hoppe allowed a single earned run while facing just four over the minimum, on the way to a career-high 10 strikeouts, a season-high for any Spartan pitcher this year.

The Spartans played from behind for most of game two, spotting their opponents three runs in the first two innings. UNCG responded with one of their own in the bottom half of the second, scoring on a sac fly from Ryan Caveness. 

The Spartans continued to chip away at the Shore Hawk's lead, adding another run in the third and a pair in the fourth. UMES took a 5-4 advantage into the eighth however, forcing the UNCG offense to complete the doubleheader sweep with a late-inning comeback. 

Left fielder Greg Hardison tied the ball game with his RBI single, scoring Budzik shortly after the sophomore stole his second base of the afternoon. Yet another UMES error allowed the home team to tally the go ahead, scoring two more unearned runs off a bases loaded walk and a wild pitch. 

Coming on during the fifth inning, right-hander Austin Parsley shut the door on the Shore Hawks in the ninth, striking out the side to finish with a career-high six Ks on the afternoon. Parsley moved to 3-0 on the year after clinching the winning decision, giving up just three hits and a single unearned run during his 4.1 innings of work in the Spartans' 8-5 victory. 

Things To Know
-- Webster fell just a home run short of the cycle in game one, finishing 4-for-9 (.444) over both contests, while driving in three runs and scoring four
-- The UNCG pitching staff combined for 25 strikeouts on the afternoon, tallying 13 in game one and a dozen in game two
-- The Spartans have outscored the Shore Hawks 34-10 through the first three games of this weekend's series, tying their run total from their prior seven games combined

Coming Up Next
The Spartans wrap up their series against the Shore Hawks with a Sunday first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m., looking to improve on their perfect 8-0 all-time record against the program

-- UNCG –