LYNCHBURG, VA – The UNC Greensboro softball team picked up a split in non-conference softball action against Liberty on Tuesday afternoon. The Spartans dropped the opener to the Flames, 1-0 but salvaged the split with a 4-3 win in the late game.
UNCG (10-19) was led by Leslie Furness and Mary Greenway. Furness was 3-of-7 from the plate with a team-high three hits while Greenway was 2-of-7 from the plate and had two runs. The Roanoke,VA native also recorded a triple on the day. Amber Harrell and Hannah Angel each started one game with Harrell falling to 6-10 on the season with a 1-0 loss in the early game while Angel picked up her fourth win of the season in the nightcap.
Harrell allowed one run on four hits in 6.0 innings of work while striking out a team-high seven batters while Angel allowed three runs on eight hits in 7.0 innings of action while recording six strikeouts.
The Spartans had hot bats and tallied 10 hits on the afternoon including six hits in their 4-3 win in the late game. With the game tied at 2-2 through the fourth inning UNCG used a two runs in the fourth inning to take a 4-2 lead.
Kaitlin Merkt hit a leadoff single to centerfield and moved to second on a groundout from Whitney Miller. The Irvine, CA native was moved to third base with a single from Mary Catherine Vercoe and was plated with a single from Lyndsay Mouse. UNCG added another run late in the inning when Laura Olenderski, pinch running for Vercoe, rounded the bases after a Liberty fielding error.
Olenderski's run proved to be the game-winner but the Flames were able to add one final run in the fifth inning. After a leadoff double from Amber Depasquale an RBI single from Ashley Williams cut the UNCG lead to 4-3 but that was as close as it would get for the rest of the game.
The Spartans had chance to add to their lead in the seventh inning. Mary Greenway hit a triple, her third of the season, but couldn't find a way home as two strikeouts ended the inning. The Flames also had one last chance and used two singles to get runners at first and second but a groundout to shortstop ended the game.
The early game was a pitcher's duel from the outset but a home run from Liberty's J'nae Jefferson was the lone score and gave Liberty the win. UNCG best chance to tie the game came in the fourth inning. Whitney Sirois hit a leadoff single up the middle followed by a single from Brittany Ausley which placed two runners on base.
A single from Furness loaded the bases but Sirois was out at home on the next play with a throw home from Liberty's third baseman. UNCG had another chance in the inning when Vercoe again loaded the bases after reaching on a fielder's choice but Furness was out at third base ending UNCG's scoring chances.
The Spartans return to UNCG Softball Stadium tomorrow when they welcome crosstown rival North Carolina A&T for a twinbill. First pitch is scheduled for 3 pm.
AGATE
Game One
UNC Greensboro...... 000 000 0 - 0 4 0 (9-19)
Liberty............. 010 000 X - 1 4 0 (4-19-1)
Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Amber Harrell. Liberty - WHEELER, D.; ELLIS, S.(7).
Win-WHEELER, D.(3-4) Save-ELLIS, S.(1) Loss-Amber Harrell(6-10) T-1:41 pm A-57
HR LIBERTY - JEFFERSON, J (1).
WHEELER, D. faced 1 batter in the 7th.
Game Two
UNC Greensboro...... 101 200 0 - 4 6 0 (10-19)
Liberty............. 011 010 0 - 3 8 3 (4-20-1)
Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Hannah Angel. Liberty - ELLIS, S.; SMITH, T.(6).
Win-Hannah Angel(4-9) Loss-ELLIS, S.(1-11) T-1:45 A-75
HR LIBERTY - WILLIAMS, A. (1); MCMILLON, K. (1).
- UNCG -
