JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - UNC Greensboro split a pair of games at the Jacksonville University Tournament on Saturday, falling to Drexel 3-0 before bouncing back with a 5-3 win over Bethune-Cookman. Freshman Heather Robb was a combined 3-for-6 with three RBI on the day.
In UNCG's 2010 season-opener, Drexel scored all three runs in the first two innings and pitcher Hillary Allen (1-0) made the lead stand, two-hitting the Spartans (1-1).
Robb and junior Kristen Gabel accounted for UNCG's two hits. Robb belted a triple for her first collegiate hit.
The Dragons (1-0) struck for two runs in the first inning. Hanna Parrish led off with a single up the middle then stole second. Decon Metcalf attempted to sacrifice her to third, but a UNCG error allowed Metcalf to reach base and Parrish to score. Metcalf stole second and went to third on a groundout, then scored on Ashley Botelho's RBI single up the middle.
UNCG starter Amber Harrell (0-1) struck out the next two batters to avoid further damage, but Drexel added one more run in the second inning. Laura Stagliano drew a one-out walk, then stole second. A Rachel Campbell single moved her to third, and Stagliano came home on a wild pitch.
UNCG tried to mount a rally in the top of the third inning, but left the bases loaded. Emily Akiyama drew a leadoff walk, but was erased on a fielder's choice. Gabel singled to put runners on first and second, but another fielder's choice took out Whitney Sirois at third. Jordan Jewett drew a walk to load the bases, but Allen induced a grounder from Alex Emeterio to end the threat.
The Dragons left the bases full in the bottom half of the third, but Harrell struck out the side around a walk and two singles to keep the score 3-0.
Meanwhile, Allen settled in, sitting down 12 straight before Robb's two-out triple in the top of the seventh. Allen struck out Akiyama swinging to nail down her first win of the season. Allen also had the only multi-hit game on either roster, as she was 2-for-3 at the plate.
Harrell took the loss in the circle for the Spartans, as she allowed three runs - two earned - on six hits and four walks in 6 innings. She struck out 10.
UNCG found its offense against B-CU (0-1), rapping out eight hits and taking advantage of five Bethune-Cookman errors in picking up its first win of the season.
Brittany Ausley was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Robb was 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored. Jewett was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Freshman Raeanne Hanks (1-0) picked up the win in her first career start, as she allowed just one earned run on four hits and two walks in the complete-game effort. She struck out four.
Down 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth, UNCG exploded for four runs to rally for the win. Ausley led off the frame with an infield single, then took second and third on a Wildcat error, which also allowed Jewett to reach second.
Emeterio followed with a single to score Ausley, and after Kaitlin Merkt was intentionally walked to load the bases, Robb brought in Jewett and Emeterio with a single. A fielder's choice and a wild pitch moved Robb to third, and the rookie from Apex, N.C., came in on an RBI grounder from Sirois.
Hanks retired the final six batters in order to lock up her first win.
The Spartans took an early 1-0 lead in the contest, with Ausley hitting a leadoff single and eventually scoring on Robb's fielder's choice. B-CU committed two errors in the inning.
The Wildcats answered with two runs in the top of the second, with Allison Garcia reaching on an error to lead off and taking second on a wild pitch. One out later, Michelle Banuelos-Smith walked, then both runners advanced on another wild pitch. Joanna Hernandez brought in Garcia with a sacrifice fly to center, and Liz Parrish followed with an RBI double to bring in Banuelos-Smith. Hanks struck out Tameika Jonas to end the inning.
Bethune-Cookman added another run in the top of the fifth on Parrish's leadoff home run.
Garcia (0-1) took the loss for the Wildcats, allowing five runs - two earned - on eight hits and a walk in 6 innings of work.
The win was the 99th of UNCG coach Jennifer Herzig's career. She will go for No. 100 Sunday, as the Spartans return to action at 1 p.m. when they will take on Virginia Tech. UNCG will wrap up its stay at the JU Tournament when it takes on host Jacksonville at 3 p.m.
AGATE
Drexel 3, UNC Greensboro 0 (Feb 13, 2010 at Jacksonville, Fla.)
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UNC Greensboro...... 000 000 0 - 0 2 1 (0-1)
Drexel.............. 210 000 X - 3 6 0 (1-0)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Amber Harrell and Whitney Sirois. Drexel - Hillary Allen and Ashley Botelho.
Win-Hillary Allen(1-0) Loss-Amber Harrell(0-1) T-1:42 A-213
UNC Greensboro 5, Bethune-Cookman 3 (Feb 13, 2010 at Jacksonville, Fla.)
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Bethune-Cookman..... 020 010 0 - 3 4 5 (0-1)
UNC Greensboro...... 100 040 X - 5 8 1 (1-1)
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Pitchers: Bethune-Cookman - Allison Garcia and Liz Parrish. UNC Greensboro - Raeanne Hanks and Whitney Sirois.
Win-Raeanne Hanks(1-0) Loss-Allison Garcia(0-1) T-1:49 A-444
HR BCU - Liz Parrish.
- UNCG -
