GREENSBORO, NC Kaitlin Merkt celebrated her 21st birthday with four hits, including three for extra bases, as UNC Greensboro split a doubleheader with Harvard on Tuesday, winning game one 3-0 and falling 10-5 in game two.
Merkt went a combined 4-for-7 with three RBI on the day, notching a pair of hits in both games. In the game-one win, Merkt was 2-for-3 with an RBI single and a solo home run. She had a pair of doubles in the nightcap.
Hannah Angel (7-6) earned her seventh win of the season in game one, handing Harvard ace Rachel Brown (7-1) her first loss of the season. The shutout was Angel's third of the season.
The Spartans (11-15) scored the only runs they would need in the bottom of the third, as Brittany Ausley and Lyndsay Mouse drew consecutive two-out walks to bring Merkt to the plate. Merkt delivered a single to right field that a diving Jennifer Francis couldn't come up with, scoring Ausley with what would prove to be the game-winning run. Mouse also came in on second baseman Ellen Macadam's errant throw to the plate, putting Harvard (10-6) in a 2-0 hole.
UNCG added another run in the sixth on Merkt's home run, a blast to left field just one pitch after Mouse was caught stealing at second. The roundtripper was Merkt's third of the season.
Angel allowed just four hits and three walks in the game, only letting one runner get as far as third. She only really got in trouble in the fourth, as Melissa Schellberg reached on a two-out error and Jane Alexander followed with a single through the left side to put runners at the corners. Angel coaxed a popup to second from Krysiak to end the inning with no damage.
Brown allowed three runs two earned on six hits and two walks, striking out 10.
Alex Emeterio was 2-for-3 for UNCG, while Ausley and Mouse both had singles. Krysiak was 2-for-3 to lead the Crimson at the dish.
Harvard pounded out 12 hits in game two, and got to UNCG starter Amber Harrell (3-8) early, as Macadam smoked a single down the left field line to lead off the game and later came around to score on Hayley Bock's RBI single.
UNCG answered with a run in its half of the inning on Emeterio's RBI bloop single behind the bag at third base, which scored Mouse.
The Crimson would rattle off nine unanswered runs after that, plating a trio in the third to chase Harrell. Freshman Cory Mattson fared didn't fare any better, as Harvard got a sacrifice fly from Whitney Shaw in the fourth and rode Macadam's two-run double to a three-run fifth to make it 8-1.
Angel entered the game in the sixth and gave up a pair of runs, both coming on bases-loaded walks in the seventh.
The Spartans who managed just two hits and three walks from the second through sixth innings finally got their offense back in gear in the seventh, using three hits, a walk and a hit batter to score four runs.
Pinch-hitter Whitney Miller was hit by a pitch to lead off, and Ausley followed with a double down the left field line to put runners at the corners. Mouse's sac fly scored Jordan Jewett, who re-entered for Miller, and Merkt followed with a double to bring in Ausley.
Mary Catherine Vercoe followed with a solid at-bat, fouling off a several pitches before crushing her third home run of the season out to left to knock Crimson starter Bailey Vertovez out of the circle. Emeterio kept the rally going with her third walk of the game, but reliever Julia Moore struck out the last two batters looking to end the game.
Macadam, Vertovez and Jessica Pledger, the top three batters in Harvard's order, each had two hits, with Macadam and Vertovez scoring three runs each. Shaw was 1-for-3 with three RBI.
Vertovez improved to 1-3 on the year, allowing five runs on seven hits and four walks. Harrell took the loss after allowing four runs on six hits and a pair of walks.
The Spartans return to action Wednesday when they make the short trip across town to take on North Carolina A&T for a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro 3, Harvard 0 (Mar 24, 2009 at Greensboro, NC) (Game 1)
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Harvard............. 000 000 0 - 0 4 1 (9-6)
UNC Greensboro...... 002 001 X - 3 6 1 (11-14)
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Pitchers: Harvard - Rachel Brown and Hayley Bock. UNC Greensboro - Hannah Angel and
Whitney Sirois.
Win-Hannah Angel(7-6) Loss-Rachel Brown(7-1) T-1:40 A-48
HR UNCG - Kaitlin Merkt (3).
Weather: Overcast and cool
Game: UNCG3241
Harvard 10, UNC Greensboro 5 (Mar 24, 2009 at Greensboro, NC) (Game 2)
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Harvard............. 103 130 2 - 10 12 0 (10-6)
UNC Greensboro...... 100 000 4 - 5 7 0 (11-15)
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Pitchers: Harvard - Baily Vertovez; Julia Moore(7) and Hayley Bock; Jessica Pledger.
UNC Greensboro - Amber Harrell; Cory Mattson(4); Hannah Angel(6) and Leslie Furness;
Whitney Sirois.
Win-Baily Vertovez(1-3) Loss-Amber Harrell(3-8) T-2:15 A-60
HR UNCG - MaryCatherine Vercoe.
Weather: 52 degrees and sunny
Game: UNCG3242
