March 16, 2003
UNC GREENSBORO EDGES FURMAN 6-5
IN SOCON BASEBALL ACTION SUNDAY
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Allen Thomas went 2-for-3 and drove in three runs, including a go-ahead, two-out run scoring single in the eighth inning, and Chris Mason pitched 3.1 innings of solid relief to lift UNC Greensboro to a 6-5 victory over Furman in Southern Conference baseball action Sunday afternoon at Furman Stadium.
With the win UNC Greensboro (16-4, 4-2 SoCon) claimed two of three in its three-game series with Furman (9-9, 2-4 SoCon).
Thomas, who led off the game with a walk and later scored on a single by Justin Saltamacchia to give UNCG a 1-0 lead, delivered a two-out, two-run single in the second inning off Paladin starter Kyle Funk to extend UNCGıs advantage to 3-0.
Furman made it 3-1 in the third on a run scoring triple by Clint Hill that plated Case Cassedy.
The Paladins tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth, using a pair of hits and an error for two unearned runs off Spartansı starting pitcher Scooter Michael.
UNCG regained the lead in the sixth when Clay Wehner belted a solo home run over the left field fence off Furman reliever Jon Stallsmith (0-2).
The Paladins grabbed their only lead of the contest in the bottom of the sixth with a pair of run scoring singles by A.J. Daviduk and Clint Hill off UNCG reliever Ryan Falcon, but freshman righthander Chris Mason came on for Falcon and quelled the rally by striking out Stephen Hildreth to end the inning with runners on second and third and with Furman holding a 6-5 advantage.
UNCG tied the game at 6-6 in the seventh when Thomas, who led off the inning with a walk, scored on a Ryan Gordon one-out single.
Later in the eighth Jay Maule led off with a single but was forced out at second on a failed sacrifice bunt attempt by Wehner. David Adams followed with a successful sacrifice bunt that moved Wehner to second, where he scored on Thoması single to centerfield off Stallsmith to give the Spartans a 6-5 lead.
Furman tried to rally in the ninth after Clint Hill led off the frame with a single and advanced to second on a groundout, but Mason struck out pinch hitter Richie Dean and got Dominic Frankey on a fly out to centerfield to end the game.
Mason (2-0) earned the win after surrendering just two hits and striking out five in his 3.1 innings of work. Stallsmith (0-2), who surrendered four hits and three runs in 5.1 innings of action, took the loss.
Led by Clint Hillıs 4-for-5 performance at the plate, Furman outhit UNCG Greensboro 11-8. Furman returns to action on Wednesday when it entertains UNC Asheville at Furman Stadium in a 4:00 p.m. game. UNC Greensboro will play host to Cornell on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.