GREENSBORO, NC Amber Harrell came within inches of a no-hitter and Lyndsay Mouse hit a grand slam that wasn't as UNC Greensboro cruised past Rider, 8-0 in five innings, at the UNCG Spartan Classic on Friday.
Harrell allowed just a pair of walks and a double that landed just inches inside the left field line as she improved to 3-5 on the season.
With the Spartans (7-11) up 4-0 and the bases loaded in the third inning, Mouse hit a towering shot out over the left field fence. As she rounded first, she passed Kristen Gabel and was called out, but the three runners all came around to score.
UNCG plated a trio of unearned runs in the first inning to set the tone for the game. After Jordan Jewett reached on a three-base error and Alex Emeterio walked, Mary Catherine Vercoe smoked a single to left to bring in Jewett. Kaitlin Merkt followed with a single through the left side to load the bases, and Whitney Sirois hit a sacrifice fly to score Emeterio. Emily Akiyama followed with an infield single to score Vercoe.
The Spartans added four more in the third, with Akiyama driving in Vercoe before Mouse's would-be homer. UNCG added its eighth run in the fourth inning when Emeterio scored on Merkt's long fly and the throw into second.
Harrell, meanwhile, was cruising. She sat down the first the seven batters she faced before walking Clarissa Ortiz with one out in the third. With one down in the fourth inning, Candice Harris laced a ball down the left field line that just snuck inside the chalk to break up the no-hitter.
Kristen Gabel made a nice catch on a low line drive for out No. 2, and Vercoe grabbed a popup in foul ground to end the inning.
Rider (0-2) got its leadoff on base in the seventh, as Amanda Centeno drew a five-pitch walk to get the bottom half of the frame started. Harrell closed the door on the Broncs in dominating fashion, striking out the next three batters two of them looking the end the game.
The Spartans pounded out nine hits, with Vercoe, Merkt, Akiyama and Mouse getting two each. Brittany Ausley also picked a base knock for UNCG.
Lauren Brunner (0-1) took the loss in the circle for the Broncs, as she allowed seven runs four earned on eight hits and a walk in three innings. Samantha Bennett pitched two innings of solid relief, allowing one run on one hit.
Harrell struck out a season-high eight batters as UNCG snapped an eight-game losing streak.
In other games at the UNCG Spartan Classic, Ohio topped Robert Morris 6-1 in the opener, then crushed Rider 14-0 in six innings in the nightcap.
The games, originally slated for noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., were moved back to 5, 7 and 9 because of rain.
In the opener, the Bobcats (7-6) scored all six runs in the fifth inning none of them earned. The Colonials (0-1) committed three errors in the inning and Ohio picked up three hits, with
Emily Wethington's two-run double the big blow.
In the final game of the evening, the Bobcats plated eight runs in the top of the sixth to put the mercy run into effect. Only two of them were earned, as a pair of Rider errors opened the floodgates.
Melissa Bonner and Alexis Zambrana had three hits each for Ohio against the Broncs.
The UNCG Spartan Classic resumes at 10 a.m. Saturday with Robert Morris taking on Georgetown. UNCG plays Ohio and Robert Morris at noon and 2:30 p.m., respectively, then Georgetown and Rider close face off at 4:30 p.m.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro 8, Rider 0 (Feb 27, 2009 at Greensboro, NC)
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UNC Greensboro...... 304 10 - 8 9 0 (7-11)
Rider............... 000 00 - 0 1 2 (0-1)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Amber Harrell. Rider - Lauren Brunner; Samantha Bennett(4).
Win-Amber Harrell(3-5) Loss-Samantha Bennett(0-1) T-1:22 A-68
Weather: Cloudy, 55 degrees
Game: UNCG2271
Ohio 6, Robert Morris 1 (Feb 27, 2009 at Greensboro, NC)
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Ohio................ 000 060 0 - 6 6 1 (6-6)
Robert Morris....... 001 000 0 - 1 3 4 (0-1)
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Pitchers: Ohio - WETHINGTON, Emily; SAUCEDO, Candace(7). Robert Morris - MOATES, Lindsey;
DUBOVEC, Annie(5).
Win-WETHINGTON, Emily(4-4) Loss-MOATES, Lindsey(0-1) T-1:35 A-45
Weather: Overcast and cool
Game: CLASS01
Ohio 14, Rider 0 (Feb 27, 2009 at Greensboro, NC)
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Ohio................ 220 208 - 14 16 0 (7-6)
Rider............... 000 000 - 0 3 3 (0-2)
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Pitchers: Ohio - BONNER, Melissa. Rider - Rachael Matreale; Kelsey Krisch(6).
Win-BONNER, Melissa(3-2) Loss-Rachael Matreale(0-1) T-1:55 A-45
Game: CLASS03
