CHATTANOOGA, TN Freshman Alex Emeterio went 3-for-3 with two RBI and Amber Harrell won her fifth straight decision as sixth-seeded UNC Greensboro rallied past No. 5 seed Furman on Friday, 4-3, to advance at the Southern Conference Softball Championship.
UNCG (26-32) will face fourth-seeded Georgia Southern at 2:15 p.m.
Trailing 3-2 in the fifth, the Spartans grabbed the lead for the first time on the day with a pair of runs on two hits. Brittany Ausley led off the inning with a walk, took second on a sacrifice and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Mary Catherine Vercoe singled up the middle to bring Ausley in and tie the score, and took second on another wild pitch. Emeterio stepped in and fell behind 0-2, but worked it back to 2-2 before drilling a triple to the gap in left center to put the Spartans on top to stay. The three-bagger was Emeterio's team-leading third of the season.
Furman (22-29) scored all three of its runs in the top of the first inning, loading the bases on the first three pitches of the game. Stephanie Field reached on an error to lead off, All-Southern Conference First-Team catcher Abby Robertson reached on a smash off third baseman Emily Akiyama's glove, and Stephanie Cushing was hit by a pitch as the Paladins had the bases juiced a minute into the game.
UNCG starter Hannah Angel struck out Morgan Hughey swinging for the first out, but Brythe Blankenship followed with a bases-clearing double to the gap in right center to get the Paladins on the board first.
After managing just two hits through the first three innings, the Spartans finally got their offense in gear in the fourth with three straight doubles to pull within a run. Vercoe roped a one-out double off the wall in left field and Emeterio followed with one in the gap in left center to make it 3-1. Kaitlin Merkt followed with a double in nearly the same spot to bring in Emeterio and knock Furman starter and All-Southern Conference Second-Teamer Lana Mackey from the game. Stephanie Mihaly walked the first batter she faced, but retired the next two to limit the damage.
Vercoe was 2-for-3 with two runs for the Spartans. Roberston was 2-for-3 and Blankenship was 1-for-4 with three RBI for the Paladins.
Mihaly (8-6) took the loss, allowing two runs on one hit and two walks in 1.1 innings. Mackey returned to finish the game, working a total of 4.2 innings. She allowed two runs on six hits and two walks.
Harrell (10-12) picked up the win with 3.2 innings of scoreless relief. She allowed just two hits. Angel went 3.1 innings, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro 4, Furman 3 (May 08, 2009 at Chattanooga, Tenn.)
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Furman.............. 300 000 0 - 3 5 0 (22-29)
UNC Greensboro...... 000 220 X - 4 7 1 (26-32)
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Pitchers: Furman - Lana Mackey; Stephanie Mihaly(5) and Abby Robertson. UNC Greensboro -
Hannah Angel; Amber Harrell(4) and Leslie Furness; Whitney Sirois.
Win-Amber Harrell(10-12) Loss-Stephanie Mihaly(8-6) T-1:45 A-125
Weather: 71 degrees and cloudy
Game: UNCG5081
