GREENVILLE, NC The UNC Greensboro softball team dropped two games in tournament action at the East Carolina Pirate Clash on Saturday. The Spartans fell to Radford, 4-0 in the early game and dropped an 8-3 contest to Towson to conclude the day.
In the late game Towson took an early 4-0 with a grand slam from second baseman Mindy Bean in the second inning but UNCG battled back in the top of the third with a leadoff home run from Kristen Gabel, her first collegiate roundtripper, cut the lead to, 4-1.
The Tigers used a three-run homer from Aimee Rosa to put the lead at 7-1 in the bottom of the third inning and with a run in the bottom of the fifth extended their lead to 8-1 with four innings left to play.
UNCG rallied in the seventh with a two-run homer from Katie Stripling but it wasn't enough as the Tigers picked up their third win of the tournament and second victory of the day.
Hannah Angel (3-5) was awarded the loss after allowing seven runs on three hits in three innings of action. Amber Harrell pitched three innings in relief and allowed one run on one hit with six strikeouts.
The windy weather proved to be costly for UNCG in the top of the fourth inning in the first game of the day. Radford was able to advance several runners with base hits that curved right out of the glove of several UNCG outfielders which led to three Highlander runs.
UNCG tried to counter in the bottom of the inning and with singles from Kaitlin Merkt and Whitney Sirois which placed two runners on base but with two outs a popout from Brittany Ausley ended the inning and kept the lead with Radford.
The Highlanders added an insurance run in the sixth inning. With two singles putting runners on base a single from catcher Sarah Himan scored RU's final tally of the afternoon.
UNCG tried to rally in the seventh inning to at least get a run across home plate to avoid the shutout. Merkt hit a leadoff double and moved to third on a Radford passed ball but was left stranded as UNCG closed the game with a fly out to shortstop.
Amber Harrell (4-5) twirled her second compete game of the tournament and allowed four runs on six hits while striking out eight. Whitney Sirois continued her stellar play from the plate and was 2-for-3 for the game.
UNCG concludes action at the East Carolina Pirate Clash on Sunday. The Spartans will take on Delaware in bracket play beginning at 9 am.
AGATE:
Game One
Radford............. 000 301 0 - 4 6 0
UNC Greensboro...... 000 000 0 - 0 6 1
Pitchers: Radford - WHALLEY, Rebecca. UNC Greensboro - Amber Harrell.
Win-WHALLEY, Rebecca(5-2) Loss-Amber Harrell(5-5) T-1:49 A-70
Game Two
UNC Greensboro...... 001 000 2 - 3 4 1
Towson.............. 043 100 X - 8 7 1
Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Hannah Angel; Amber Harrell(4). Towson - Johnston.
Win-Johnston(3-1) Loss-Hannah Angel(3-5) T-1:41 A-67
HR UNCG - Katie Stripling; Kristen Gabel.
HR TOWSON - Rosa; Bean.
- UNCG -
