Despite Wildcat Rally, UNCG Takes Series Opener, 8-5

Friday, April 8

Davidson, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

Davidson College

UNCG

Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com

Despite Wildcat Rally, UNCG Takes Series Opener, 8-5

4/8/2011 11:16:01 PM | Baseball

By: Lauren Biggers -- Assistant SID

Box Score
3B Andrew Barna

DAVIDSON, N.C. — After digging out of a 5-0 hole, the Davidson Wildcats had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth, but Tyler Hollstegge got a one-pitch save as UNCG took the SoCon series opener, 8-5, Friday night at Wilson Field.

After four scoreless innings, UNCG (17-11, 9-4 SoCon) put together four two-out hits to open a 5-0 lead in the fifth. Davidson (14-15, 6-9 SoCon) clawed back with a three-run sixth to cut the Spartans' lead in half and, after adding two more in the ninth, sent the tying run to the plate.

Trailing 8-3, pinch hitter Jack McLindon and sophomore shortstop Michael Zeblo drew back-to-back, one-out walks, and senior right fielder Sam Payne plated the Wildcats' fourth run of the game with base hit to right. Freshman left fielder Forrest Brandt went up the middle to drive in Zeblo and cut Greensboro's lead to 8-5. But with junior first baseman Drew Gadaire, who batted 3-for-5 to once again lead the Wildcat offense, standing in, Hollstegge took over for Jarrett Miller and induced a fielder's choice groundout with one pitch to end the Wildcat rally.

Junior LHP Chris Lamb (L, 1-4) took the loss for Davidson, allowing six runs on seven hits and striking out five in six innings. Lamb scattered two hits through four shutout innings before getting touched up on two outs in the fifth.

Senior RHP Warren Slack (W, 4-1) earned the win, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and striking out seven in 5 1/3.

Greensboro finished with 13 hits, led by Eric Brindle, who was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate. Ray Crawford (2-for-4, 2 RBI) hit a pair of solo home runs, and Chris Barker (2-for-5) and Thomas Troelstrup (2-for-5, 3 RBI) also had two hits for the Spartans.

The Wildcats had eight hits, led by Gadaire (3-for-5), Brandt (2-for-5, 2 RBI) and Payne (2-for-4, RBI).

After Lamb got two straight pop outs in the fifth, the Spartans put together four hits and two walks to open a 5-0 lead. Bobby Martin drove in Barker (double), and Andrew Spleth and Troelstrup each had two-RBI hits in the inning.

Crawford led off the sixth with his first solo home run to make it 6-0 in favor of Greensboro, but Davidson got its offense going in the bottom half, scoring three to cut the lead in half. Junior catcher Seth Freeman reached safely on an error by Troelstrup at third base and took second on as he overthrew first. Brandt drove him in with a base hit to straightaway center and moved to third as Gadaire followed with a double. Barna laced another double into right field to score a pair and chase Slack in favor of reliever Zach Furl. After Furl gave up a two-out walk to pinch hitter Will General, Greg Smith got out of the inning with a strikeout to leave two Wildcats on.

Greensboro strung together three hits for a run in the seventh and added its final run in the eighth on Crawford's second leadoff home run to right.

The Wildcats and Spartans will play game two of the series at 2 p.m. tomorrow. Senior RHP Ian Horkley (3-3, 4.01) will take the mound for Davidson against freshman LHP Brandon Browne (0-2, 5.28).