GREENSBORO, NC – UNC Greensboro used a home run from Brandi Schnute and four runs in the third inning to claim a 10-7 win over visiting Liberty in non-conference action at UNCG Softball Stadium Wednesday afternoon. The Flames took a 4-2 win in eight innings to claim the series split.
Liberty got on the board early in the second game. Dawn Jeffers hit a leadoff single and was plated two plays later when Jessica Moore hit a two-run home run to give the Flames the early 2-0 advantage. The Spartans tried to respond in the bottom of the inning and had a runner on base but couldn't get anything going from the plate and left the runner stranded to end the inning.
UNCG got on the board in the second inning with a home run from Schnute which cut the Liberty lead to 2-1 and tallied four runs in the third to take a commanding 5-2 lead. Lyndsay Mouse hit a leadoff single and advanced to second base on an error by the leftfielder. Mary Greenway hit a single, which advanced Mouse to third base. Greenway then stole second base and moved to third on a passed ball which sent Mouse across home plate.
UNCG recorded back-to-back hits which scored Greenway and Adriane Audley cutting the lead to 4-2 and Brittany Ausley recorded the last run of the inning on an RBI single from Kara Clouser extending the lead to 5-2.
The Spartans struck again in the fourth inning with a leadoff single from Mouse. The second baseman moved to second base on a stolen base. UNCG added another base runner when Ausley reached on an error. All three runners crossed home plate when catcher Leslie Furness hit her sixth homerun of the season which gave UNCG an 8-2 lead.
Liberty responded with a home run from J'nae Jefferson to cut the lead to 8-3. The Flames added four runs in the top of the seventh inning but two insurance runs from the Spartans in the fifth inning sealed the 10-7 win.
Amber Harrell (9-12) picked up the win after allowing seven runs on five hits in 7.0 innings of work. She issued six walks and fanned seven.
The Spartans took a 1-0 advantage in the second inning in game one. Jennifer Bonilla hit a leadoff double and was plated when Mouse hit an RBI single. Liberty responded with a score in the top of the fourth inning. Jessica Moore hit a leadoff double to right center and crossed the bases with an RBI double from Beth Bennett to tie the game at 1-1.
Liberty took a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning. Moore hit a single through right field, followed by a double from Ashley Williams which put Moore on third base. She was plated when teammate Beth Bennett flied out to left field.
Schnute tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a home run and the score remained after the seventh inning but it was all Liberty in the extra inning. Jeffers hit a leadoff single and advanced to second on a sacrifice and moved to third on a passed ball. UNCG intentionally walked Moore, who advanced to second with a stolen base, and both runners were plated on a RBI double from Ashley Williams to take a 4-2 lead.
The Spartans tried to respond and were able to get two runners on base but couldn't find a hit to drive anyone home. Vanessa Oakes (9-9) suffered the loss after allowing four runs on eight hits in 8.0 innings of work. She issued one walk and fanned seven batters. Schnute lead the way for the Spartans at the plate by going 1-for-2 with one run scored.
The Spartans are next in action April 21-22 when they head to Statesboro, GA for a Southern Conference series against Georgia Southern.
AGATE
GAME ONE
Liberty............. 000 101 02 - 4 8 2
UNCG................ 010 001 00 - 2 3 0
E - WILLIAMS, A.; JOHNSON, C.. LOB - LIBERTY 5; UNCG 7. 2B - JEFFS, D.; MOORE, J.; WILLIAMS, A. 2; BENNETT, B.; Bonilla. HR - Schnute. HBP - Audley; Bonilla. SH - MCKAIN, S.; SWOR, S.. SB - MOORE, J.; Greenway 2.
Win - LOWE, T. (12-5). Loss - Oakes (9-9). Save - ELLIS, S. (4). HBP - by LOWE, T. (Bonilla); by LOWE, T. (Audley). PB - Sirois. Umpires - HP: Phil Best 1B: Al Poirier Start: 3 pm Time: 1:58 Attendance: LOWE, T. faced 1 batter in the 8th.
GAME TWO
Liberty............. 200 010 4 - 7 5 2
UNCG................ 014 320 X - 10 15 2
E - MCKAIN, S.; JOHNSON, C.; Audley; Bonilla. LOB - LIBERTY 5; UNCG 6. 3B - MCKAIN, S.. HR-MOOREJ,JEFFERSON, J; Furness; Schnute. HBP - MCCARTY, T.. SB - Greenway; Mouse. CS - MOORE, J.
Win - Harrell (9-12). Loss - ELLIS, S. (11-7). Save - None.WP - SWOR, S.. HBP - by Harrell (MCCARTY, T.). PB - WILLIAMS, A..Umpires - HP: Al Porier 1B: Phil Best Start: 5:30 pm Time: 1:40 Attendance: 150 ELLIS, S. faced 4 batters in the 3rd.
- UNCG -
