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UNCG falls in extras to James Madison; Saturday time changed
| Final (12) | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | R | H | E | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Madison (24-11) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 9 | 3 | ||
| UNCG (17-15) | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 12 | 1 | ||
| @ Greensboro, N.C. | UNCG Stadium | |||||||||||||||
| Pitching |
|---|
| Win: Tierney, Sean (6-1) - James Madison |
| Loss: Greg Smith (0-3) - UNCG |
| James Madison Batting |
|---|
| 2B: Lowery, Jake 2 |
| 3B: Bladel, Johnny; Lowery, Jake |
| HR: none |
| UNCG Batting |
|---|
| 2B: Chris Barker |
| 3B: none |
| HR: Trevor Edwards; Drew Gehringer 2 |
GREENSBORO, N.C. – James Madison rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth to tie the game and then scored five in the top of the 12th inning as UNCG fell to the Dukes, 12-8, on Friday afternoon at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Due to the threat of inclement weather in the Greensboro area on Saturday, the game time has been pushed back from its originally scheduled time of 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. In addition, the scheduled open house of the fieldhouse and unveiling of Katie's Korner has been postponed until May 14.
With the Spartans (17-15) holding a 7-4 lead entering the ninth inning, the Dukes began their rally. Bradley Shaban led off with a walk and Johnny Bladel followed with a walk of his own after a strikeout. Jake Lowery then delivered a triple into the right-field corner to make it a one-run game.
David Herbek was able to knot the game up as he followed with a sacrifice fly to deep center field that scored Lowery and tied the game at seven.
Neither team was able to generate much offense in the extra frames, although it appeared UNCG might earn the walk-off win in the bottom of the 11th. With one out, Ray Quinones belted a ball deep to left field that started in fair territory, but sliced foul at the last moment to keep the game tied at seven.
James Madison (24-11) took advantage of another chance and exploded for five runs in the top of the 12th inning. The Dukes used three walk and two hit by pitches to score their five runs on just two hits. The highlight of the inning was a two-out three-run double off the wall in right field to break the deadlock.
Drew Gehringer hit a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the 12th, his second long ball of the evening, but it wasn't enough as the Dukes won 12-8.
Sean Tierney came in to pitch seven innings of relief and allowed just one run on five hits, while striking out seven batters, to pick up his fifth win of the season.
Greg Smith was credited with the loss after allowing five runs on just two hits in two innings of work. UNCG starter Warren Slack earned a no decision after he went six innings and gave up four runs, three earned, on five hits.
Gehringer broke out of his recent slump to go 5-5 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored, while also drawing a walk. Trevor Edwards also went 2-5 with three RBI and a run scored.
Lowery led the Dukes on the evening with a 4-7 performance that included five RBI and three runs scored. Bladel also went 1-3 for the visitors with an RBI, three runs scored and three walks.
With the teams tied at two in the early going, UNCG put up five runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-2 lead. Ray Crawford hit a leadoff single up the middle and Gehringer then blasted a two-run home run to left field to give UNCG a 4-2 lead.
Chris Barker then hit a double that went over the head of the left fielder and later scored on an error. With one runner on, it was Edwards' turn to hit a two-run homer to left field to give the Spartans a five-run advantage.
The Dukes answered with an RBI triple and sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth to cut UNCG's lead to 7-4 and it would stay that way until the ninth inning.
The Spartans and Dukes will meet in the second game on the series on Saturday at 6 p.m.
AGATE
James Madison 12, UNCG 8
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James Madison....... 011 020 003 005 - 12 9 3 (24-11)
UNCG................ 110 500 000 001 - 8 12 1 (17-15)
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Pitchers: James Madison - Valadja, Alex; Futter, Josh(4); Weiner, James(5); Cundiff, Trent(6); Tierney, Sean(6) and Lowery, Jake. UNCG - Warren Slack; Jarett Miller(7); Dylan Hathcock(9); Greg Smith(11) and Trevor Edwards.
Win-Tierney, Sean(6-1) Loss-Greg Smith(0-3) T-4:04 A-474
HR UNCG - Trevor Edwards; Drew Gehringer 2.
Weather: 69 and partly cloudy
Cundiff, T faced 2 batters in the 6th.
- UNCG -
