GREENSBORO, NC Hannah Angel pitched a two-hit complete game shutout to give UNC Greensboro a 3-0 win in game one of a non-conference doubleheader with Longwood on Thursday afternoon at UNCG Softball Stadium. The Lancers then held on for a 3-2 win in the nightcap.
Angel, the native of Eastbend, NC, posted her first collegiate shutout and eighth complete game by giving up just a single to the lead off batter in the first inning and a one-out double in the fifth. Angel also walked two and stuck out four hitters.
Freshman Leslie Furness continued her clutch hitting of late with a two-run single up the middle that scored Kelly Allen and Lyndsay Mouse to give UNCG (13-18) a 2-0 lead in the fourth.
Junior Adriane Audley later homered to centerfield in the fifth to add an insurance run for the Spartans. The homer was Audley's third of the season and second in the last four games.
Mallory Gordon accounted for the Longwood double in the fifth, while Caitlin Hooe had a single in the first. Rachel Mills got the loss after allowing two runs on five hits in 3.0 plus innings of work.
In the second game, Longwood (14-18) broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in the top half of the fifth. Kori Bonner led off the frame with a walk and Hooe followed with a double to the gap in left-centerfield. On the play, UNCG's Krista Judge bobbled the ball, which allowed Bonnor to score all the way from first base. Hooe scored one batter later on a RBI fielder's choice by Danielle Skapura that made it 3-1 in favor of the Lancers.
The score remained that way until Furness led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo blast to left that got UNCG to within one run, but Mills retired the next three hitters in order to end the game.
Ryan Washington gave Longwood a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the third, but that lead was short lived as Judge singled to left, scoring Heather Branche to tie the game 1-1 in the bottom of the frame.
Mills (11-15) allowed two runs on five hits over 7.0 innings to garner the win in the nightcap. Washington led the way with two hits and an RBI, while Bonnor scored two runs for the Lancers.
Danielle Byrne started and got a no decision after allowing only one run in 4.0 innings of work. Angel (5-8) suffered the loss by allowing two runs on two hits in 3.0 innings of relief work.
Furness went 2-for-3 with a run and RBI, while Branche was 1-for-2 with a run scored. Audley and Judge each added a hit for the Spartans, who had their three-game winning stretch snapped.
UNCG puts the finishing touches on its 14-game homestand with a weekend Southern Conference series with visiting Furman. The Spartans and Paladins will play a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 pm and a single game on Sunday at 1pm.
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