GREENVILLE, NC – The UNC Greensboro softball team split in first day action at the East Carolina Pirate Classic defeating Fordham, 6-0 in the early game and dropping a 1-0 extra inning contest to Delaware to conclude the day.
Whitney Sirois had a great day at the plate and was 4-for-5 from the plate with two runs scored, including going 3-for-3 in UNCG's win over Fordham. The Hope Mills, NC native also recorded 16 putouts on the day while posting a .833 on-base percentage. Senior outfielder Mary Greenway had her 10-game hitting streak snapped after going 0-for-4 in UNCG's loss to Delaware.
The Spartans couldn't get any offense going in the late game and dropped a 1-0 extra inning contest to Delaware.
UNCG tallied hits from Whitney Miller, Kaitlin Merkt,Whitney Sioris and Mary Catherine Vercoe but couldn't string anything together to send anyone around the bases. Hannah Angel (3-4) suffered the loss after twirling eight innings of work and allowing one run on five hits
The game was a pitchers duel the entire way. The Blue Hens threatened to score in the bottom of the fourth and used a double to put a runner in scoring position but the inning ended with a fly out to centerfield before heading into extra innings.
The Spartans had chances with runners in scoring position in the second and fourth innings but in both instances ended the opportunity with groundouts and a putout.
In game one UNCG and Fordham were scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning when UNCG tallied four runs. Mary Catherine Vercoe tallied a leadoff single to reach Kayla Hensley, who pinch ran for Vercoe, moved into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt from shortstop Kaitlin Merkt and advanced to third base with a single from Whitney Sirois. She rounded the bases with a sacrifice fly from Kristen Gabel putting UNCG ahead, 1-0.
Emily Akiyama put the Spartans up 3-0 after crushing her first career home run across the centerfield wall. Fordham never really got their offense going although they managed to string together six hits on the afternoon but they left seven runners on base.
UNCG added two insurance runs in the sixth inning to put the game out of reach for the Rams. Whitney Sirois had a big afternoon and was 3-for-3 with two runs scored while Greenway ran her season stolen bases record to a perfect 15-of-15
Amber Harrell (5-4) twirled her second complete game in as many days and allowed no runs on six hits while striking out eight batters while Greenway extended her hitting streak to 10 games.
The Spartans return to action at the East Carolina Pirate Clash on Saturday when they take on Towson and Radford. The tournament concludes with bracket play on Sunday.
AGATE
Game One
Fordham............. 000 000 0 - 0 6 1
UNC Greensboro...... 000 303 X - 6 10 0
Pitchers: Fordham - Nicole Ayres; Beckah Wiggins(4); Allison Twarowski(6). UNC Greensboro - Amber Harrell.
Win-Amber Harrell(5-4) Loss-Nicole Ayres(2-4) T-1:34 A-70
HR UNCG - Emily Akiyama.
Game Two
UNC Greensboro...... 000 000 00 - 0 4 1
Delaware............ 000 000 01 - 1 5 0
Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Hannah Angel. Delaware - Shawn.
Win-Shawn(1-0) Loss-Hannah Angel(3-4) T-1:54 A-82
- UNCG -
