Joe Hager delivered a pinch-hit RBI single in the 12th inning to lift UNC Greensboro past James Madison 4-3 in a non-conference baseball game Saturday night at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
UNCG improved to 18-15 overall while JMU fell to 24-12. The Dukes played their third consecutive 12-inning game but came up on the losing end for the first time of the three. It was the first time in program history playing three extra-inning affairs in a row.
JMU led 3-1 until a two-out rally by the Spartans in the seventh. Three straight singles by Barker, Hein and Gehringer plated one run while a wild pitch plated another to tie the score at 3-3.
The Dukes got a runner to third with one out in the ninth as sophomore first baseman Matt Tenaglia (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) doubled and moved to third on a groundout. However, a bunt attempt by junior outfielder Ian Haynes (Danville, Va./Tunstall) resulted in sophomore pinch runner Cole McInturff (Centreville, Va./Westfield) being thrown out at home.
Gehringer singled to lead off the UNCG 12th and was sacrificed to second. After an intentional walk, a fielder’s choice groundout put runners on the corners with two outs. Hager pinch hit and sent the first pitch he saw for a single up the middle to score the game winner.
Colby Hyatt improved to 4-2 with the win in relief as he and starter Brandon Browne each worked six innings. Hyatt allowed one run on five hits while Browne allowed two runs on four hits.
Gehringer finished with two hits, a walk, two runs and an RBI. He was the only Spartan with multiple hits while all nine base knocks were singles.
Sophomore right fielder Johnny Bladel (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge) registered four of JMU’s nine hits in the game and reached base in all six plate appearances with a walk and a hit by pitch. Haynes had two hits with a walk and a run.
Freshman Trent Cundiff (Roanoke, Va./Northside) took the loss after entering the game in the 12th. Junior starter Evan Scott (Haymarket, Va./Battlefield) and sophomore reliever D.J. Brown (Locust Grove, Va./Orange County) each worked four innings and combined to allow three runs. Senior James Weiner (Charlottesville, Va./St. Anne’s-Belfield) allowed just one hit over three innings.
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