Softball 3/7/2009 7:00:00 PM UNCGSpartans.com

Spartans split with Western Carolina to open SoCon slate

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CULLOWHEE, NC – UNC Greensboro pulled out a 6-4 win in the second game of a doubleheader after dropping the first 3-2 in nine innings at Western Carolina to earn a split in its first Southern Conference action of the season on Saturday.

Brittany Ausley and Lyndsay Mouse had four hits each on the day to lead UNCG (8-12, 1-1 SoCon) at the plate, while senior Hannah Angel hit her first collegiate home run in just her third career plate appearance and picked up the win in the circle. Mollie Fowler paced the Catamounts (5-9, 1-1 SoCon) at the dish with four hits of her own, including a pair of home runs in game two.

The Spartans used a five-run outburst in game two to snag their first league win of the season. Trailing 3-0 heading into the inning, UNCG batted around to take the lead. Angel led off with a solo blast to straightaway center, and after singles from Alex Emeterio and Kristen Gabel, Emily Akiyama drove them both in with a two-run double. Laura Olenderski knocked in Akiyama with a single and Mouse drove in Olenderski with the Spartans' fifth run.

UNCG added another run in the top of the seventh, taking advantage of three walks to load the bases. Ausley then singled to drive in Emeterio with an insurance run.

Western Carolina got the run back on Fowler's solo home run in the bottom half of the inning, and singles from Kristen Gay and Danielle Reese brought the winning run to the plate. But Angel nailed down her fifth win of the season by getting Amber Hawkins to fly out to left.

The Catamounts had built a three-run lead, getting their first run on Lauren Ross' RBI triple in the second and adding two more in the third on Fowler's two-run homer.

Mouse had three hits in the game, going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Emeterio and Akiyama had two hits each as the Spartans banged out 11 hits total.

Reese and Fowler both had two hits for WCU.

Angel evened her record at 5-5, giving up four runs on eight hits and two walks. She struck out four, raising her career total to 407, just nine shy of second place on UNCG's career list.

Katie King (2-3) took the loss for the Catamounts, as she surrendered five runs on nine hits and a walk in 5.1 innings. Megan Taylor worked the final 1.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits and four walks.

Game one saw Western Carolina take the walk-off win on Beth Hauser's two-out RBI single. UNCG starter Amber Harrell retired the first two batters in the inning, but the Catamounts strung together three straight hits to grab the win. Hauser's hit scored Hawkins, whose single started the rally.

The Spartans held a 2-1 lead in the game, erasing Western Carolina's early 1-0 advantage with a two-run sixth. Angel pinch-hit to lead off and drew a walk, and Mouse followed with a triple to knock her in. Ausley brought in Mouse with a single to briefly put UNCG on top.

The Catamounts found the equalizer in the bottom of the inning, as Fowler drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 2-2.

Fowler, Hawkins and Keri Burnside had two hits each for WCU, which had 10 hits total. Ausley and Kaitlin Merkt were both 2-for-4 to pace the Spartans.

Harrell (3-6) took the loss, allowing three runs – two earned – on 10 hits and five walks in 8.2 innings. Ross (3-2) picked up the win with nine innings of two-run ball. She allowed four walks and six hits, striking out three.

The rubber match of the series starts Sunday at 1 p.m.

AGATE
Western Carolina 3, UNC Greensboro 2 (Mar 07, 2009 at Cullowhee, NC) (Game 1)
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UNC Greensboro...... 000 002 000 - 2 5 2      (7-12, 0-1 SoCon)
Western Carolina.... 100 001 001 - 3 10 0      (5-8, 1-0 SoCon)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Amber Harrell. Western Carolina - Megan Taylor; Lauren Ross(1).
Win-Lauren Ross(3-2) Loss-Amber Harrell(3-6) T-2:15 A-150
Weather: Sunny

UNC Greensboro 6, Western Carolina 4 (Mar 07, 2009 at Cullowhee, NC) (Game 2)
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UNC Greensboro...... 000 005 1 - 6 11 0      (8-12, 1-1 SoCon)
Western Carolina.... 010 200 1 - 4 8 1      (5-9, 1-1 SoCon)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Hannah Angel. Western Carolina - Katie King; Megan Taylor(6).
Win-Hannah Angel(5-5) Loss-Katie King(2-3) T-2:00 A-150
HR UNCG - Hannah Angel.
HR WCU - Mollie Fowler 2.
Weather: Sunny