Softball 5/10/2008 8:00:00 PM UNCGSpartans.com

Chattanooga ends UNCG's run through Southern Conference Tournament

Box Score

MT. PLEASANT, SC The UNC Greensboro softball team's run through the Southern Conference tournament ended on Saturday afternoon with a 3-0 loss to top-seeded Chattanooga.

UNCG (23-33) was led by sophomore right fielder Brittany Ausley who was 2-of-3 on the afternoon while Mary Greenway and Mary Catherine Vercoe also tallied hits in the loss. Greenway ends her UNCG career with 90 stolen bases and moves into second place on UNCG's all-time list.

Hannah Angel took her first loss of the tournament after allowing three runs on six hits in 3.0 innings of work. The runs were the Eastbend, NC native's first in her last 20.0 innings of work. Angel went 1-1 in the tournament with one save and before UNCG's loss to Chattanooga hadn't allowed any runs.

For her efforts she was named to the All-Tournament team. The selection is the first of her career and marks the second consecutive year that a UNCG pitcher has made the team. Former Spartan Vanessa Oakes was named to the team last season.

The Lady Mocs threatened to put a few runs on the board in the top of the first inning. Brittany Fuzzard reached with a walk and then moved to second with a single to left center from Tori Hutchison. Another walk loaded the bases but the inning ended with an Ashlan Clarkson line out to left field.

In the bottom of the inning UNCG was able to put a base runner on when Brooke Loudermilk walked Lyndsay Mouse, who then advanced to second base with a stolen base but the Spartans couldn't get her around the bases as Brooke Loudemilk struck out Brittany Ausley and Mary Catherine Vercoe to end the inning.

Chattanooga's Loudermilk had a dominant pitching performance and was able to hold UNCG hitless until the bottom of the third inning. With two outs, right fielder Mary Greenway hit a single up the middle to give the Spartans there first hit of the afternoon. She was able to move to second with a stolen base but a pop out to the shortstop ended the inning.

The Spartans had another chance to put some runs on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning. Brittany Ausley hit a single to the left side to give UNCG a base runner and was moved to second base with a sacrifice bunt from shortstop Kaitlin Merkt but a fly out to the shortstop ended the scoring opportunity.

UNCG tried to make it interesting in the bottom of the sixth inning. Brittany Ausley got things started with a shot to left field to give the Spartans a base runner and Mary Catherine Vercoe followed with a shot to left field to put two runners on base. Kaitlin Merkt had a chance to push some runs across but struck out to end the inning.

Amber Harrell pitched in relief and was able to hold the Lady Mocs to no hits through 4.0 innings of action. She walked two and had two strikeouts in her first game in relief of the tournament.

The Spartans end the season with a 23-33 record after advancing to the Southern Conference tournament winner's bracket for the first-time in school history. The Spartans return 14 players for the 2009 season.

AGATE:

Chattanooga......... 003 000 0 - 3 6 0 (39-20)

UNC Greensboro...... 000 000 0 - 0 4 1 (23-33)

Pitchers: Chattanooga - Loudermilk. UNC Greensboro - Hannah Angel; Amber Harrell(4).

Win-Loudermilk(17-7) Loss-Hannah Angel(12-14) T-1:47 A-0

HR UTC - Upchurch.

All-Tournament Team

Brooke Loudermilk, Chattanooga Most Outstanding Player

Tiffany Baker, Chattanooga

Tara Tembey, Chattanooga

Laci Upchurch, Chattanooga

Nina Iduate, Georgia Southern