GREENSBORO, NC Mary Greenway's slap single up the middle scored the eventual game-winner in the bottom of the sixth inning as UNC Greensboro gained a split on the first day of the Spartan Classic with a 3-2 win over Niagara.
The Spartans, who dropped their opening game of the day to James Madison, 3-1, are now 3-4 on the season.
Greenway's slap hit up the middle was just out of the reach of Niagara's Tory Healey to plate pinch-runner Kristen Gabel. That made a winner out of Hannah Angel, who raised her record to 2-1 on the year by allowing just five hits and one walk while striking out seven over a seven-inning complete game effort.
The Spartans got on the board in the first with a pair of runs. Whitney Sirois smacked an RBI single, followed by a sacrifice fly by Leslie Furness.
Niagara (0-2) countered quickly with two in the top of the second. Heidi Conlon's single up the middle with two outs scored Teresa Healy and Tory Healy. But with Conlon on second, Angel struck out Kristin Sito to end the threat and keep it a tie game.
In the opener, the Spartans stranded 10 runners as they had James Madison pitcher Jenny Clohan on the ropes several times. However, the Dukes (1-0) scored twice in the third and once in the fourth with the benefit of just three hits.
In the third, Julia Dominguez's single to left scored Brittney Dyson and Katie Cochran. However, Cochran scored when the throw from left field sailed high and wide of the plate and through to the backstop.
The Spartans got on the board in the sixth on an RBI double by Gabel, which plated Whitney Sirois. But Gabel was thrown out trying to get to third on the play.
Greenway finished the day with three hits, while Sirois was a perfect 4-for-4 for the twinbill.
In other tournament action:
Game One: Cleveland State def. James Madison, 8-0
Cleveland State used five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull ahead, 6-0 in game one of the UNCG Spartan Classic. The Viking added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to take game one, 8-0.
Natalie DeMatteis led the way for the Vikings, who move to 1-0 on the season. DeMatteis was 3-for-3 at the plate and scored two runs in the win while teammates Jessica Burts, Amanda Houchin and Haley Keller were each 1-for-3 from the plate.
The Vikings scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning when Christa Coppus scored on a passed ball. The teams were scoreless through the bottom of the fifth when Cleveland State tacked on five runs and runs from DeMatteis and Tara Meyer ended the game in the bottom of the fifth.
Meredith Felts (0-1) allowed five runs on six hits in 3-1/3 innings of work. She also had two strikeouts. Shannon Outman came in for 1-1/3 innings of relief and allowed three runs on four hits. Cleveland State's Amanda Mancenko (1-0) went the distance and allowed one hit and no runs while striking out seven.
Game Two: Cleveland State def. Niagara, 2-1
Cleveland State used a two runs in the top of the seventh and held on for the 2-1 come-from-behind win over Niagara in the second game of the UNCG Spartan Classic.
Niagara actually scored the first run of the game with a home run to center field from Felicia Coffey in her first at bat of the season. Purple Eagle pitcher Tiffany McCroy had a no-hitter going through the top of the seventh before the Vikings unleashed for two runs.
Felicia Coffey led the way for Niagara (0-1) and was 3-of-3 from the plate with one run and one RBI. Cleveland State's Danielle Young was 1-for-2 from the plate with one run.
McCroy (0-1) twirled six innings of work and allowed two runs on two hits while walking three. Cleveland State's Kala Allread twirled six innings of work and allowed one run on five hits while striking out three. Amanda Manceko came in for the top of the seventh for the save and had one strikeout.
AGATE:
Game One
James Madison....... 000 00 - 0 1 2
Cleveland State..... 100 52 - 8 10 0
Pitchers: James Madison - Meredith Felts; Shannon Outman(4). Cleveland State - MACENKO, Amanda.
Win-MACENKO, Amanda(1-0) Loss-Meredith Felts(0-1) T-1:30 A-127
Game Two
Niagara............. 100 000 0 - 1 5 1
Cleveland State..... 000 002 X - 2 2 2
Pitchers: Niagara - McCroy. Cleveland State - ALLRED, Kala; MACENKO, Amanda(7).
Win-ALLRED, Kala(1-0) Save-MACENKO, Amanda(1) Loss-McCroy(0-1) T-1:17 A-115
HR NIASOFT - Coffey.
Game Three
UNC Greensboro...... 000 001 0 - 1 8 1
James Madison....... 002 100 X - 3 3 1
Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Amber Harrell. James Madison - Jenny Clohan.
Win-Jenny Clohan(1-0) Loss-Amber Harrell(1-2) T-1:44 A-200
Game Four
Niagara............. 020 000 0 - 2 5 0
UNC Greensboro...... 200 001 X - 3 5 1
Pitchers: Niagara - Viola; Gleiser(5). UNC Greensboro - Hannah Angel.
Win-Hannah Angel(2-0) Loss-Gleiser(0-1) T-1:57 A-200
- UNCG -
