April 14, 2001
SEVEN-RUN 10TH PROPELS UNC GREENSBORO
TO 11-6 WIN OVER FURMAN
GREENVILLE -- Jesse Martin's bases loaded two-run single in the 10th inning broke open a tie game and sparked UNCG Greensboro to a seven-run outburst en route to an 11-6 win over Furman in Southern Conference baseball action Saturday night at Furman Stadium.
The win, UNCG's second in consecutive nights against Furman and third straight overall, improved the Spartans' record to 20-16 overall and 11-6 in league action. Furman lost for the third consecutive time and dropped to 20-18 overall and 10-9 in conference play.
The Spartans, who battled back from a 3-1 deficit to tie the game on Shane Shumaker's two-out, two-run home run in the eight off Paladin reliever Rob Purvis, went up 4-3 lead in the top of the ninth when Chris Mittendorf doubled of Purvis and later scored from second base on a fielding error by Furman second baseman Adam Etherington.
After the Paladins tied the game with a run in the bottom of the ninth,UNCG used four hits, four walks, and en error to bat around against three Furman relievers in the 10th, highlighted by Martin's two-run single to centerfield and a two-run single by Justin Lee.
Taft Cable (3-0), the beneficiary of the Spartans' offensive outburst, picked up the win after pitching 4 2/3 innings in relief of starter Chris Cloninger. Ted Toler recorded the game's final two outs to quell a two-run Furman rally in the 10th.
Jeff Stovall (0-2) was charged with the loss after yielding a hit and two runs in the decisive 10th inning. Danny Rueckel, who came on relief of Stovall, failed to retire a batter and was rocked for five runs after surrendering three hits and three walks.
Furman's late game collapse spoiled an excellent starting pitching performance by junior Corey Etheridge, who struck out seven and gave up only three hits in 6 2/3 innings of work.
Dominic Frankey and Clint Hill paced Furman's 13-hit effort, going 3-for-5, but the Paladins stranded 12 baserunners and committed four errors. The Spartans, who collected 10 hits in the contest, also committed four errors in the game.
The Paladins and Spartans square off in the final game of the three-gameseries on Sunday beginning at 1:00 p.m.