GREENSBORO – UNC Greensboro's Luke Holland hit a game-winning two-run in the home eighth inning of a non-conference baseball contest against the North Carolina A&T Aggies on Saturday to lead the Spartans to a 4-2 win at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
UNCG's victory guarantees the series win for the Spartans after they came away with a 9-4 win over A&T on Friday. A&T, who dropped to 3-13, will try to get a win in the series on Monday at 4 p.m. from UNCG Stadium after the game was postponed to the weekday because of impending rain on Sunday.
A&T received a solid start from junior right-hander Matt Murtagh. He pitched six innings, giving up only five hits and two runs while striking out six and walking only one Spartan. Murtah's counterpart, junior RHP Jay Miller, also had an effective start in helping the Spartans improve to 9-9.
Miller tossed seven innings and posted 11 strikeouts while giving up four hits, an earned run and a walk. A&T was able to tie the game against Miller in the visitor's fifth inning.
Freshman Bruce Wyche earned a one-out bunt single off Miller and then stole second to move into scoring position. Miller followed by striking out junior Luis Gomez, but the third strike was dropped by catcher Jacob Dilley, prompting Gomez to take off for first base. Dilley recovered the loose ball and threw out Gomez going to first. However, as Spartan first baseman tried to fire to third to throw out Wyche, the throw missed the mark. That led to Wyche scoring from third to tie the game 2-2.
The Aggies put runners on first and second with two outs against Miller behind a walk to freshman Tyler Smith and a JT Taylor single up the middle. Senior designated hitter Kristian Amaro also singled, but as Smith tried to score from second, Holland threw out from left field to preserve the tie.
A&T went down in order in the seventh before junior RHP Sean Duke (L, 0-2) entered the game to pitch the home seventh. Duke retired the Spartans in order, sending the game into the eighth inning tied at 2-2. RHP Danny Thomas, Jr. replaced Miller (W, 1-0) on the mound to open the eighth. He also did his job by retiring the Aggies in order.
Duke opened the eighth by surrendering a double to Jeremy Wolf. Duke then walked Trey Truitt before a sacrifice bunt from Dilley moved both runners into scoring position. The Aggies intentionally walked Paker Wright to set up the force play. A&T then replaced Duke on the mound with RHP Carter Daniels.
Holland stepped to the plate and took Daniels' 1-1 pitch into left field for the game-winning hit. Daniels got Brantley Truitt to fly out to end the inning, sending the game into the ninth.
Thomas struck out the side to secure the win for the Spartans.
UNCG got on the board first on Saturday with a second-inning home run from Jacob Budzik. A&T tied the game in the visitor's fourth on a solo homer from senior AJ Jones. It marked his second home run of the season and the sixth of his career. Holland, who went 2-for-3 with three RBIs for the Spartans, homered in the fourth to give UNCG a 2-1 lead before A&T tied the game in the fifth.
