GREENVILLE, SC The UNC Greensboro softball team picked up its first Southern Conference victory of the season with a 9-3 win over host Furman Sunday afternoon at Pepsi Stadium. The Spartans, who improve to 18-20, 1-2 SoCon, also snapped a seven-game losing streak with the win.
The game was tied at 3-3 heading into the seventh inning, leadoff hitter Mary Greenway opened the inning by reaching on a throwing error by Furman second baseman Meredith Mielke. Brittany Ausley followed with a single into right-center field and both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch.
Adriane Audley delivered an RBI single to center which brought Greenway around the bases and advanced to second base on the throw to home plate. Kara Clouser followed with another single down the right field line to up the lead to 5-3 and Jennifer Bonilla drew a base on balls to load the bases with nobody out.
Furman reliever Blake Murray was able to strike out Lyndsey Wilson, but walked pinch hitter Vanessa Oakes forcing the third run of the inning. Following a pop out to the shortstop, Lyndsay Mouse reached on a Stephanie Cushing error and two runs scored when first baseman Christina Campoli misplayed Brandi Schnute's grounder to first as UNCG extended its lead to 9-3.
The Spartans got on the board first in the second inning, taking a 1-0 advantage on two Furman errors and a walk. The Paladins wouldn't be down for long and answered to take a 2-1 lead on RBI singles from Danielle Franklin in the second inning and Megan Jaudon in the third.
Audley tied the game at 2-2 in the fifth with a two-out, RBI single to left-center. The Spartans regained the lead in the sixth inning by capitalizing on several more Furman errors. Bonilla reached on an error by Cushing to start the inning and Wilson gave UNCG a 3-2 lead with a triple to right-center.
In the sixth inning, Brythe Blankenship reached base after being hit by a pitch and Lana Mackey lined a one-out double to right-center to tie the game.
Amber Harrell (6-11) earned the win for UNCG. She tossed three innings of relief allowing one run on two hits. Audley went 2-for-4 with two RBI and Bonilla collected two hits and scored two runs for the Spartans.
UNCG is next in action Tuesday March 27 when they take on North Carolina A&T in doubleheader action. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.
AGATE
GAME ONE
UNCG................ 010 011 6 - 9 8 0
Furman.............. 011 001 0 - 3 7 7
Pitchers: UNCG - Angel,Hannah; Harrell,Amber(5). Furman - Williams; Mackey(3); Murray(6).
Win-Harrell,Amber(6-11) Loss-Murray(6-8) T-2:00 A-119
E-Robinson, Cushing 4, Campioi, Mielke DP- Furman 2. LOB-UNCG 7, Furman 6 2B-Mckey (2), 3B-Wilson 2. HBP-Blakenship. SH-Greenway, Robertson. CS-Mouse
