UNC Greensboro rallies past Army, 8-5

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Christian Wolfe went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three RBI, and Benigno Marrero finished 3-for-3 with one run scored and an RBI as UNC Greensboro rallied from a 3-0 deficit to defeat Army, 8-5, in a non-conference baseball game Sunday afternoon at UNCG Baseball Stadium.

Cambric Moye was 1-for-3 with two runs scored and a pair of RBI to help spark the Spartans (2-0). Dylan Thompson (1-0) earned the win in relief after allowing one run on two hits over 2.2 innings. Corey Taylor worked the final two frames to pick up his second save of the weekend.

Six different Black Knights recorded singles to pace Army (0-2) at the plate. Army starter Alex Robinett was nearly untouchable through the first four innings, before running into trouble in the fifth. He ended up allowing three runs on three hits and one walk over five frames, before handing the ball to Gunnar Carroll to begin the sixth inning. Carroll (0-1) was saddled with the loss after yielding two unearned runs over two innings.

After a pair of scoreless innings, Army took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third as the Black Knights scratched out an unearned run. Patrick Mescher singled leading off the inning, stole second base and scored when Grant Van Orden reached on a fielding error by the UNCG first baseman.

Army extended its lead to 3-0 in the fifth inning as the Black Knights pushed across two more unearned runs. The Black Knights loaded the bases on a single and a pair of walks, and they scored twice when the Spartans' third baseman committed a throwing error. Army seemed poised to do even more damage, but Thompson came out of the bullpen and got Mark McCants to bounce into an inning-ending double play with runners on the corners.

After being held to just one hit over the first four innings, UNCG got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth with three runs on two hits to tie the score at 3-3. The first three Spartans reached base, and Moye delivered a two-run single down the left field line to make it 3-2. Wolfe then hit a sacrifice fly to left field to drive home the game-tying run. Robinett was able to limit the damage, however, getting TJ Spina to ground into a double play to retire the side.

Army manufactured a run in the top of the sixth inning to move back in front, 4-3. Jacob Page led off the frame with a single up the middle, Alex Jensen reached on a fielder's choice and Harold Earls singled as the Black Knights loaded the bases with nobody out. Then, after Connor Love lined out to second base, Mescher drove Page home with a sacrifice fly to left field.

UNCG took its first lead of the afternoon in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two unearned runs to assume a 5-4 advantage. An Army error opened the door for the Spartans, who scored both runs after two outs had been recorded. Wolfe's RBI single allowed UNCG to tie the game, and Moye scored the go-ahead run when Spina singled.

UNC Greensboro tacked on three insurance runs in the eighth inning to increase its lead to 8-4. Cole Harrison walked with one out, motored around to third base on Zac MacAneney's single up the middle and scampered home on Marrero's base hit. MacAneney scored the second run of the frame when Moye reached on an error. Wolfe capped the rally with an RBI double to deep center field, scoring Moye all the way from first base.

Army got a run back in the top of the ninth on Cortes' RBI groundout.

Army returns to action next weekend (Feb. 22-24) when the Black Knights travel to Rock Hill, S.C., to compete at the Coca-Cola Classic hosted by Winthrop University. Army will face Eastern Kentucky, Winthrop and Delaware State at the three-day event.

Game Notes: Army falls to 3-5 all-time versus UNC Greensboro ... the Black Knights wore their alternate gold jersey with white pants and black caps ... the game was played in frigid conditions and a stiff breeze ... a total of seven errors were committed in the contest with Army making four mistakes and UNCG three miscues ... Jacob Page received his first career start, getting the nod in center field and batting cleanup ... Page delivered his first career hit - a single up the middle - leading off the sixth inning ... Jon Crucitti appeared off the bench for the second straight game ... Justin French made his Army debut, pitching the eighth inning for the Black Knights ... Ryan Levenhagen made his Army debut, pinch-running in the ninth inning.