The GW men’s baseball team salvaged a win against host UNC-Greensboro Sunday after losing the previous day’s doubleheader in the team’s first extended series. The Colonials opened the season last week with a solid win against Norfolk State, scoring seven runs in the seventh to solidify a 12-2 win.
Pitcher Greg Conden earned his first two wins with nearly flawless performances in both series, showcasing what the Colonials (2-2) hope will be consistent effort from their ace.
The Colonials are already far ahead of last season’s start, when the Colonials lost six of seven opening games. On Tuesday, the Colonials travel to James Madison University before heading south for a weekend series against Tulane.
GW 5, UNC Greensboro 2
Sunday, Feb. 17
UNCG Baseball Stadium
Greg Conden ended his weekend with a win against UNC-Greensboro, holding the Spartans to two runs on five hits in six innings.
After dropping both games of Saturday’s doubleheader, the Colonials took advantage of rusty pitching from Ryan Gordon, who made his first appearance in two seasons. GW scored three runs in two innings against Gordon. Sophomore infielder Jeff Fertitta doubled and scored in the first inning off Mike Bassett’s RBI single.
Three straight Colonials boarded the bases in the top of the second. Tony Dokoupil closed the scoring with an RBI double, giving the Colonials a 4-0 lead by the end of the second inning.
Spartans pitching recovered after Gordon was removed, virtually shutting down the GW offense. Infielder Chris Barry scored off of Matt Krimmel double in the fifth, but the Colonials were held at five runs.
Relief pitcher Mike O’Connor held the Spartans scoreless in the final three innings, allowing Conden to record his second win.
UNC-Greensboro 12, GW 10
Saturday, Feb. 16
UNCG Baseball Stadium
The Spartans dug themselves out of an early whole with a pair of five-run innings to take a 10-3 lead into the fifth inning. That lead nearly evaporated as the team held off a late GW comeback for the team’s second win of the day.
Adding three runs in the fifth and three more in the eighth against struggling Spartans pitching, the Colonials nearly completed an improbable comeback.
GW Jason Baker picked a bad day to pitch against the Spartans, as UNC-Greensboro head coach Mike Gaski called Saturday’s performance the strongest day of hitting this season.
Baker pitched away to the Spartans and allowed a plethora of opposite field hits.
For the second time in three games, the Spartans fell behind early. GW scored two runs in the second, but the Spartans tallied five in the bottom of the second. After Spartans’ Craig Whalen led off the inning with a walk, Nick Lockhart doubled and Jesse Martin followed with a RBI single. Justin Lee singled to score Lockhart. Jason Sarvis reached base off a fielder’s choice and reached second on Baker’s throwing error, allowing Lee and Martin to score. Kirk Strebin ended the five-run rally with a RBI triple.
Behind 10-3, the Colonials added three in the fifth and three more in the eighth to cut the lead to two runs but could not come all the way back.
UNC Greensboro 7, GW 2
Saturday, Feb. 16
UNCG Baseball Stadium
The Colonials stayed close before a five-run fourth inning gave way to a Spartans 7-2 win against GW’s Chris Worth.
Justin Lee led off the fourth with a single to left field. Following a Jason Sarvis ground out, David Adams singled and both runners advanced on an error by GW outfielder Mike Bassett.
GW pulled starter Chris Worth, but sophomore David Gramolini, making his first appearance of the season, performed no better in the fourth. Gordon hit a rocket to right field and Justin Saltalamacch singled down the left-field to push the lead to three, 5-2. After a wild pitch and hit-batsmen, Jesse Martin drew a walk. Lee reached base for the second time in the inning, this time on another Colonial error, and Saltalamacch scored to end the five run fourth.
