UNCG-ASU Game One UNCG-ASU Game Two
Boone, N.C.—Each game saw a two-hitter thrown as UNC Greensboro and Appalachian State split a Southern Conference softball doubleheader, Saturday afternoon. UNCG's Danielle Byrne struck out six and walked three en route to the 5-0, game one, shutout victory, while Appalachian's Jennifer Hurley tossed a two-hitter of her own to key a 5-1 win in the nightcap for ASU.
After Byrne allowed a double to the Mountaineers' Amber Handy on her first pitch, she yielded just one hit the rest of the way in the complete game victory. Handy was stranded on third base in the first inning, but the left-handed throwing Byrne did not allow a Mountaineer base runner to move past second base the rest of the way.
UNC Greensboro's (24-21, 5-6 SoCon) Joni Gomez, who reached base on a fielder's choice, got the scoring started in the first inning of game one. On second after a ground out allowed her to advance, Gomez scored on Adriane Audley's single through the left side the for the early 1-0 lead.
With two outs in the fourth inning, Vanessa Massie doubled off the left field fence and Kara Clouser followed with a two-run home run over the tall left field fence to extend the Spartan lead to 3-0.
The Spartans chased Mountaineer starting pitcher Jordan Arnold out of the circle in the fifth inning after Christina Montana scored to give the visitors a 4-0 advantage. Montana, who reached on a throwing error, by Arnold, advanced to second on a wild pitch and was plated by a Jennifer Hubbard RBI single.
UNC Greensboro provided another insurance run in the sixth when Audley started the inning with a single through the left side. After a sacrifice bunt moved Audley to second, Massie drove her in with a single up the middle to set the final margin, at 5-0.
In the second game, Appalachian's (14-27, 3-11 SoCon) first four batters all reached base and came around to score. The early rally gave the home side a quick 4-0 lead. Leadoff hitter Lindsay Glover singled and moved around to third when Mary Lutz reached on a throwing error after a sacrifice bunt attempt. Diana Cook's RBI single to left field scored Glover and put ASU up 1-0. Christa Hicks followed with a single to center field to drive home Lutz and give the home team a 2-0 lead. After Hicks stole second base, Sarah Gough plated both runners with a single up the middle, for a 4-0 advantage.
The four-run first inning was more than enough run support for Mountaineer starting pitcher Jennifer Hurley. Hurley carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning, until she allowed a one-out double to Clouser.
The Mountaineers padded their lead with an insurance run in the fifth inning to stretch the edge to 5-0. Cook singled and two batters later, Hurt singled and Cook moved to third. With runners on the corners and two outs, pinch runner Letitia Lennon stole second and Cook stole home to complete the double steal.
After allowing the first UNCG hit of the game in the fifth, Hurley yielded a solo home run to Hubbard to start the sixth inning.
UNC Greensboro and Appalachian State return to action on Sunday for the series finale. Start time for the third and final game of the SoCon series is slated for 1 p.m.
