Explosive Offense Sends UNCG Baseball Past Western Carolina in Series Opener
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) baseball team batted its way to a 15-11 win over the Western Carolina Catamounts in The Southern Conference (SoCon) action on Friday night at Childress Field at Hennon Stadium.
Friday night’s victory marked UNCG’s 10th time posting double-digit runs in a game this season. The Spartans have won every time they have accomplished the feat this year.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Spartans broke into the score column first in the top half of the first inning when Jeremy Wolf led off the game by drawing a walk and later scored on a double from Aidan Brewer to right center. Jake Ogden then singled through the right side to score Brewer and make it 2-0 in the opening frame.
In the second inning, UNCG loaded the bases with no outs and got a two-run single up the middle from Caleb Cozart to double the lead to 4-0. In the next at bat, GC Jarman singled up the middle to score another run. Then Mitchell Smith drove in a second one on a sacrifice fly, making it 6-0 Spartans.
The bottom of the third inning saw Trent Turner and James Hinson launch solo home runs to put the Catamounts on the board, cutting the deficit to 6-2.
During the fourth frame, Ogden knocked in another run for UNCG after Brewer singled and advanced to third on an error. However, Zach Ketterman cut the Spartans’ lead back to four when he hit a solo home run out to right-center. Nate Stocum then cut it to 7-4 when he batted in another run with a single through the left side in the bottom half.
With no outs in the fifth, Luke Holland blasted a grand slam out to right center to make it 11-4. In the bottom half, the Catamounts answered with a pair of runs after Mason Holton slapped a two-run double down the left field line. In the next at bat, Kyle Harbison drove in another run to make it an 11-7 ballgame.
Luke Jenkins extended the Spartans’ lead to 14-7 with a three-run home run out to left-center in the sixth inning. Answering again, WCU tallied another four runs in the bottom half of the sixth to shave UNCG’s lead to 14-11.
Cozart tacked on another run with his third RBI of the night on a single in the ninth. Grant Aycock then completed a three-inning save in the bottom half to seal it for the Spartans, 15-11.
NOTES:
The Spartans have now won their last four meetings against the Catamounts dating back to March 24, 2023.
UNCG’s leadoff hitter reached in every inning except the third, eighth and ninth innings.
Aycock earned his second save of the season after setting season highs with three innings pitched and five strikeouts.
Brewer led the Spartans offensively, going 3-for-5 in the contest with a double, a walk, an RBI and a season-high four runs scored.
Starting on the mound for the Spartans, Julien Peissel pitched four innings with four runs against. He allowed six hits, struck out two and walked four.
Jenkins hit his first career home run, a three-run blast in the sixth inning.
Holland launched his third career home run, a grand slam in the fifth, to finish with a new single-game high of four RBI.
PITCHING RECORDS:
Brandon Hudson: W, 4-0
Gavin Mortenson: L, 2-2
Grant Aycock: SV, 2
RECORDS:
UNCG: 18-14, 6-4, SoCon
WCU: 18-13, 4-3, SoCon
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UP NEXT
The Spartans continue their three-game series in Cullowhee against the Catamounts with the second game on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Childress Field at Hennon Stadium.
Courtesy of Connor Wachtel
Strategic Communications Coordinator
UNC Greensboro