Spartans pin down conference crown behind 3 champs

UNCG won its first Southern Conference wrestling championship Saturday at the Baker Sports Complex in Davidson and three individuals qualified for the NCAA championships.

Ivan Lopouchanski (141 pounds), Victor Hojilla (165) and Byron Sigmon (174) won individual titles, giving the Spartans three wrestlers in the NCAAs for the third consecutive year.

UNCG earned the team championship by putting five wrestlers in the finals. Three other Spartans finished third to give them 81.5 points. The Citadel was second, with 74 points, and Appalachian State (71.5) finished third. Five-time defending champion Chattanooga was a distant fourth with 43 points.

Lopouchanski beat Davidson's Vitaly Radsky 8-3 to win the 141-pound championship. Hojilla avenged a 10-1 loss to Appalachian State's Kyle Blevins earlier in the year by winning 10-5 to claim the title at 165. In the 174-pound final, Sigmon defeated J.C. Oddo of The Citadel 5-2.

BASEBALL

ArmyY 9, UNCG 6: The Spartans (6-3) scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to cut their deficit to one run, but the Black Knights (4-1) added two in the eighth inning to pull away in Greensboro.

Corey Overholtzer went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two walks, and Lloyd Enzor and Cody Walker each drove in two runs for UNCG. Grimsley alumnus Clint Moore went 2-for-5 with an RBI for Army.

DukeE 7, TEMPLE 0: Eric Pfisterer (2-1) struck out a career-high 10 and combined with relievers Dennis O'Grady and Ben Grisz to pitch the Blue Devils' second straight shutout as Duke (6-3) beat the Owls (0-9) at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

EAST CAROLINA 6, WEST VIRGINIA 3: Junior Zach Woods (2-0) struck out a career-high 11, and Cam Freeman and John Wooten each drove in two runs to lead the Pirates (6-3) past the Mountaineers (2-7) in the Keith LeClair Classic.

ELON 10-18, PRINCETON 2-8: Jared Kernodle (1-0) pitched six shutout innings in game one, and the Phoenix (6-4) hit six home runs in game two of a doubleheader sweep of the Tigers (0-3) in the Elon Invitational. Seth Canipe and Matt Hinson each homered twice in the second game, and Canipe finished with three homers for the day, including a grand slam in the opener. The duo combined to drive in 11 runs.

GUILFORD 3-12, EMORY & HENRY 1-2: Senior Adam Hart pitched a complete-game, five-hitter in the opener, and the Quakers (8-4, 2-1) scored early and often in the second game to sweep the visiting Wasps (0-2, 0-2) in an ODAC doubleheader.

HIGH POINT 15, TOWSON 13: The Panthers (6-2) extended their winning streak to five games with a wild victory over the visiting Tigers (1-9). Kyle Mahoney went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs, and Matt Gantner and Steve Antolik each had four RBIs for High Point.

North CarolinaA 7, MICHIGAN 6: Freshman Chaz Frank went 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored to lead the Tar Heels (8-1) past the Wolverines (4-6). The teams combined for 24 hits and 26 runners left on base.

N.C. STATE 14, QUINNIPIAC 3: Dallas Poulk and Danny Canela each homered and drove in three runs to power the Wolfpack (9-1) to a victory over the Bobcats (0-2) in Raleigh.

SHENANDOAH 4, GREENSBORO 1: Pride starter Michael Manfro (1-2) did not give up an earned run, but Greensboro (4-7, 0-3) fell to the Hornets (6-3, 1-2) in a USA South game in Winchester, Va.

Wake ForestT 6, XAVIER 1: Freshman left-hander Tim Cooney (2-0) held the Musketeers (1-8) to one run on six hits in 72/3 innings as the Deacons (5-6) took the second game of a three-game series in Winston-Salem.

MEN'S LACROSSE

GREENSBORO 11, WESLEY 10: Matt Leach made 22 saves and Bryan Mercer had three goals and two assists as the Pride (3-2) edged the Wolverines (0-3) in Greensboro.

MARYLAND 11, DUKE 10, OT: The Blue Devils (2-2) rallied from a three-goal deficit, but fell to the Terps (3-0) at the Face-Off Classic in Baltimore. Zach Howell led Duke with four goals.

NORTH CAROLINA 12, UMBC 7: Midfielder Sean DeLaney's career-high five points and goalkeeper Chris Madalon's 13 saves carried the Tar Heels (5-0) past the Retrievers (1-2) in Catonsville, Md.

WOMEN'S LACROSSE

GREENSBORO 24, AGNES SCOTT 4: Ashley Nolen had three goals and six assists to lead the Pride (4-1, 1-1) past the visiting Scotties (1-1, 1-1) in a USA South match.

SOFTBALL

MEREDITH 6-14, GUILFORD 2-6: The Quakers (7-2-1) stranded five runners in the first three innings to drop the opener, then blew a six-run lead in the second game against the Avenging Angels (7-3) in Raleigh.

UNCG 4, BOWLING GREEN 1: Alex Emeterio hit a grand slam with two out in the top of the seventh inning as the Spartans (6-10) rallied for a win over the Falcons (4-7) at the Buzz Classic in Woodstock, Ga.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

WAKE FOREST: As the Deacons prepared to start spring practice Tuesday, they announced the following realignment of their coaching staff:

l Steve Russ moves from coaching tight ends and fullbacks to working with the linebackers.

l Tight ends will be mentored by offensive line coach and offensive coordinator Steed Lobotzke.

l Associate head coach Billy Mitchell, who has been coaching running backs and kickers, will add the fullbacks to his responsibilities.

l Defensive coordinator Brad Lambert will move from coaching linebackers to working with safeties, and defensive ends coach Keith Henry will move to cornerbacks.

l Tim Billings, who spent the last two years working with the entire secondary, will coach defensive ends.