WOODSTOCK, Ga. - UNC Greensboro earned a split on the first day of the Buzz Classic, falling 4-0 to Akron and topping Howard 1-0 Friday. Amber Harrell moved into second place in UNCG history in career strikeouts against the Zips.
Harrell (2-5) took the loss for UNCG (4-10) in the circle against Akron (4-2), allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits and four walks in 6 innings of work. Her four strikeouts give her 486 for her career, moving her past former teammate Hannah Angel, who had 484 from 2005-09. Harrell now trails only current UNCG pitching coach Vanessa Williams, who had 565 from 2004-07.
Brittany Ausley had UNCG's lone hit in the game, a leadoff single in the fourth.
The Spartans never got a runner past first after the first inning, when UNCG had its best chance to score. Jordan Jewett drew a one-out walk, and one out later, Alex Emeterio was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. The pair would be stranded, however, as Akron starter Andrea Arney got a popup to first to escape without damage.
The Zips got the only run they would need in the bottom of the first, with Krista Hansen reaching on a leadoff walk and later coming in on Monica Shorter's RBI single.
Akron added two more in the second, with Sarah Stromack singling and then scoring on a UNCG error, and Alex Felts stroking an RBI single. The Zips would tack on an insurance run in the fifth on Crystal Hernandez's RBI single.
Felts was 3-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Zips' offense. Arney allowed just one hit and two walks in 7 innings of work.
Against Howard (1-5) later in the day, Cory Mattson pitched a three-hit shutout, her second of the season.
The Spartans got the only run they would need in the third inning, when Kristen Gabel and April Langley rapped out back-to-back two-out doubles.
Mattson (2-4) made the lead stand, retiring the side in order in the third and fourth innings and avoiding trouble for most of the afternoon.
Howard's best scoring chance came in the fifth inning, when the Bison loaded the bases on an Aisha Ledet walk, a Rebecca Kirshner single and a hit batter. Mattson recovered to get a groundout to end the inning, keeping the shutout intact.
Gabel and Emeterio had two hits each in the game. Kirshner led Howard with a 2-for-3 effort of her own.
The Spartans return to action Saturday against Bowling Green at 11 a.m.
AGATE
Akron 4, UNC Greensboro 0 (Mar 05, 2010 at Woodstock, Ga.)
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UNC Greensboro...... 000 000 0 - 0 1 1 (4-10)
Akron............... 120 010 X - 4 8 1 (4-2)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Amber Harrell and Katie Stripling. Akron - Andrea Arney and Sarah Stromack.
Win-Andrea Arney(3-1) Loss-Amber Harrell(2-5) T-1:27 A-50
Weather: 40's, sunny
UNC Greensboro 1, Howard 0 (Mar 05, 2010 at Woodstock, Ga.)
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Howard.............. 000 000 0 - 0 3 1 (1-5)
UNC Greensboro...... 001 000 X - 1 7 1 (5-10)
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Pitchers: Howard - Carly Martin and Aisha Ledet. UNC Greensboro - Cory Mattson and Whitney Sirois.
Win-Cory Mattson(2-4) Loss-Carly Martin(0-2) T-1:42 A-66
Weather: 50 degrees, sunny
- UNCG -
