Vikings Drop Second In A Row At UNC-Greensboro, 7-6
    Franks Hit First Homer Of The Season With 5 RBI
    Ryan Franks hit a three-run homer in the third inning against UNCG today.

    Ryan Franks hit a three-run homer in the third inning against UNCG today.

    Feb. 20, 2010

    Final Stats

    Contact: Renee Adam

    Greensboro, N.C. - Despite senior Ryan Franks recording a three-run home run and a two-run double, the Vikings fell at UNC-Greensboro in the second game of the three-game series, after the Spartans posted a four-run eighth inning and a three-run ninth inning to come from behind and win, 7-6.

    "We got off to a great start offensively today and we were really strong at the plate during the first few innings," head coach Kevin Kocks said. "We made too many errors late in the game and allowed UNCG to get back in the game. Tomorrow we will work to put together a full nine innings of both offense and defense and see how things turn out for us."

    Ryan Franks went two-for-four with 5 RBI, one double and one homer to lead the Vikings, as Tom Carter recorded the final RBI for CSU.

    The Vikings got off to a strong start with a 3-0 lead in the third inning, but couldn't hold on for the finish after the Spartans got going offensively late in the game, posting all seven runs in the last two innings.

    Jason Haditsch singled down the leftfield line to start the third inning for the Vikings, with Dylan Schwegler putting up a sacrifice bunt that allowed Haditsch to advance to second base. In his second appearance at the plate, Alex Johnson walked, putting two Vikings on base for Franks who belted his third career home run over the rightfield wall, putting CSU up 3-0 early in the third inning.

    The Vikings posted another three-run inning in the top of the seventh following three walks, a trio of wild pitches and a stolen base, loading the bases with Carter, Johnson and Haditsch. Haditsch scored on a wild pitch, and Franks hit a double to right-center to score Johnson and Carter, putting the Vikings up with a commanding 6-0 lead.

     

     

    The lead wouldn't last for long though, as CSU struggled in the eighth inning with an error, three walks and two wild pitches that allowed four Spartans to score putting the Vikings up by only two, 6-4. Tyler Wynn and Kyle Shaffer turned a double play to stop the Spartan rally and end the inning for the Vikings.

    CSU couldn't put anything together in the top of the ninth to increase their lead, going three-up, three-down while the Spartans used their last inning of play to power past the Vikings.

    The Vikings recorded two early outs in the bottom of the ninth, but UNCG put the game away after that, beginning with a two-run homer by Corey Overholtzer that tied the game, 6-6. CSU was doomed yet again by three walks, as Ed Jayjack scored the seventh and winning run for the Spartans.

    Coty Bates pitched seven innings for the Vikings, allowing just three hits and striking out seven, while Jimmy Cowhy recorded the loss (0-1) after entering the game during the ninth inning allowing the final run for UNCG.

    Wes McBride picked up the win (1-0) for the Spartans, pitching one inning of relief facing just three Viking batters.

    CSU closes the three-game series against the Spartans tomorrow (Feb. 21) with a 1:00 p.m. game at UNCG Stadium.