GREENSBORO -- UNCG entered the final series of the regular season with a longshot chance to earn the fourth and final spot in the Southern Conference tournament.
 
Instead, the Spartans (27-25, 12-18 SoCon) will have to settle for a record above .500 and a strong finish, as The G won 12 of its final 18 games down the stretch.
 
The Spartans closed the pandemic season of 2021 with a pair of losses in a doubleheader against VMI (18-29, 13-17 SoCon) on Friday at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
 
The Keydets won the opener 3-2 in a pitchers' duel, and then won the second game 8-4.
 
UNCG got solid starts in both games.
 
Redshirt sophomore right-hander Brendan Collins (3-3, 5.54 ERA) struck out eight in six strong innings in the opener. Junior right-hander Alex Hoppe (1-3, 5.23 ERA) made just one mistake in five innings in the second game, striking out three in five dominant innings but giving up a two-run home run on a two-strike pitch -- the only blemish in an outing where he faced three batters over the minimum.
 
Neither starter figured in the decisions in the doubleheader, the losses charged to relievers Brandon Stephens (3-3) and Jacob Curry (2-3). The Spartans used eight pitchers in the second game, including three in the ninth inning of the finale.
 
Leadoff hitter Corey Rosier drove in a run in the first game, and he went 2-for-4 with a run scored in the second game for UNCG. Rosier finished his first season with the Spartans batting a team-high .354, and he led The G in hits (75), home runs (12), triples (4), runs (59) and stolen bases (17). He tied with clean-up hitter Hogan Windish for the team lead with 51 RBIs.
 
Greg Hardison had a double and an RBI, and he finished the season with a .312 batting average. First baseman Josh Madole ended up with a .304 batting average, 30 walks and a .413 on-base percentage.
 
Windish had an RBI double in the nightcap, and he brought the bench to their feet when he took a pitch off the bicep for his 20th HBP of the season. He was hit again in the second game, and his 21 HBPs are tied for third in the nation.
 
Spencer Smith had a ground-rule double as a pinch-hitter in the opener, and he went 2-for-3 with a walk in the second game.
 
Perhaps the most memorable moment of the finale was delivered by freshman pitcher Zack Mallia. Sent up to bat as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning, Mallia hit a long home run over the center field fence. In all, Mallia was 2-for-11 as a hitter this season, with a single and the solo home run.
 
For VMI, first baseman Justin Starke went 3-for-3 with two walks in the first game, then 2-for-4 with a walk in the second game. He finished his freshman season ranked among the top 10 in the nation with a .422 batting average.
 
The Keydets' right-handed starters Jacob Menders (6-3) and Tyler Bradt (2-3, 3.20 ERA) combined to pitch 12 1/3 innings allowing three earned runs.