GREENSBORO, N.C. – NC State scored eight unearned runs in a 10-0 game-one win, but UNC Greensboro got three hits from Eileen Horsmon and a home run from Emily Akiyama for the second straight day to win the nightcap 5-1 as the squads split a doubleheader Thursday.
After NC State (18-14) took advantage of four UNCG errors to grab the 5-inning, mercy-rule win in game one, game two got off to an ominous start for the Spartans (13-15) when the Wolfpack scored an unearned run in the top of the first on another UNCG error.
Unlike in game one, however, UNCG had an answer this time. With runners at first and second and two out in the bottom of the second inning, Brittany Ausley reached on an infield single to short. Horsmon never stopped running from second, scoring on the play to tie the game at 1.
The next inning, Akiyama put the Spartans on top to stay, hitting a two-out solo shot to left center for her second homer of the season. She also had one Wednesday against Marshall.
UNCG picked up a trio of insurance runs in a wild sixth inning. With one out, Horsmon stroked her third straight single, and pinch-hitter Heather Robb walked to put runners on first and second. One out later, pinch-hitter Katie Stripling – who has made a habit this season of coming up with clutch pinch-hits – singled to left field to score Horsmon.
With Robb now at third, Stripling danced off of first base, trying to induce a throw from third baseman Claudia Cooper, who had cut off the throw from the outfield. Cooper threw the ball back to pitcher Stephanie Call, and Stripling took off for second, beating Call's throw by an eyelash.
Robb then broke for home, and second baseman Alyssa Ishibashi's throw was way off the mark, allowing Robb to score and Stripling to take third.
Just when it seemed the dust had finally settled, Stripling scored on a wild pitch to the next batter to make it a 5-1 game.
Down to its last three outs, the Wolfpack would make it interesting in the top of the seventh. Walks to Landon Warren and Cooper put runners at first and second, and Kristine Bechtholdt was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. UNCG starter Amber Harrell got the ground ball she needed to escape the jam, inducing a fielder's choice from Alyssa Allbritten to end the game.
Harrell improved to 4-7 on the year, striking out eight and allowing just one unearned run on two hits. The senior worked her way out of trouble of her own making in several innings, however, as she walked eight and was responsible for the first-inning error that allowed Warren to score.
Call (5-4) took the loss, allowing five runs – three earned – on six hits and four walks in 6 innings.
Game one got off on a sour note for UNCG and never got better, as NCSU batted around and took advantage of two Spartan errors to plate six runs before UNCG ever got an at-bat. Call had a two-run single in the frame, while Bechtholdt hit a three-run homer.
The Wolfpack added another run in the second on Allbritten's RBI single, then tacked on two more in the third on an Allison Presnell sacrifice fly and a Cooper single. Presnell added a solo home run in the fifth for the final margin.
UNCG, meanwhile, could manage just one hit in the game, Kaitlin Merkt's double to the gap in right center in the second inning. The Spartans still managed to threaten in the fourth inning, leaving the bases loaded.
Consecutive one-out errors by Cooper put runners on first and second and Kayla Hensley was hit by a pitch with two down to load the bases. NC State starter Lindsay Campana worked out of the jam, though, getting a fielder's choice to end the inning with no damage done.
Campana improved to 12-5 on the season, allowing just one hit and a walk in 5 innings of work.
Cory Mattson (7-7) took the loss for UNCG, allowing six runs – one earned – on three hits and a walk in an inning of work. Raeanne Hanks worked the final 4 innings, allowing four runs – one earned – on eight hits and three walks.
The game was not completely without its highlights for UNCG, as Ausley made a sensational grab against the fence in left center to end the fifth inning, robbing Bechtholdt of what would have been a grand slam.
Call had three hits in the game to lead NCSU, which got two-hit games from Presnell, Cooper and Allbritten.
UNCG will have the weekend off before returning to action on Tuesday, March 30, when it hosts a doubleheader against East Carolina at 3 p.m.
AGATE
NC State 10, UNC Greensboro 0 (Mar 25, 2010 at Greensboro, N.C.) (Game 1)
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NC State............ 612 01 - 10 11 2 (18-13)
UNC Greensboro...... 000 00 - 0 1 4 (12-15)
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Pitchers: NC State - Lindsay Campana and Alyssa Allbritten. UNC Greensboro - Cory Mattson; Raeanne Hanks(2) and Eileen Horsmon; Whitney Sirois.
Win-Lindsay Campana(12-5) Loss-Cory Mattson(7-7) T-1:33 A-0
HR ST - Allison Presnell (2); Kristine Bechtholdt (3).
Weather: 68 degrees, overcast
UNC Greensboro 5, NC State 1 (Mar 25, 2010 at Greensboro, N.C.) (Game 2)
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NC State............ 100 000 0 - 1 2 2 (18-14)
UNC Greensboro...... 011 003 X - 5 6 1 (13-15)
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Pitchers: NC State - Stephanie Call and Alyssa Allbritten. UNC Greensboro - Amber Harrell and Whitney Sirois.
Win-Amber Harrell(4-7) Loss-Stephanie Call(5-4) T-2:01 A-64
HR UNCG - Emily Akiyama (2).
Weather: 65 degree, cloudy
- UNCG -
