MT. PLEASANT, SC – Amber Havnar and Shannon Howard both turned in effective pitching performances Saturday to lead College of Charleston to a doubleheader sweep of UNC Greensboro in Southern Conference action at Patriots Point Field. The Cougars claimed game one 4-3 and took game two by a score of 5-3.
College of Charleston (28-28, 13-7 SoCon) tallied the game's first run of game one in the first inning as the Cougars recorded three straight two-out hits to move ahead 1-0. Jayme Durand started things with a double to rightfield and Jennifer Golden followed with a single up the middle. Howard capped the inning with a single down the leftfield line to score Durand from third.
UNCG (19-39, 4-16 SoCon) evened the game at one run apiece in the top of the third on an RBI single off the bat of Heather Branche. Kara Clouser led off with a triple down the rightfield line and Clouser recorded her ninth RBI of the season two batters later.
The Spartans extended their lead to 3-1 after UNCG pushed across two more runs in the top of the fourth. Jennifer Bonilla led off with a single to centerfield and came around to score two batters later when Kelly Allen hit her seventh home run of the season.
The Cougars answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a one-run lead. Renee Francis started things with a solo home run to leftfield before Izmena Cabrera gave the Cougars the lead for good with a single up the middle that scored a pair.
Havnar (14-13) tallied the win for the Cougars after giving up three runs on 11 hits while striking out three in seven innings in the circle.
Vanessa Oakes (9-16) suffered the loss after being touched for four runs on six hits in four innings of work.
In game two, the Spartans grabbed the early lead with a run in the top of the first inning. Krista Judge led off the frame with a free pass and advanced to third when Adriane Audley doubled to rightfield to put the first two batters on. Two batters later, Allen produced the game's first run with a sacrifice fly to right to score Judge.
The Cougars answered in their half of the first with a run to even the score at one run apiece. Cabrera opened up with a single through the right side and moved to second on a one-out sacrifice bunt from Durand. Pitcher Shannon Howard helped her own cause with a timely two-out single up the middle to score Cabrera with the equalizer.
Charleston added another run in the third when Durand plated Cabrera, who doubled to start the inning, with a sac fly to right. One inning later, the Cougars tacked on three more runs to take a 4-1 lead into the fifth inning. Kolby Schooley doubled home a run while Durand continued her hot day with an RBI single to rightfield that scored a pair.
UNCG answered with two runs on their own in the top of the fifth to cut the deficit to 5-3 as the Spartans capitalized on a fielding error on the Cougars that scored Vanessa Oakes from third. Bonilla added an RBI double to left-centerfield in the inning to account for the second run.
The Spartans would get no closer as Howard pitched a perfect sixth and seventh innings en route to her 14th win of the season.
Angel (6-17) took the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) on 11 hits while striking out two in six innings of work in the circle.
Howard (14-15) picked up the win after giving up three runs on three hits while striking out five in seven innings.
UNCG and College of Charleston put the finishing touches on a three-game series and the regular season when the two teams meet Sunday at 11 a.m.
AGATE
Game One 123 456 7 R-H-E
UNCG 001 200 0 3-11-1
COFC 100 300 X 4-7-0
UNCG: Vanessa Oakes and Kelly Allen COFC: Amber Havnar and Jayme Durand
W: Havnar (14-13). L: Oakes (9-16). SV: None.
Game Two 123 456 7 R-H-E
UNCG 100 020 0 3-3-1
COFC 101 300 X 5-11-2
UNCG: Hannah Angel and Kelly Allen COFC: Shannon Howard and Jayme Durand
W: Howard (14-15) L: Angel (6-17) SV: None
- UNCG -
