Greensboro, N.C. - Pete DiResta went 3-for-5 with two doubles to lead UAlbany to an 8-6 win over UNC Greensboro in the finale of a three-game non-conference series with the Spartans at UNCG Stadium over the weekend. The Spartans won the first two games, a 6-5 victory on Friday and a 9-8 win in the first half of a doubleheader on Saturday.

            In the finale, UAlbany jumped out to an early lead as it pushed four runs across the plate in the top of the second inning. Mike Tirri had a two-run double down the right field line in the inning and Nolan Gaige added an RBI single. UNCG cut its deficit in half in the bottom half of the inning as Trevor Edwards led off with a single to right field and Thomas Troelstrup followed with a two-run shot to left field to make it 4-2.

The Spartans made it 4-3 in the bottom of the third inning, but the Great Danes would stretch their lead out to 8-3 with a pair of runs in the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth, Gaige reached on a fielder's choice before stealing second, and was driven in by DiResta's first of two doubles in the game. DiResta scored a run on a triple down the right field line by Brian Bullard to give UAlbany a 6-3 advantage. The Great Danes tacked on two additional runs in the fifth on a two-run homer by Jeff Welsh.

UNCG tried to mount a rally again, scoring single runs in the sixth, seventh and ninth inning, but it wasn't enough as the Great Danes' Kevin Cowan held on for the save. Cowan struck out one in three innings of work, while Ryan White earned the win with a six-inning performance. Colby Hyatt took the loss for the Spartans after allowing six earned runs over four innings.

In the first game, UNCG trailed 8-6 heading into the bottom of the ninth. Drew Gehringer led off the inning with a walk and then advanced to third on a single by Chris Barker. Bobby Martin followed with a walk to load the bases with no outs. After a strikeout and a foul out, but Hein took a 1-0 pitch to left center for a walk-off double that allowed all three runners to come home and give the Spartans a dramatic 9-8 victory.

Freshman Pete Schultz picked up his first career win as he pitched the final 1 1/3 innings and allowed just one hit, while striking out a pair of batters. Brian Gauthier was credited with the loss after giving up three runs on two hits in 1 2/3 innings of work. Starter Zach Kraham struck out six in 6 2/3 innings for UAlbany.

Josh Nethaway went 3-for-5 with one run scored and three RBI in the game, including a two-run homer in the top of the third that gave UAlbany a 5-1 lead. Three other Great Danes also finished with multiple hits, including DiResta, who recorded a triple in the first inning and an RBI single in the eighth.

UNCG (6-5) had to hold off a UAlbany rally in the first game of the series to seal up the win, after the Great Danes recorded three runs in the top of the eighth. Down 6-2, UAlbany got two runners in scoring position on a DiResta walk and a fielder's choice that put Bullard on base. Nethaway doubled down the left field line to score DiResta, before Josy Espinal recorded an RBI single that sent Bullard home. Nethaway scored the final run of the game on a passed ball.

UAlbany tried to continue the rally in the top of the ninth, as Welsh moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ralph Rizzo, but Spartan closer Tyler Hollstegge earned the save by inducing a pop up and striking out the Great Danes' final batter to seal up the win. UAlbany starter Dave Kubiak took the loss, despite striking out five without allowing an earned run in 5 2/3 innings of work. Warren Slack earned his second win for UNCG, fanning three in five innings on the mound.

UAlbany (1-7) will return to action next weekend with a four-game series at New York Tech.

Game 1

UNCG 6, UAlbany 5 (Mar 04, 2011)

2011 UAlbany Baseball
Albany at UNCG
Mar 04, 2011 at Greensboro, N.C. (UNCG Stadium)

Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Albany.............. 001 010 030 -  5  7  4
UNCG................ 102 001 200 -  6  9  0
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Umpires - HP: Don Hebert 1B: Mike Cotton 3B: Brett Dickerson
Start: 4 p.m. Time: 2:43 Attendance: 132
Weather: 54 degrees, partly cloudy

Game 2

UNCG 9, UAlbany 8 (Mar 05, 2011)

2011 UAlbany Baseball
Albany at UNCG (Game 1)
Mar 05, 2011 at Greensboro, N.C. (UNCG Stadium)

Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Albany.............. 203 010 020 -  8 13  5
UNCG................ 102 010 203 -  9 10  1
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Umpires - HP: Josh Reep 1B: Joe Holt 3B: Ben Frazier
Start: 12 p.m. Time: 3:10 Attendance: 194
Weather: 57 degrees, cloudy

Game 3

UAlbany 8, UNCG 6 (Mar 05, 2011)

2011 UAlbany Baseball
Albany at UNCG (Game 2)
Mar 05, 2011 at Greensboro, N.C. (UNCG Stadium)

Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Albany.............. 040 220 000 -  8 15  1
UNCG................ 021 001 101 -  6 13  0
-------------------------------------------

Umpires - HP: Joe Holt 1B: Josh Reep 3B: Ben Frazier
Start: 4 p.m. Time: 2:24 Attendance: 203
Weather: 63 degrees, cloudy
White, R. faced 3 batters in the 7th.