UNCG Baseball Prepares for Midweek Battle Against North Carolina A&T
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) baseball team takes on crosstown rival North Carolina A&T in a non-conference midweek game on Tuesday, May 14 with a 6:00 p.m. first pitch at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
The attached photo is of the UNCG team before Sunday’s game vs. Samford (credit Carlos Morales)
Game Information
When: Tuesday, May 14 | 6:00 p.m.
Where: UNCG Baseball Stadium | Greensboro, N.C.
Live Stats | ESPN+
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LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPARTANS
After falling in the series opener to Samford, 8-4, on Friday, the Spartans run-ruled the Bulldogs, 14-4, in eight innings on Saturday and won in walk-off fashion, 6-4, in Sunday’s series finale.
Jake Ogden pulled a three-run home run to left for the walk-off win on Sunday.
Aidan Brewer led UNCG’s offense while batting .500 (6-for-12) with a team-leading four RBI.
Mitchell Smith paced the Spartans with five runs scored in the series and an .800 slugging percentage after hitting a home run on Sunday.
Julien Peissel (3-2) earned the win on the mound on Saturday before Grant Aycock (3-0) followed suit on Sunday.
Aycock struck out 11 Bulldogs’ hitters over the weekend in 6.1 innings of relief work for the Spartans.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
UNCG owns an overall record of 31-18 and finished competing in The Southern Conference (SoCon) over the weekend with a 15-6 record.
The Spartans appeared at No. 23 in this week’s 11Point7 College Baseball Mid-Major Power Rankings.
After plating 14 runs on Saturday vs. Samford, the Spartans have now scored 10 or more runs 17 times this season. When doing so, UNCG is undefeated this season with a 17-0 record.
In April, UNCG totaled 154 runs while only allowing 86.
As a team, UNCG is ranked top-30 nationally in three categories, including 13th in triples (19), 28th in stolen bases (92) and 28th in sacrifice bunts (35).
Cozart ranks among the best in the country in several offensive categories, including home runs (22, 12th in NCAA), HR per game (0.46, 12th in NCAA), RBI (72, 8th in NCAA), RBI per game (1.50, 8th in NCAA) and slugging percentage (.795, 22nd in NCAA). His 72 RBI this season are one shy of tying UNCG’s single-season record of 73 set by Kennedy Jones during the 2022 season.
Cozart was named the SoCon Player of the Week for the second time this season on April 29 after batting 6-for-9 (.667) in four games and hitting three home runs on, which included the first one that broke UNCG’s single-season record for homers on April 24 vs. High Point. He was previously named the SoCon and Perfect Game Player of the Week after hitting four home runs in the season-opening series against Fairfield (Feb. 16-18).
Aidan Brewer was named to the 2024 Brooks Wallace Award Watch List on April 29, a list of the country’s top 100 all-around shortstops.
Ready was named the SoCon Pitcher of the Week after the team’s SoCon opening series win against Mercer (March 22-24) when he threw for a complete game with a career-high nine strikeouts in game two against the Bears.
Peissel was selected as the SoCon Pitcher of the Week after starting on the mound in UNCG’s win over No. 1 Wake Forest (Feb. 20). Peissel is leading the team with 52 strikeouts.
UNCG was tabbed to finish sixth in the 2024 SoCon Preseason Coaches’ Poll after finishing the 2023 season with a 25-34 overall record and a 9-12 mark in SoCon play.
Ready was named to the Preseason All-SoCon Second Team.
UNCG concluded last season in the semifinal round of the SoCon Tournament, falling to No. 1 Samford, 9-5.
The Spartans have 22 newcomers for the 2024 season: 10 transfers and 12 freshmen.
Eighteen Spartans have returned from last season for UNCG.
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
North Carolina A&T is 24-27 this season with an 8-16 record for 11th in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA).
In their last action, the Aggies lost two out of three while hosting Elon over the weekend in a CAA series. After winning 8-4 on Friday, they fell 8-6 on Saturday and 17-12 on Sunday.
North Carolina A&T is led offensively by Tatsunori Negishi, who is batting .380 (71-for-187) and leading the Aggies in hits (71), doubles (16), home runs (8), total bases (113), slugging percentage (.604), walks (27) and on-base percentage (.482).
When it comes to pitching, Coley Kilpatrick has been the Aggies’ go-to starting arm. He leads the team in innings pitched (76.0), starts (13) and strikeouts (65) while carrying a 4.26 ERA and .249 opponent batting average. Kilpatrick is tied for the CAA lead with one complete game.
North Carolina A&T was voted to finish 10th in the 2024 CAA Baseball Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE AGGIES
The Spartans are 47-11 all-time when facing the Aggies. In one meeting earlier this season at War Memorial Stadium, North Carolina A&T prevailed by a final score of 3-2 in 11 innings. Throughout the previous two seasons, the Spartans and Aggies each traded wins over each other.
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UP NEXT
After taking on North Carolina A&T, the Spartans will conclude their regular season hosting USC Upstate on Thursday, May 16 to Saturday, May 18 at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
The Spartans honor their graduating class with Senior Day on Friday before first pitch.
Courtesy of Connor Wachtel
Strategic Communications Coordinator
UNC Greensboro