GREENSBORO, NC The UNC Greensboro softball team dropped both games in a non-conference doubleheader with Charlotte Thursday afternoon at UNCG Softball Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Spartans 5-2 in game one and claimed the sweep with a 6-4 win in the nightcap.
The Spartans (17-16) took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning behind two two-run home runs from Brittany Ausley and Lyndsey Wilson. The 49ers cut the UNCG lead to 4-2 in the top of the second inning. Ashley Kemmerer hit a double and came across the plate when centerfielder Evan Miller hit a single up the middle.
With the Spartans still holding a 4-2 advantage heading into the top of the sixth inning, Charlotte took advantage of several UNCG miscues to get back in the ballgame. Leftfielder Emily Forbes got things started with a single and Kaycie Jones got on base on an error by Jennifer Bonilla, which advanced Forbes to second base. Hannah Angel walked the next batter to load the bases and Sarah Malene hit a two-run double to tie the game at 4-4.
Charlotte added two more runs in the inning on two more UNCG errors to take a 6-4 advantage. UNCG had several chances to tie the game up but couldn't pull off the come-from-behind win.
Hannah Angel (4-5) suffered the loss. She allowed six runs on six hits over the distance. She walked three and had two strikeouts.
In the early game, Charlotte took the early 2-1 in the first inning. Evan Miller hit a leadoff single to put one runner on base and the 49ers were able to put another runner on base with a Spartan miscue in the outfield, which scored Miller. They added another run with a RBI single from Becky Matthews.
UNCG responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Jennifer Bonilla hit a leadoff single through the right side to put one runner on base and Charlotte pitcher Kristen Bowen walked Kara Clouser to put to runners on base. Freshman Whitney Sirois sent both around the bases with a two-run double to tie game at 2-2.
The teams remained scoreless for the next two innings but Charlotte had a big fifth inning in which they tallied three runs. The inning started when Amber Harrell walked Kristi Killough. Becky Matthews followed with a single which moved Killough to second base. Cee Brooks hit a home run in the next at bat which plated all three runners.
The Spartans had several hits in the next two innings but couldn't put anymore runs on the board.
Amber Harrell was saddled with the loss. She allowed five runs on 10 hits over the distance. Clouser led the Spartans from the plate by going 2-for-2 with one run scored. Mary Greenway, Adriane Audley, Bonilla and Sirois all had one hit in the loss.
The Spartans are next in action March 22 when they head to Greenville, NC to take on East Carolina in a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is set for 3 pm.
AGATE
GAME ONE
Charlotte........... 200 030 0 - 5 10 0 (17-10)
UNCG................ 020 000 0 - 2 6 1 (17-15)
Pitchers: Charlotte - K. Bowen. UNCG - Harrell,Amber.
Win-K. Bowen(7-5) Loss-Harrell,Amber(5-9) T-1:51 A-225
E-Wilson. DP- UNCG 1. LOB. Charlotte 8; UNCG 7. 2B-B. Matthews,; Clouser, Sirois. HR- Cee Brooks. HBP-S Malene. SH-Wilson
GAME TWO
Charlotte........... 110 004 0 - 6 6 0 (18-10)
UNCG................ 400 000 0 - 4 7 3 (17-16)
Pitchers: Charlotte - C. Murray; Gina Allen(7). UNCG - Angel,Hannah.
Win-C. Murray(9-5) Save-Gina Allen(2) Loss-Angel,Hannah(4-5) T-2:14 A-275
E-Clouser 2; Bonilla. LOB-Charlotte 7; UNCG 6. 2B-A Kemmerer; S. Malene. HR- Ausley,Brittany; Wilson,Lyndsey. HBP-Evan Miller; Clouser
C. Murray faced 1 batter in the 7th.
