Columbia
UNC Greensboro
Maguire's Late Homer Propels Baseball to 8-7 Win over UNC Greensboro
3/15/2015 3:42:00 PM | Baseball
BOX SCORE (.html) | BOX SCORE (.pdf)
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Junior Nick Maguire belted a game-winning home run in the top of the ninth to lift the Columbia baseball team to an 8-7 victory over UNC Greensboro to kick off its spring break trip. The Lions (3-5) trailed by two runs heading into the ninth inning.
After a perfect first, starting pitcher Kevin Roy struggled with command in the bottom of the frame. UNCG (6-10) worked a pair of walks sandwiched with a single by Eric Kalbfleisch loaded the bases with one out and Devin Ruiz drew a base on balls to open up the scoring.
The Spartans' leadoff hitter Austin Embler made it 3-0 with a two-run single up the middle two batters later.
Columbia broke through in the sixth after a walk to Craig and a double by Nick Maguire set the table for John Kinne, who entered the game in the previous inning. Kinne extended his hitting streak to eight games with an opposite field single to cut the deficit to 3-1.
The Spartans cancelled out the run in their next turn when Hunter King singled, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Ruiz drove in his second run of the game by chopping a single over Savage's head at short.
Boyher led off the seventh with a walk and scored all the way from first after a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt. With Will Savage on third, Jordan Serena made it a one-run game with a fly ball to the warning track in centerfield.
UNCG added an insurance run after Aaron Wright's solo homer in the bottom of the stanza to make it, 5-3.
Three walks issued by Spartan pitching led to a single by Savage that went just over the outstretched glove of Wright at first base to bring in two runs and tie the score.
In the bottom of the eighth, it was Columbia pitching that had control issues. A hit batter started things off, followed by a walk. A failed pickoff attempt sailed into centerfield to advance both runners and a wild pitch brought in the go-ahead run. With a man on third, Nick Chapman laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to extend the margin to 7-5.
Falcone started the last comeback bid with a double to the gap in right center and scored on a base-hit by Craig. Maguire then stepped in and crushed his second dinger of the season over the wall in left-center.
Matt Robinson took the win (1-0), tossing the final two innings. Junior Adam Cline had a strong performance out of the bullpen, striking out six batters.
