ROCK HILL, SC – The UNC Greensboro softball team took home two shutout victories in the opening day of the adidas Invitational hosted by Winthrop. The Spartans defeated Charleston Southern 4-0 in game one and took a 2-0 victory over Providence in the late game.
UNCG (15-12) opened a 1-0 lead in game one with a score by Heather Branche. Branche, who walked to lead off the inning, came around the bases when Brittany Ausley hit her team-leading eighth double of the season to give the Spartans the early advantage.
The teams remained scoreless until the top of the fifth inning. Senior third baseman Kara Clouser led off the inning with a double which gave UNCG a base runner. The Spartans continued their heavy hitting in the next at bat when Lyndsey Wilson hit a single up the middle which drove Clouser home and extended the UNCG lead to 2-0.
The Spartans sealed the victory in the seventh inning with back-to-back home runs by Wilson and Branche who both connected for their first home runs of the season.
Senior Vanessa Oakes (7-2) picked up her second consecutive win after allowing no runs on four hits in 7.0 innings of work. The reigning Southern Conference Pitcher of the Week has only allowed 27 runs in 63 innings pitched this season.
The Spartans, who picked up their seventh shutout victory of the season with their win over Providence, continued to out hit their opponents, picking up nine hits in their 2-0 win over the Friars.
UNCG and Providence battled back and forth through the games first four innings but it was the Spartans that struck first in the fifth inning. Mary Greenway led off with a single through the left side and advanced when she stole second base. First baseman Jennifer Bonilla was able to move Greenway to third base with a groundout to the Friar second baseman.
Adriane Audley drove Greenway across home plate with an RBI double, her 22 RBI of the season.
Providence couldn't muster any offense and the Spartans sealed the game with a run in the sixth inning. Lyndsay Mouse had a leadoff double and advanced to third on a stolen base. She was able to cross home plate on a wild pitch which gave UNCG the 2-0 victory.
Amber Harrell (4-7) worked 7.0 innings and allowed no runs on two hits. The shutout is Harrell's second collegiate shutout in as many weeks. The McDonough, GA native also pitched a shutout last weekend against Bucknell at the Elon Softball Tournament.
The Spartans continue action at the adidas Invitational on Saturday. UNCG takes on Towson at noon and concludes the day against Gardner-Webb at 6 pm.
AGATE
Game One 123 456 7 R-H-E
UNCG 001 010 2 4-6-0
CSU 000 000 x 0-4-0
UNCG: Vanessa Oakes, CSU: Amanda Noble
W: Oakes (7-2). L: Noble (3-11). SV: None.
Game Two 123 456 7 R-H-E
UNCG 00 011 0 2-9-1
PRO 000 000 x 0-2-1
UNCG: Amber Harrell, PRO: Sara Surosky and Jennifer Maccio
W: Harrell (4-7). L: Surosky (1-4). SV: None.
- UNCG -
