PHOTO GALLERY
MT. PLEASANT, SC Senior outfielder Mary Greenway's run in the top of the sixth inning proved to be the gamewinner as the UNC Greensboro softball team defeated Elon, 1-0 in day one action at the Southern Conference Tournament at Patriots Point Field.
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Mary Greenway crosses the plate with the go-ahead run in the sixth inning. UNCG
advances with a 1-0 win over Elon and will face top-seeded Chattanooga on
Thursday at 3 pm. (SoCon photos)
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The win marks the third consecutive year that the Spartans have won their first round tournament game by defeating a higher ranked team. Last season, UNCG become the first No. 8 seed to defeat the No. 1 seed in consecutive seasons.
UNCG (22-31) was led by Greenway who was 1-of-4 from the plate with one stolen base on the afternoon. Her stolen bases pushes her season total to 48 stolen bases and moves her to 89 career stolen bases. Lyndsay Mouse was next for the Spartans going, 1-for-2 from the plate with a sacrifice bunt.
Hannah Angel (12-13) was solid from the pitchers circle and picked up her fifth consecutive win after allowing no runs on four hits in 7.0 innings of work. She recorded five strikeouts and walked five in the win. She was able to pitch out of danger in several instances as the Phoenix left nine runners stranded on the afternoon.
The Spartans threatened to score early in the game. Mouse got things started with a single through the left side and then picked up her 15th stolen bases of the season to advance to scoring position. She moved to third on a ground out but the inning ended with another groundout.
Elon looked as if they were going to push several runs across in the top of the first as well. Jackie Gonzalez hit a leadoff single and moved to second with sacrifice bunt from Patti Weber. Angel walked the next two batters to load the bases but a foul out first bases left all three runners stranded.
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Kristen Gabel goes up against the fence for the final out in UNCG's 1-0
win over Elon in the opening round of the Southern Conference
Tournament on Wednesday. (SoCon Photos)
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After mustering only one hit heading into the bottom of the sixth the Spartans got things going and were able to take the lead. Greenway hit a leadoff single to third base and picked up her 48th stolen base of the year to put herself in scoring position. The Roanoke, VA native advanced to third with a sacrifice bunt and Brittany Ausley plated her with a hard hit ball to second base.
Ausley had a chance to add an insurance run as she was able to move to third base with back-to-back fielder choices but a ground out ended the scoring opportunity.
Elon had a chance to tie things up late in the game. Brandi Jones hit a leadoff single up the middle but was out at second base with a throw from third base to shortstop. With two outs, Elon shortstop Tracy Dahlen hit a line drive up the middle but centerfield Kristen Gabel made the catch to ensure the win.
The Spartans will take on top-seeded Chattanooga, a 3-1 winner over Western Carolina in the second game of the day on Wednesday.
LiveStats will be available at www.uncgspartans.com and a webcast will be available through Spartan All Access for the duration of the tournament.
AGATE:
UNC Greensboro...... 000 001 0 - 1 4 0 (22-31)
Elon................ 000 000 0 - 0 4 1 (25-26)
Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Hannah Angel. Elon - Pam DelPizzo.
Win-Hannah Angel(12-13) Loss-Pam DelPizzo(7-8) T-1:41 A-0
- UNCG -
