GREENSBORO, NC Kaitlin Merkt hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning and Hannah Angel made it stand up as UNC Greensboro topped Appalachian State on Sunday in the first game of a Southern Conference doubleheader, 2-1. The Mountaineers used a pair of three-run innings to take game two, 7-0, and win the three-game series.
UNCG's record moved to 12-17 overall and 4-5 in the SoCon, while Appalachian State moved to 15-17, 8-4 in league play.
Brittany Ausley led off UNCG's half of the first inning of game one with a walk, and after Lyndsay Mouse moved her to second with a sacrifice, Merkt hammered a 1-1 pitch out to deep center for her team-best fourth home run of the season and a 2-0 lead.
Angel did the rest, allowing just a solo home run by Michelle Lighton to lead off the third. The Mountaineers threatened to add more in the inning, loading the bases on singles from Kayla McIntyre and Megan Rembielak and a walk from Katie Boyd, but Angel struck out Morgan Price swinging to escape the jam.
Ausley, Merkt and Laura Olenderski had UNCG's three hits in the contest. Rembielak and Lighton had two hits each to lead the Apps.
Angel (8-6) moved two games over .500, allowing just one run on seven hits and three walks, striking out two.
Mountaineers starter Kayla Richardson, whose two-hitter gave ASU a 7-0 win Saturday, took the loss, falling to 8-9 by allowing two runs on three hits and a walk. She struck out six.
After an early stalemate in game two, Appalachian State blew it open in the fourth inning thanks to some shoddy UNCG defense. Boyd and Lighton led off the inning with singles to put runners on the corners, and after a groundout and a walk, Boyd and Lighton both came around on Mouse's throwing error trying to nail Boyd at the plate on a fielder's choice.
ASU added another run on another error, as Stephanie Long scored on Emily Akiyama's errant throw to first.
The Mountaineers added three more runs in the fifth, getting one on Price's RBI groundout and two more on Brittany Gaston's single to right. The Apps capped the scoring with a single run in the sixth on Lighton's bloop double down the left field line that scored Sarah Rappe.
For the game, Lighton was 3-for-4, while six other players accounted for the rest of ASU's nine hits.
Ausley was 2-for-3 to lead the Spartans, who had six hits in the game. Olenderski, Alex Emeterio, Whitney Sirois and Kristen Gabel had UNCG's other four hits.
Amber Harrell (3-9) took the loss for UNCG, as she allowed six runs three earned on six hits and three walks in five innings. Freshman Cory Mattson pitched the final two innings, allowing a run on three hits and two walks.
Ashley Stubbs improved to 6-7, handing the Spartans just their second shutout of the season. Stubbs allowed six hits and three walks.
UNCG returns to action on Tuesday when it steps out of conference to host Campbell for a doubleheader at 4 p.m. at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro 2, Appalachian State 1 (Mar 29, 2009 at Greensboro, NC) (Game 1)
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Appalachian State... 001 000 0 - 1 7 1 (14-17, 7-4 SoCon)
UNC Greensboro...... 200 000 X - 2 3 0 (12-16, 4-4 SoCon)
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Pitchers: Appalachian State - Kayla Richardson and Michelle Lighton. UNC Greensboro -
Hannah Angel and Leslie Furness.
Win-Hannah Angel(8-6) Loss-Kayla Richardson(8-9) T-1:28 A-0
HR ASU - Michelle Lighton (4).
HR UNCG - Kaitlin Merkt (4).
Weather: 66 degrees and sunny
Game: UNCG3291
Appalachian State 7, UNC Greensboro 0 (Mar 29, 2009 at Greensboro, NC) (Game 2)
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Appalachian State... 000 331 0 - 7 9 1 (15-17, 8-4 SoCon)
UNC Greensboro...... 000 000 0 - 0 6 3 (12-17, 4-5 SoCon)
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Pitchers: Appalachian State - Kayla Richardson; Ashley Stubbs(1) and Michelle Lighton.
UNC Greensboro - Amber Harrell; Cory Mattson(6) and Whitney Sirois.
Win-Ashley Stubbs(6-7) Loss-Amber Harrell(3-9) T-1:53 A-107
Weather: 66 degrees and sunny
Game: UNCG3292
