CULLOWHEE, NC – UNC Greensboro fought off a Western Carolina comeback with four runs in the seventh inning to claim their third Southern Conference softball win with a 9-6 victory over Western Carolina in doubleheader action at Catamount Softball Complex. Western Carolina took a 4-3 win in the late game to claim the doubleheader split.
UNCG (22-28) was able to get on the board first in game one. Mary Greenway hit a leadoff single up the middle and advanced to second with a stolen base. The right fielder moved to third base when Adriane Audley grounded out to second base and came home on a Western Carolina passed ball giving the UNCG the early 1-0 advantage.
The Spartans extended their lead with three runs in the top of the third. Greenway tallied her second hit of the afternoon with a leadoff single and moved over to second with a stolen base. She was plated when Brittany Ausley tallied her ninth double of the season. Catcher Leslie Furness belted her fourth home run over the left field wall which drive in two runs and pushed the UNCG lead to 4-0.
Western Carolina (19-26) wouldn't go away and was able to tie the ball game with two runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings. The Catamounts cut the lead to 4-2 with a two run homer from Savannah Filley in the fourth inning and tied the game up with another two-run home run from Danielle Reese.
UNCG responded and was able to regain the lead in the top of the fifth with a home run from third baseman Kara Clouser but Western Carolina tallied two runs in the bottom of the inning to take their first lead of the game at 6-5. The Spartans wouldn't let the game get away and sealed the win with four runs in the seventh inning.
After a leadoff single from Greenway, Brittany Ausley tallied her sixth homer of the season which drove in two runs and Furness hit her second home run of the game which also drove in two runs.
Vanessa Oakes (9-8) picked up the win for the Spartans after allowing six runs on six hits in 7.0 innings of play. She issued one walk and had four strikeouts. Greenway led the Spartans from the plate by going a perfect 4-for-4 with three runs scored. The Roanoke, VA native also tallied three stolen bases.
Western Carolina struck first in game two by scoring one run in the first inning. Nikki Bost hit a single through right field and advanced to second base when Stephanie Beatty grounded out to second base. Bost was plated with a RBI single from Filley to give the Catamounts the early 1-0 lead.
The Spartans tied the game up in the top of the third inning with a run from Ausley. Ausley, who was walked to open the inning, advanced to second base on a Western Carolina error. UNCG had the bases loaded and Ausley came home when
Catamount pitcher Lauren Ross walked Clouser.
Western Carolina tallied two runs in the fourth inning to take a 3-1 lead but the Spartans responded with runs in the fifth and sixth innings to tie the score at 3-3. In the fifth, Ausley hit a leadoff single and advanced to second on a single to right field from shortstop Adriane Audley. She reached third on a passed ball and crossed home plate on a fielder's choice. Lyndsey Wilson tied the game in the sixth. She hit a leadoff single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Emily Akiyama. Wilson was plated with an RBI single from Ausley.
Western Carolina came up with the win in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Catamounts loaded the bases and pitcher Lauren Ross came home on an RBI single from Reese giving Western Carolina the 4-3 win. UNCG pitcher Amber Harrell suffered the loss after allowing three runs on seven hits in 4.0 innings of work. Ausley led UNCG from the plate by going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI.
The teams will play for the series in a single game on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm at the Catamount Softball Complex.
AGATE
GAME ONE
UNCG................ 103 001 4 9 11 0
Western Carolina.... 000 222 0 6 6 2
E - Fowler(1); Kelley(3). LOB - UNCG 4; Catamounts 1. 2B - Ausley; Beatty(8). HR - Ausley; Furness 2; Clouser; Filley(4);
Ross(7); Reese(1). SH - Clouser; Pritchard(3). SB - Greenway 3; Audley. CS - Bonilla.
Win - Oakes (9-8). Loss - McKenzie (7-14). Save - None. WP - Oakes. PB - Reese(16). Umpires - HP: Sidney Ferguson 1B: Frank Holcomb 3B: Al Poirer Start: 12 PM Time: 1hr 50
GAME TWO
UNCG................ 001 011 0 3 5 2
Western Carolina.... 100 200 1 4 12 1
E - Furness; Mouse; Swank(13). LOB - UNCG 11; Catamounts 12. 2B - Filley(5). SH - Akiyama; Fowler(2). SB - Mouse 2.CS -Bost(2).
Win - Ross (8-7). Loss - Harrell (8-13). Save - None. PB - Furness; Reese 2(18). Umpires - HP: Frank Holcomb 1B: Al Poirer 3B: Sidney Ferguson Start: 2:20 PM Time: 2hr 25 Attendance: 150
- UNCG -
