UNCG-Elon Game One UNCG-Elon Game Two
Greensboro, NC - Sophomore Kelly Allen blasted a two out home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to propel UNCG to a 7-5 victory over Elon University in game one of a doubleheader, Saturday afternoon, at Campus Field. Elon responded with a 5-4 win in game two to earn a split of the series' first two games.
In game one, Elon (30-21-1, 10-10 SoCon) jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage in the first inning. Jessica Swearengin opened the inning with a walk and then advanced to third following a wild pitch and sacrifice bunt. Jamie Dupont then plated Swearengin with a sacrifice fly to right field.
UNCG (30-27, 8-11) answered with two runs of their own in the home half of the inning. Joni Gomez opened the scoring rally with a double down the left field line. Allen then drove in Gomez with a mammoth home run to left center.
After scoring a single run in the third inning, Elon tacked on three runs in the fourth to push out to a 5-2 advantage. In the fourth inning with the bases loaded, Jenny Gustin doubled, scoring Dani Concepcion and Paige Goss. Swearengin would then score the final run of the inning on a fielding error by the Spartan defense.
Trailing 5-2 UNCG rallied to post five runs over the final two innings. Vanessa Massie highlighted the sixth inning with a two run home run to left center, pulling UNCG within one at 5-4. Following a fly out by Christina Montana in the bottom of the seventh, Jennifer Hubbard doubled and advanced to third on fly ball from Joni Gomez. Jennifer Bonilla then drove in Hubbard with a double to right field, knotting the score at 5-5. On the very next pitch Allen drilled a two-run home run right center to give UNCG the victory.
Danielle Byrne tossed all seven innings for UNCG, allowing four earned runs on eight hits, while striking out two. Allen paced the Spartans offensively going 2-for-4 with four runs batted in and two runs scored. Massie went 1-for-3 with two runs batted in and one run scored.
Whitney Meeks took the loss for Elon after giving up seven earned runs in 6.2 innings. Swearengin and Gustin each posted two hits to lead the Phoenix offense.
In game two, Elon held off a late UNCG rally for a 5-4 victory. Megan Borgaard took the win for Elon, allowing four earned runs on five hits in 6.2 innings, while Jennifer Lamb recorded the final out to earn her fifth save of the season.
Elon built a small 2-0 lead over the first five innings. Concepcion singled home Jennifer Massey in the second inning, as Melton notched the run scoring hit in the fifth inning with a single to left field.
The Phoenix then scored three runs in the sixth inning, seemingly putting the game out of reach, as Melton delivered a two run double to right center to cap the inning. However, UNCG broke into the scoring column in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run by Massie.
In the bottom of the seventh, Montana singled to leadoff the inning before advancing to second as Jennifer Hubbard was hit by a pitch. After Gomez grounded into a double play, Allen homered to right center to pull UNCG within one 5-4. The Spartans though were unable to push across another run as Elon held on for the victory.
Jennifer Bonilla, Allen and Massie each tallied hits for the Spartans and at least one RBI. Vanessa Oakes took the loss on the mound, giving up four earned runs on 14 hits, while striking out four.
Melton went 2-for-3 with three runs batted in to lead the Phoenix in game two.
UNCG and Elon will conclude their three-game series on Sunday at 1 pm.
