UNCG 17, North Carolina Central 8
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG baseball team scored 10 runs in the first inning Monday night against North Carolina Central and never looked back on the way to a 17-8 nonconference victory at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
The Spartans improved to 15-13 overall, having now won seven of their last 11 contests, while the Eagles dipped to 18-12.
The offensive output marked the most runs in a single game for UNCG this season and the most since May 4, 2008, when the Blue and Gold outlasted College of Charleston 18-17 in Greensboro. The Spartans also improved to 5-0 this campaign when netting double-digit runs.
A total of 14 positional players experienced action in the game, led by senior outfielder Zach Leach, who went 3-for-3 with three runs scored, two doubles and an RBI. Senior infielder Lloyd Enzor was also 3-for-3 in the contest with three runs scored, two RBIs, a double and two walks drawn. In all, nine Spartans tallied at least one hit while 10 were credited with at least one run batted in. Senior infielder Trevor Edwards and redshirt freshman infielder Nin Marrero paced UNCG with three RBIs apiece.
Senior RHP Dominique Vattuone improved his record to 2-0, throwing four innings of relief to earn the win. He entered in the second frame and finished the evening giving up two runs on four hits while striking out five.
After starter and sophomore Brandon Browne worked a scoreless top of the first inning, the first four UNCG batters recorded hits – including a double by senior outfielder Christian Wolfe – to move in front 2-0. Sophomore outfielder Eric Kalbfleisch then put a ball in play and NCCU pitcher Terry McNabb overthrew home trying to nab Edwards as he scored to make it a 3-0 ballgame.
Leach continued the hit parade with an RBI single before Enzor doubled to right-center to plate two runs and push the score to 6-0. The Eagles went with a reliever on the bump at the point, calling on Christian Neal, but Marrero greeted him rudely with a double that scored Enzor. Wolfe then made his second plate appearance of the inning and kept the offense rolling along with an RBI double to bring Marrero home.
Edwards finished off the inning with a ball crushed to right-center for a two-run home run that made the score 10-0. It was his team-leading eighth home run of the season and the 34th of his career, the most of any active Southern Conference player.
NCCU did not back down, responding with six runs in the top of the second on three hits and four walks to cut the UNCG lead to 10-6. Browne was responsible for four of the runs as he walked the first four batters of the frame.
The Spartans picked up right where they left off in the bottom of the second inning. Leach walked with one out and stole second before senior infielder TJ Spina reached on a bunt single to put runners at the corners. A passed ball moved the runners up a base and Enzor followed with a walk. Marrero then came through with a two-RBI double and redshirt sophomore infielder Ray Crawford added an RBI single as UNCG extended its lead to 14-6 after two complete.
The pitchers settled down for the next three innings before the Spartans struck again for three scores in the sixth stanza. Leach and Spina led off things with a pair of doubles to make the score 15-6, while junior infielder Sean Guite tallied an RBI groundout and Enzor scored from third after an error by the Eagle second baseman. UNCG would leave the sixth frame with a 17-6 cushion.
NC Central was able to add two consolation runs in the seventh after a pair of wild pitches, but that would be all for the Eagles as the Spartan offense was too much for them to overcome.
The Blue and Gold returns to action Tuesday, heading to Wake Forest for a nonconference contest with the Demon Deacons. First pitch at the Wake Forest Baseball Park (formerly Ernie Shore Field) is slated for 6 p.m.