TAMPA, FL – Illinois State and Florida Gulf Coast both jumped out to big leads Saturday and UNC Greensboro was unable to rally either time, falling 13-2 and 8-5 to the Redbirds and Eagles, respectively, on the second day of play at the USF Louisville Slugger Tournament.
Illinois State (1-2) scored three runs in the third inning and two each in the fourth and sixth to put UNCG (1-3) in a 7-0 hole. Florida Gulf Coast (2-1) would do the Redbirds one better, leading the Spartans 8-0 by the second inning.
For the day, Lyndsay Mouse was a combined 3-for-5 with three runs scored, Brittany Ausley was 3-for-7 and Mary Catherine Vercoe was 2-for-6 with a home run and four RBI.
The Redbirds put up a trio of runs in the third, getting a two-run home run from Michelle Henderson and an RBI single from Diciembre Vaca to knock freshman Cory Mattson (0-1) from the game.
Illinois State added two more in the fourth on RBI singles from Becca Baltikas and Casey Gorrell, then tacked on another pair in the sixth on Gorrell's two-run homer to make it 7-0.
UNCG finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the frame, with Mouse drawing a one-out walk and Vercoe bashing a two-out, two-run shot to left field.
Any hope of a UNCG comeback would be squelched in the top half of the seventh, however, as the Redbirds exploded for six runs on five hits and a Spartan error to put the game out of reach. Gorrell had another pair of RBI in the inning, while Kaprice Williams blasted a three-run home run.
Gorrell led the Redbirds at the dish with a 4-for-5 day, driving in five runs and falling a triple short of the cycle.
Mattson took the loss in her first collegiate start, allowing three runs – two earned – in 2.2 innings of work.
Mouse, Vercoe, Emily Akiyama and Whitney Miller had one hit each to account for UNCG's four on the afternoon.
Against the Eagles later in the day, the Spartans again found themselves down big early.
After FGCU scored in the bottom of the first, the Eagles got a three-run home run from Cheyenne Jenks and a two-run blast from Samantha Waldron in a seven-run second inning.
The Spartans would claw back into the contest, however, plating a pair of runs in the third and single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings before Dana Frantz nailed down her first save of the season.
In the third, Ausley and Mouse stroked consecutive one-out singles and Alex Emeterio walked to load the bases for Vercoe. The senior came through with a two-run single to get the Spartans on the board.
Kaitlin Merkt's RBI single in the fifth scored Mouse, Ausley's double in the sixth brought in Whitney Sirois and Kayla Hensley scored on an error in the seventh to cap the scoring.
Ausley was 3-for-4 in the game, while Mouse finished 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Sirois went 2-for-2 for the Spartans.
Angel pitched four innings of scoreless relief, limiting the Eagle offense to just three hits and a walk while striking out four.
Harrell dropped to 0-2 on the season after allowing eight earned runs on six hits and two walks in two innings of work.
Catherine McDaniel (2-0) picked up the win despite giving up four runs on 10 hits in 5.1 innings. Frantz allowed an unearned run on one hit in 1.2 innings. Jenks and Waldrop both finished 2-for-3 for the Eagles.
The Spartans wrap up action at the USF Louisville Slugger Tournament on Sunday at 9 a.m., when they will face Minnesota, which is 3-1 at the tournament. The Gophers' loss came to North Florida, which UNCG beat Friday to open the season.
AGATE
Illinois State 13, UNC Greensboro 2 (Feb 07, 2009 at Tampa, Fla.)
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Illinois State...... 003 202 6 - 13 14 1 (1-2)
UNC Greensboro...... 000 002 0 - 2 4 5 (1-2)
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Pitchers: Illinois State - Amber Smith; Megan Warner(7). UNC Greensboro - Cory Mattson;
Hannah Angel(3); Amber Harrell(6).
Win-Amber Smith(1-0) Loss-Cory Mattson(0-1) T-2:30 A-0
HR ILS - Michelle Henderson; Casey Gorrell; Kaprice Williams.
HR UNCG - MaryCatherine Vercoe.
Florida Gulf Coast 8, UNC Greensboro 5 (Feb 07, 2009 at Tampa, Fla.)
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UNC Greensboro...... 002 011 1 - 5 11 0 (1-3)
Florida Gulf Coast.. 170 000 X - 8 9 2 (2-1)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Amber Harrell; Hannah Angel(3). Florida Gulf Coast -
Catherine McDaniel; Dana Frantz(6).
Win-Catherine McDaniel(2-0) Save-Dana Frantz(1) Loss-Amber Harrell(0-2) T-3:00 A-0
HR FGCU - Cheyenne Jenks; Samantha Waldron.
- UNCG -
