The UNCG Spartans scored the final six runs of the game to break a 4-4 tie, en route to a 10-4 win over the VMI Keydets in SoCon baseball action Friday night in Greensboro, N.C.
VMI (15-15, 1-3 SoCon) had tied the game in the fourth, but UNCG responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame to take the lead for good. A two-run shot from Dillon Stewart was the key blow as the Spartans (21-6, 1-0) moved to 16-1 at home this season.
Hunter Smith (4-0) was the recipient of the offensive outburst, as he picked up the victory with 5 2/3 innings of work on the mound. Smith gave up four runs on five hits. Matthew Eagle (5-2) gave up seven runs in three-plus innings and took the loss.
The Keydets got on the board first on the blustery day, as Collin Fleischer homered to center field for his eighth home run of the season. He tied for the team lead with Peyton Maddox with the solo shot that gave VMI a 1-0 lead.
That lead lasted until the bottom of the third, when the home team put a four-spot on the board against Matthew Eagle. The key blow in the frame was a two-run shot by Ryne Sigmon as UNCG took a 4-1 lead.
The Keydets came right back with three runs in the fourth to tie the game. The key blow in the frame was a RBI single by Matt Pita, and VMI also got a RBI groundout from Will Malbon and scored a run on a wild pitch.
That 4-4 tie lasted just half an inning, as UNCG took the lead for good in the bottom of the frame. VMI tried to rally in the sixth, but Spartan relief ace Andrew Wantz fanned Jacob Jaye with two on to end a threat.
The Spartans then added two runs in the seventh to account for the final margin.
Offensively, Pita led VMI with a 2 for 4 night, while Andrew Moritz and Ben Spitznagel had a trio of hits apiece for the home team.
VMI baseball will return to action Saturday, when the Keydets and Spartans do battle at 2 p.m.
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