TAMPA, FL – Whitney Sirois' two-out double in the top of the seventh scored Laura Olenderski with the only run UNC Greensboro pitcher Hannah Angel would need as the Spartans beat Minnesota 1-0 on Sunday to wrap up competition at the USF Louisville Slugger Tournament.
The shutout was the first of the year for Angel (2-0), who allowed just six hits and a walk in seven innings of work. She struck out three.
With the squads locked in a tight pitchers' duel, UNCG (2-3) finally scratched across a run in the top of the seventh. Kaitlin Merkt singled up the middle to lead things off – marking the third straight inning the Spartans' leadoff reached – and Olenderski came in to pinch-run. After a strikeout and a Jordan Jewett sacrifice to get Olenderski to second, Sirois stroked a single to left to bring Olenderski around.
Minnesota pitcher Alissa Koch (0-1) fielded a groundout herself to escape further damage.
Needing just three outs in the bottom half of the frame to lock up her first shutout of the season, Angel was up to the task, retiring Shannon Stemper on a liner to second and pinch-hitter Mallory Mitchell on a flyout to left. Pinch-hitter Katie Dalen singled to center to give the Gophers (3-2) life, but Angel got Tina Watts to fly out to second to end the game.
The Spartans had been threatening often late in the game, but hadn't been able to plate a run, wasting leadoff doubles in both the fifth and sixth innings.
Akiyama got things going in the fifth with a double to left, and Jewett sacrificed pinch-runner Katie Stripling to third. Koch worked out of trouble, though, inducing groundouts from the next two batters to escape the jam.
UNCG again got off to a good start in the sixth, with Brittany Ausley hitting a double to center. Lyndsay Mouse sacrificed her to third, giving the Spartans a runner at third with one out for the second straight inning. But Koch again wriggled off the hook, getting a foulout and a groundout to keep things scoreless.
Minnesota's best scoring chances came in the third and sixth innings.
After Brianna Sudenga's one-out single in the third, Angel fielded Colleen Conway's grounder and tried to get Sudenga at second, but her throwing error allowed Sudenga to reach. A groundout advanced both runners, but Angel got Malisa Barnes to fly out to center to escape unscathed.
In the sixth, Conway led off with a single to center, and Barnes reached on an infield single one out later to put runners on first and second. The Spartans avoided damage with an unusual double play, however, as shortstop Merkt bobbled a Natalie Neal popup before coming up with the catch next to the second base bag. Conway, meanwhile, strayed a little too far from second while Merkt bobbled the ball, and Merkt beat her to the bag for the unassisted double play to end the inning.
Five different players accounted for UNCG's five hits, with Sirois, Akiyama and Ausley hitting doubles and Merkt and Gabel getting singles.
Conway had the only multi-hit game of the contest, going for 2-for-3. Barnes, Sudenga, Dalen and Neal also had singles for the Gophers, who did not record an extra base hit.
Koch allowed just one earned run on five hits and walk, striking out seven in seven innings to take the hard-luck loss.
The win over Minnesota was the Spartans' first-ever over the Gophers, who UNCG has now met in early season tournaments in each of the last three seasons. UNCG's win was also its first over a Big Ten school since beating Michigan State on consecutive days at the Elon Invitational in 2002.
UNCG returns to action next weekend at The Green and White Tournament, hosted by head coach Jennifer Herzig's alma mater, Charlotte. The Spartans will face UNC Wilmington and the host 49ers on Friday, then play Army on Saturday before pool play begins.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro 1, Minnesota 0 (Feb 08, 2009 at Tampa, Fla.)
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UNC Greensboro...... 000 000 1 - 1 5 1 (2-3)
Minnesota........... 000 000 0 - 0 6 0 (3-2)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Hannah Angel. Minnesota - Alissa Koch.
Win-Hannah Angel(2-0) Loss-Alissa Koch(0-1) T-2:30 A-0
- UNCG -
