TAMPA, FL - UNC Greensboro earned a split to open the season Friday, topping North Florida 5-1 in the morning before falling to South Florida 5-2 in the afternoon at the USF Louisville Slugger Tournament.
Freshman Alex Emeterio enjoyed an impressive debut for the Spartans (1-1), going a combined 3-for-6 with two RBI on the day. Mary Catherine Vercoe went 2-for-3 against the Ospreys (0-1), while junior Brittany Ausley was 2-for-4 with a run against the tournament host Bulls (1-0).
Senior Hannah Angel (1-0) scattered nine hits and allowed just one unearned run in picking up the win against UNF.
With the game against North Florida tied at 1 heading into the bottom of the sixth, the Spartans batted around to break things open. Vercoe led off with a double down the left field line, bringing in pinch-runner Kayla Hensley. Ausley then reached on a fielder's choice, and after a Leslie Furness strikeout, Whitney Sirois walked to load the bases.
Laura Olenderski was hit by a pitch to knock in Hensley, and the floodgates opened. Emily Akiyama and Emeterio sandwiched RBI singles around another strikeout to keep the bases loaded, and Whitney Miller drew a walk to bring in the fourth run of the inning.
The Ospreys drew first blood in the game, taking advantage of some shaky UNCG defense to score an unearned run in the top of the first. After a Spartan error on the game's first batter, Devyn Findley singled through the left side with two down to bring in Allyson Bailey.
That would be the only blemish on the day for Angel, who walked two and struck out five in the complete-game effort. With her five strikeouts, Angel moved into fourth place on UNCG's career list with 370.
UNCG answered the Ospreys' run with one if its own in the third, as Lyndsay Mouse reached on an infield single with two outs and stole second. Emeterio followed with an RBI single to tie the game.
Amy Kraus and Kara Rutenbar were both 2-for-3 in the game for UNF. Findley (0-1) took the loss, allowing five earned runs on seven hits in six innings.
The Spartans seemed to have kept the momentum going in their second game of the day, scoring in the top of the first to take an early 1-0 lead on the Bulls, who received votes in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's Preseason Top 25 Poll.
After Ausley led off the game with a single down the right field line, Mouse sacrificed her to second. Emeterio's infield single moved Ausley to third, and Kaitlin Merkt knocked Ausley in with a single to right.
The Bulls wasted little time countering, however, putting up a five-spot in the bottom half of the inning. Janine Richardson led off with a walk, and after a groundout, Britta Giddens reached on a bunt single. Another walk loaded the bases for Alison Savarese, who singled up the middle to bring in Richardson and Giddens.
Amber Harrell (0-1) struck out Laura Fountain for the second out of the inning, but Cat Olnick (2-for-3, three RBI) hit a three-run home run to left center to blow the game open.
The Spartans would get a run back in the top of the second when Olenderski came in to score on a USF error, but that would be the last run of the day for UNCG. Furness was credited with an RBI on the play.
Harrell walked four and struck out three, allowing five earned runs on five hits in six innings of work.
Bree Spence (1-0) picked up the win for the Bulls, going four innings and allowing two runs – one earned – on six hits. She struck out four. Kristen Gordon worked two innings of scoreless relief, while Candace Howell picked up the save with a perfect seventh.
Furness had a solid game behind the plate for the Spartans against USF, gunning down two would-be base-stealers.
The Spartans return to action Saturday at 9 a.m. against Illinois State, then play Florida Gulf Coast at 3:30 p.m.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro 5, North Florida 1 (Feb 06, 2009 at Tampa, Fla.)
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North Florida....... 100 000 0 - 1 9 0 (0-1)
UNC Greensboro...... 001 004 0 - 5 7 2 (1-0)
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Pitchers: North Florida - Shaina Dent; Devyn Findley(1). UNC Greensboro - Hannah Angel.
Win-Hannah Angel(1-0) Loss-Devyn Findley(0-1) T-2:25 A-0
South Florida 5, UNC Greensboro 2 (Feb 06, 2009 at Tampa, Fla.)
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UNC Greensboro...... 110 000 0 - 2 7 1 (0-2)
South Florida....... 500 000 X - 5 5 1 (1-0)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Amber Harrell. South Florida - Bree Spence; Kristen Gordon(5);
Candace Howell(7).
Win-Bree Spence(1-0) Save-Candace Howell(1) Loss-Amber Harrell(0-1) T-2:09 A-0
HR USF - Cat Olnick (1).
- UNCG -
