MT. PLEASANT, SC – Two runs by the UNC Greensboro softball team in the bottom of the first inning was all they needed to upset top-seeded Chattanooga in Southern Conference Tournament action on Thursday at Patriots Point Field.
The win marks the third consecutive season the Spartans have knocked off the top seed in tournament action. Last season UNCG defeated Chattanooga, 2-1 in first round action and during the 2006 season they defeated No. 1 seed, Western Carolina, 5-3. The win also marks the second consecutive season UNCG has defeated Chattanooga in tournament action.
UNCG (23-31) was led by a trio of players. Mary Greenway, Lyndsay Mouse and Mary Catherine Vercoe were all 1-for-3 from behind the plate. Mouse also tallied one run and one stolen base while Greenway extended her hitting streak to seven games. Amber Harrell (11-17) got the start in the pitchers circle and twirled 4.0 innings of work. She allowed one run on four hits and had five strikeouts.
The Spartans got off to a good start in the first inning. Junior second baseman Lyndsay Mouse hit a single to right field and advanced to second base with her 16th stolen base of the season. She then moved to third base with an error from Chattanooga second baseman, Tiffany Baker while teammate Brittany Ausley took first base on the same error.
Mouse tallied the first run of the game on a wild pitch which moved Ausley to third. Ausley was plated with an RBI single from Mary Catherine Vercoe to give the Spartans a 2-0 lead heading into the second frame.
Chattanooga wasn't able to get much going after combining for one hit in the next two innings although they were able to push a run across in the top of the fourth inning. Michelle Fuzzard hit a double to center field to get things started and was moved to third with a single to centerfield from Toni Hutchison.
Fuzzard scored the Lady Moc's lone run of the day with a RBI single from Laci Upchurch in the next at bat. Chattanooga was able to get another runner on with a fielder's choice, giving them two base runners but the Spartan defense held and ended the threat with a unassisted out to third base and a strikeout.
The Spartans added another run in the bottom of the fifth thanks to several loaded bases. Brooke Loudermilk recorded back-to-back walks which put Kayla Hensley and Kristen Gabel on base and a single from Mary Greenway loaded the bases. Chattanooga pitcher Kaitlin Holloway was able to strike out Mouse but a sacrifice fly from Ausley plated Hensley giving UNCG the 3-1 lead.
Hannah Angel, pitching in relief, was able to hold the Lady Mocs scoreless through the final three innings. In 3.0 innings of relief, she allowed no runs on no hits while striking out three. The Eastbend, NC native also picked up her second save of the season.
Each team registered just four hits on the afternoon led by UTC's Toni Hutchison who was 2-for-2 with a pair of singles.
Irwin (8-8) took the loss for Chattanooga , which used three pitchers in the contest.
The Spartans advance to the winner's bracket final Friday at 3:00 p.m. against GeorgiaSouthern. Chattanooga (36-20) drops to the loser's bracket where it will face seventh-seeded Appalachian State at 10 a.m. Friday morning in an elimination game.
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
Chattanooga......... 000 100 0 - 1 4 1 (36-20)
UNC Greensboro...... 200 010 X - 3 4 0 (23-31)
Pitchers: Chattanooga - Irwin; Loudermilk(1); Ka. Holloway(5). UNC Greensboro - Amber Harrell;Hannah Angel(5).
Win-Amber Harrell(11-17) Save-Hannah Angel(2) Loss-Irwin(8-8) T-1:44 A-0
Loudermilk faced 2 batters in the 5th.
- UNCG -
