Saturday, March 26, 2005

GREENSBORO, N.C. (Mar. 26, 2005) - After being held to just four hits Friday night by UNC Greensboro, the East Tennessee State offense erupted for a season-high 17 hits and 16 runs in a 16-8 Buccaneer victory Saturday afternoon from UNCG Baseball Stadium in Greensboro, N.C. With the win, the Bucs snap a six-game losing streak and run their record to 12-7, 3-5 in Southern Conference play. UNCG falls to 15-7, 6-2 in conference action.

            East Tennessee State took the early lead with four runs in the top of the first. Senior second baseman Nick Crowe (Johnson City, Tenn.) led off the game with a single and then stole second. Junior right fielder Shane Byrne (Johnson City, Tenn.), senior catcher Caleb Moore (Knoxville, Tenn.) and sophomore left fielder Stephen Douglas (Kennesaw, Ga.) followed with consecutive walks, forcing in a run. With one down and the bases still loaded, freshman third baseman Anthony Russell (Waldorf, Md.) lined a double down the left field line, scoring all three baserunners.

            The Bucs batted around in the top of the second and added five runs to their lead. ETSU loaded the bases on a leadoff single by junior shortstop Chuck Hargis (Powell, Tenn.), a walk by Crowe and a bunt single by Byrne. Moore then hit an RBI single, scoring Hargis and junior first baseman Blake Church (Roswell, Ga.) followed with a two-RBI single up the middle. With two down, junior centerfielder Matt Traylor (Knoxville, Tenn.) laced a double down the right field line to score Moore and Church.

            UNCG got on the board in the bottom of the third as Sean Snell launched hits first career home run, a solo shot over the left field wall.

            ETSU had another big inning in the top of the fourth, scoring four runs on five hits. Douglas extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a double to lead off the inning and scored on a one-out single by Russell. With two down, sophomore catcher John Weddle (Knoxville, Tenn.) hit a triple to right, scoring Traylor, who reached on a fielder's choice. After advancing on a passed ball, Traylor crossed the plate on an RBI single to right by Hargis.

            The Spartans cut a run off the Buccaneer lead in the bottom of the fourth. Jay Maule walked with one out and moved to third on a single by Danny McClure. Maule later crossed the plate as David Adams reached on a fielder's choice.

            UNC Greensboro got back into the game in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs as the Spartans sent nine men to the plate. Snell led off the inning with a single and moved to third as Mike Mongiello reached on an error. Jeremy Roulin followed with a double to left-center to score both baserunners. Maule later singled to center to score Roulin.

            The Bucs sealed the game in the top of the sixth, tacking two more runs on to their lead. Traylor hit a one-out single and later scored on an RBI double to left-center by Hargis. Hargis crossed the plate on a subsequent single by junior second baseman Greg Roberts (Douglas, Ga.).

            ETSU scored their final run in the top of the eighth as freshman catcher Bubba Herbold (Knoxville, Tenn.) walked to lead off the inning and later scored on a single by senior right fielder Ryan Spriggs (Crossville, Tenn.).

            UNCG plated their final three runs in the bottom of the eighth. With one down, Snell singled to center and moved to second on a walk by Greg Feltes. Snell came home on a double to left by Roulin and Chris Mason followed with a two-run double off the left field wall.

            Hargis led the Bucs at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs. Five other Buccaneers had two hits while every ETSU starter had at least one hit. Russell led the Bucs with four RBIs while four other players drove in two runs each.

            Snell had a team-high three hits and three runs scored for the Spartans while Roulin drive in three runs.

            ETSU junior lefty Brian Lovett (Knoxville, Tenn.) earned the win (3-2) after allowing four earned runs on seven hits in five innings of work. He also struck out two and walked four.

            Nick Starnes was charged with the loss (3-2) for UNCG after giving up eight earned runs on five hits in one inning.

The Bucs and Spartans conclude their three-game SoCon series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. from UNCG Baseball Stadium in Greensboro, N.C.