UNC Greensboro Rallies With Five Runs in Eighth to Defeat Baseball, 10-6

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Greensboro, N.C. – Brent O’Berry went a perfect 4-for-4 with four runs batted in to lead UNC Greensboro past UAlbany, 10-6, in non-conference baseball action at the UNCG Baseball Stadium on Sunday, March 22. The Spartans rallied from behind for the second time in the three-game set with five runs in the eighth to complete the series sweep.

Spartan pitcher Alex Shelton issued three walks to open the game. With one out and the bases still loaded, the Great Danes took a 1-0 advantage when Brendan Rowland hit a sacrifice fly to right which plated Gary Pitcheralle.

UNC Greensboro (7-9) answered back in the bottom of the second inning with four runs. O’Berry hit a two-run single with the bases full to put the Spartans ahead by a run, and Pedro Leon followed with a double to score two more.

UAlbany (2-13) trimmed the Spartan lead down to one in the fourth inning, and then tied the game in the fifth. Rowland belted a single to center which plated Ryan Gugel, and the junior made it a one-run game when he scored on a wild pitch. Dave West’s RBI single to left with two down in the fifth frame knotted up the game at four runs apiece.

The Great Danes took their first lead in the top of the fifth. Rowland led off with a double, and was sacrificed over to third by Ralph Keppler. He scored on the next play courtesy of a sacrifice fly by Sean Donovan. One frame later, UAlbany doubled its advantage when West singled to left with two outs.

However, the Spartans battled back once again to regain the lead with one run in the sixth and five more in the eighth. O’Berry hit a pair of RBI singles in the sixth and eighth frames to tie the game at six, and Leon singled through the left side to put his team ahead by a run. Sean Gregory was replaced by Dave Noble on the mound, but Corey Overholtzer kept the rally going by singling to left which sent in the eighth Spartan run.

UNC Greensboro continued to play small ball offensively, as a single up the middle by Trevor Edwards scored two more runs before Ed Jayjack lined out to end the inning. The Great Danes went down in order in the top of the ninth.

UAlbany’s Austin Chase got the starting nod in a game which featured three lead changes. He surrendered five hit and four runs which were all earned in three innings of work. Gregory fell to 1-2 after being credited with the loss in 4.2 innings of relief. He gave up six hits and five runs while striking out six. Noble recorded the final out after he surrendered three hits and one earned run.

Despite giving up just one hit over the opening 2.2 innings, UNC Greensboro’s Shelton issued six walks and gave up three earned runs before being relieved by Ian Phillips in the third. Blake Hassebrock entered the game in the fourth, and surrendered three hits and two runs. Rob Gilliam pitched the final four frames to earn the victory and improve to 1-2 this year, striking out six while only allowing the Great Danes to score one run which was unearned.

UAlbany will return to action on Wednesday, March 25 for its home opener versus Marist at 3 p.m.

UAlbany 102 111 000 6 6 1
UNC Greensboro 040 001 05x 10 14 2

UAlbany: Austin Chase, Sean Gregory (4), Dave Noble (8) and Ralph Keppler.

UNC Greensboro: Alex Shelton, Ian Phillips (3) Blake Hassebrock (4) Rob Gilliam (6) and Trevor

Edwards.