February 27, 2010
Recap | Box Score | Box Score

Spartans swept on second day of Spartan Classic

GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNC Greensboro was swept on the second day of its own Spartan Classic, dropping a 13-6 decision to Cleveland State and an 8-0 contest to Sacred Heart in 5 innings on Saturday. The Pioneers hit a walk-off home run and no-hit the Spartans in the second semifinal of the day.

In other action at the Spartan Classic, Sacred Heart (2-2) downed Niagara (1-3) in the day's first game, 8-0 in 5 innings. Cleveland State (6-3) topped Niagara 7-6 in the afternoon's first semifinal.

UNCG's first game of the day was a close one until a wild sixth inning that saw the teams combine for 11 runs. A two-run home run from Alex Emeterio in the bottom of the fifth inning drew the Spartans (3-9) to within a run at 4-3, but the Vikings exploded for eight runs in the top of the sixth to blow the game open.

CSU rapped out five hits and drew four walks in the frame, but the big blow in the inning was a grand slam off the bat of Jessica Burt. The Vikings also got an RBI double from Gabby Gillilan, an RBI single from Lia Gordon and a pair of bases-loaded walks in the inning.

Cleveland State's outburst put the Vikings up 12-3, meaning UNCG had to score at least two runs in the bottom half of the inning to avoid the mercy rule. The Spartans did just that, getting a towering pinch-hit, three-run home from freshman Chelsea D'Ambrosio down the left field line before an out had been recorded.

The Vikings then re-entered starter Amanda Mecenko, who put down the next three batters in order to escape further damage.

CSU also got a solo home run from Tess Sito in the first inning and a two-run shot from Andrea Nagy in the fourth.

Emeterio finished 2-for-3 with two RBI for UNCG, while Brittany Ausley was 2-for-4 with a run scored. D'Ambrosio was 1-for-1 with three RBI.

Burt, Sito and Dara Toman had two hits each for Cleveland State. Burt had four RBI and Nagy finished with three.

Macenko (5-3) allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits in 7 innings. She struck out 11. Brandy Holmes was tagged for three runs on three hits, failing to record and out in the sixth.

UNCG starter Amber Harrell (1-4) took the loss, as she allowed 11 runs, all earned, on seven hits and eight walks in 5 2/3 innings pitched. Raeanne Hanks finished the game for the Spartans, allowing two runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings of work.

UNCG's loss meant the Spartans would be the three seed in the tournament, earning a spot in the night's second semifinal against second-seeded Sacred Heart.

SHU pitcher Nicole Sidor was on from the start, as she sat down the game's first 12 batters before freshman Heather Robb broke up the perfect game in the fifth. One out later, Katie Stripling drew another walk, but those were the only base-runners of the evening for UNCG.

The Spartans were no-hit in a regulation game for the first time since Virginia Tech's Angela Tincher did so by an identical score in 5 innings on March 12, 2008.

The Pioneers led 4-0 going into the fifth inning, but Sacred Heart pushed across four runs in the frame to end the game early. SHU made it 5-0 on Amanda Bradley's RBI fielder's choice, then Liz Tsipouras hit a walk-off, three-run homer out to center field to put the mercy rule into effect.

Adrian Fitzsimon also had a three-run home run in the fourth inning as Sacred Heart exploded for seven runs over the final two frames to blow open what had been a 1-0 game.

Sidor picked up her first win on the season to even her record at 1-1, allowing just two walks and striking out six.

Her counterpart, UNCG's Cory Mattson, fell to 1-4, allowing eight runs – seven earned – on six hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings. She also struck out six.

UNCG returns to action Sunday in the Spartan Classic consolation game, where it will face Niagara at 11 a.m. Cleveland State will take on Sacred Heart in the championship game at 1 p.m.

Sacred Heart 8, Niagara 0 (5) – The Pioneers scored four runs each in the first and third innings and pitcher Jen Russell tossed a three-hitter as Sacred Heart earned an 8-0 win in 5 innings over Niagara on Saturday. Courtney Lee paced the SHU offense with a pair of doubles and two RBI.

Cleveland State 7, Niagara 6 – Cleveland State jumped out to a 7-1 run and weathered a late Niagara comeback, topping the Purple Eagles 7-6 Saturday to advance to the Spartan Classic title game. Kristin Sito had a three-run home run for Niagara, while Dara Toman had a three-run shot of her own for the Vikings.

AGATE
Sacred Heart 8, Niagara 0 (Feb 27, 2010 at Greensboro, N.C.)
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Sacred Heart........ 404 00 -  8  8  0      (1-2)
Niagara............. 000 00 -  0  3  1      (1-2)
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Pitchers: Sacred Heart - Jen Russell and Shannon McCoy. Niagara - Ali Grab and Jennifer Hare.
Win-Jen Russell(1-1)  Loss-Ali Grab(0-1)  T-1:17  A-54

Cleveland State 13, UNC Greensboro 6 (Feb 27, 2010 at Greensboro, N.C.)
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Cleveland State..... 101 208 1 - 13 10  1      (5-3)
UNC Greensboro...... 000 123 0 -  6  9  2      (3-8)
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Pitchers: Cleveland State - Amanda Macenko; Brandy Holmes(8) and Mimi Mahon. UNC Greensboro -
Amber Harrell; Raeanne Hanks(6) and Whitney Sirois.
Win-Amanda Macenko(4-3)  Loss-Amber Harrell(1-4)  T-2:16  A-67
HR CSU - Jessica Burt; Tess Sito; Andrea Nagy.
HR UNCG - Alex Emeterio (1); Chelsea D'Ambrosio (1).
Weather: 42 degrees, partly cloudy    
Holmes faced 3 batters in the 6th.

 

Cleveland State 7, Niagara 6 (Feb 27, 2010 at Greensboro, N.C.)
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Niagara............. 010 004 1 -  6  6  0      (1-3)
Cleveland State..... 310 030 X -  7 10  2      (6-3)
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Pitchers: Niagara - Julie DiMatteo; Cassie Stone(5) and Jaclyn Russell; Jennifer Hare.
Cleveland State - Amanda Macenko and Amy Powell.
Win-Amanda Macenko(5-3)  Loss-Julie DiMatteo(0-2)  T-1:45  A-49
HR NIA - Kristin Sito (1).
HR CSU - Dara Toman.

Sacred Heart 8, UNC Greensboro 0 (Feb 27, 2010 at Greensboro, N.C.)
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UNC Greensboro...... 000 00 -  0  0  1      (3-9)
Sacred Heart........ 001 34 -  8  6  0      (2-2)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Cory Mattson and Katie Stripling. Sacred Heart - Nicole Sidor and
Shannon McCoy.
Win-Nicole Sidor(1-1)  Loss-Cory Mattson(1-4)  T-1:25  A-77
HR SHU - Liz Tsipouras (1); Adrian Fitzsimon (1).
Weather: 40 degrees, partly cloudy    


- UNCG -