February 16, 2008

UNCG falls to Central Michigan, 3-1 in UNCG Spartan Classic action

GREENSBORO, NC – The UNC Greensboro softball team dropped a 3-1 contest to Central Michigan in second day action at the UNCG Softball Classic.

The Spartans were led by senior Mary Greenway was as 2-for-3 at the plate and had two stolen bases. First baseman Mary Catherine Vercoe tallied her first home run of the season and was 1-for-3 on the day.

Central Michigan got on the board first with a run in the top of the second inning Christina Novak hit a single through the right side and teammate Brittani Merchant singled and advanced in the next at bat to put Novak on third base and she was plated with single from Jill Schulz to give the Chippewas the early lead.

The Chippewas took a 2-0 lead with a score in the top of the sixth inning. Amy Hudson was hit by a pitch and Amber Olejniczak, who was pinch running, stole second base on the next play. Olejniczak was plated when the runners advanced on a UNCG error.

UNCG was able to get one run on the board with a home run from Vercoe and almost added another run in the seventh inning. Greenway hit a single to left field and then stole second base but a line out and strikeout ended the game.

Amber Harrell took the loss for UNCG. The McDonough, GA native went the distance and allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out seven. Kari Seddon picked up the win for Central Michigan, who moves to 2-0 on the season. She allowed one run on three hits while walking six.

Tournament play will move up on hour tomorrow due to the threat of inclement weather. Play will begin at 9 am with games following at 11am, 1:30 and 3:30 pm.

In other tournament action:

Game One: Cleveland State def. Maryland-Baltimore County, 1-0

Cleveland State used one run in the bottom of the fifth inning that proved to be the game winner in a 1-0 win over Maryland-Baltimore County in second day action at the UNCG Spartan Classic. The win moved the Vikings to 3-0 in tournament action.

The game was a pitchers duel for the most part with UMBC’s Ashley Gray holding the Retrievers to five innings of scoreless action. Gray (0-1) went the distance and allowed one run on three hits while striking out five.

Cleveland State’s Amanda Macenko went the distance and picked up her second win of the season. She allowed three hits and no runs while striking out 12 batters.

The Vikings Jessica Burt, who reached on an error by UMBC’s right-fielder, was plated on a passed ball, to give Cleveland State the only score they would need.

Game Two: Central Michigan def. Maryland-Baltimore County 8-5

Central Michigan used a seven runs in the third inning including a grand slam en route to a 8-5 win over the Maryland-Baltimore County Retrievers.

The Retrievers got things started in the bottom of the first inning. After Central Michigan pitcher Ali Pettit walked the first two batters UMBC’s Amanda Fefel had an RBI single which plated Shepard. The next two runners scored on a Central Michigan error to put the Retrievers up, 3-0.

Central Michigan was able to tie things up with three runs early but with the bases loaded pinch hitter Amanda Lobsterman hit a grand slam to put the Chippewas ahead, 7-3.

The Retrievers were able to get the lead to 8-5 with runs from Kali Shirk and Lauren Brummell but it wasn’t enough as Central Michigan moved to 1-0 in tournament action. Brummell was 2-for-3 from the plate while Stephanie Weigman took the loss after allowing seven runs on four hits while walking five.

Central Michigan’s Ali Pettit goes to 1-o on the season after allowing three runs on four hits in 5.0 innings of work. Klosterman led the Chippewas and was 1-for-1 from the plate with four RBI.

Game Three: James Madison def. Niagara, 5-3

James Madison used runs in the bottom of the second, third and fourth innings to defeat Niagara, 5-3 on Saturday afternoon.

JMU catcher Julia Dominguez’s started the scoring with a lead off home run to left field. Dominguez went 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs and a run scored. The Dukes would add another run in second when sophomore leftfielder Brittney Dyson singled to left and advanced to third on an error by the leftfielder. Sophomore centerfielder Courtney Simons would single through the right side to score Dyson. In the third, Madison would add two more runs on a Dominguez two-run double to right.

Niagara tallied a run in the fifth inning with a home run from Teresa Healy and tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning. Felicia Coffey had a lead off double and a double from Tory Healy plated Coffey. Kayla Hines also came home in the inning on an error by the third baseman.

Shannon Outman earned the win for the Dukes and in 5.1 innings of play allowed three runs on five hits while striking out four. Meredith Felts pitched 1.2 innings of relief and earned her first save of the season.

Niagara’s Michelle Krier pitched 4.0 innings of work and allowed five runs on nine hits. Cassie Stone threw 2.0 innings in relief and allowed no runs and no hits.

AGATE
Game One
UMBC................ 000 000 0 - 0 3 2
Cleveland State..... 000 010 X - 1 3 0

Pitchers: UMBC - Gray, Ashley. Cleveland State - MACENKO, Amanda.
Win-MACENKO, Amanda(2-0) Loss-Gray, Ashley(0-1) T-1:35 A-100

Game Two
Central Michigan.... 007 100 0 - 8 6 2
UMBC................ 300 000 2 - 5 7 0

Pitchers: Central Michigan - PETTIT, Ali; CAMPBELL, Kim(6). UMBC - Weigman, Stephanie; Fefel, Amanda(4).
Win-PETTIT, Ali(1-0) Loss-Weigman, Stephanie(0-1) T-2:00 A-130
HR CMU - GIROUX, Suzie; KLOSTERMAN, Amanda.

Game Three
Niagara............. 000 012 0 - 3 5 2
James Madison....... 022 100 X - 5 9 3

Pitchers: Niagara - Krier; Stone(5). James Madison - Shannon Outman; Meredith Felts(6).
Win-Shannon Outman(1-0) Loss-Krier(0-1) T-1:50 A-175
HR NIA - Healy, Te.
HR JMU - Julia Dominguez.

Game Four
Central Michigan.... 010 101 0 - 3 7 1
UNC Greensboro...... 000 001 0 - 1 3 1

Pitchers: Central Michigan - SEDDON, Kari. UNC Greensboro - Amber Harrell.
Win-SEDDON, Kari(1-0) Loss-Amber Harrell(1-3) T-1:56 A-200
HR UNCG - MaryCatherine Vercoe.

- UNCG -