UNCG-UNC Game One UNCG-UNC Game Two
Greensboro, NC - The UNC Greensboro softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader to North Carolina, Thursday afternoon, at Campus Field. UNC took game one 6-1 before edging the Spartans 4-3 in game two.
In game two, North Carolina (37-15) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the third inning. With two outs, Natashalyn Snipes singled to left and then scored on a double by Jessica Young. Emily Price then plated Young with a RBI single.
UNCG (23-20) responded in the fifth inning to take the lead, scoring three runs on three hits. Heather Branche opened the scoring rally with an infield single. Christina Montana followed with a single through the left side of the infield. Jennifer Hubbard then drove home both runners with a monstrous home run to right center.
North Carolina knotted the score with a single run in the sixth inning, as Joslin Higgins doubled home Price. The Tarheels then pushed across the winning run in the seventh inning. With one out, Dione Streete singled and advanced to third on a Snipes single and a fielder's choice. Streete would score the winning run on a wild pitch that sailed just over the head of Spartan catcher Vanessa Massie.
Vanessa Oakes took the loss for UNCG despite going a strong seven innings. Oakes held the Tarheels to four runs on seven hits, striking out six. Hubbard went 1-for-4 for the Spartans with one run scored and three runs batted in.
Alison Yin earned the win for UNC, allowing three earned runs on five hits, striking out 10. Snipes went 3-for-4 at the plate to pace the Tarheel offense, while Price went 1-for-1 with one RBI.
In game one, UNC recorded six runs on 12 hits and Crystal Cox tossed a complete game five-hitter, as the Tarheels downed UNCG 6-1.
North Carolina opened the scoring in the third inning on a three-run home run to right center by Emily Price. The Tarheels then tacked on three more runs in the top of the seventh. Following back-to-back hits from Young and Price, Jessica Graziano singled up the middle, driving in two. Graziano then scored on a Higgins double, giving UNC a 6-0 advantage.
The Spartans would rally for a single run in the seventh. Branche opened the inning with a walk and then advanced to second on a bunt single by Christina Montana. Hubbard followed with a walk to load the bases. After a Joni Gomez strike out, Jennifer Bonilla drove in Branche with a single to left field, but North Carolina would retire the next two batters for the victory.
Offensively, Bonilla went 2-for-4 with one RBI to lead UNCG, while Danielle Byrne took the loss on the mound. Hubbard, Montana and Clouser also tallied hits for the Spartans.
Price went 3-for-4 with three runs batted in to lead UNC. Cox earned the victory allowing one earned run on five hits, striking out a career-high 14.
UNCG will return to action this weekend with a three-game Southern Conference series at Appalachian State.
