LYNCHBURG, Va. – Junior Katie Stripling hit a pinch-hit grand slam with two out in the top of the ninth inning and UNC Greensboro held on for an 11-10 win in game one of a doubleheader with Liberty on Wednesday. The Flames picked up a 10-2 win in 6 innings in game two to earn the split.
In a wild game one that saw both teams hit grand slams, Stripling came up with yet another clutch hit to lead the Spartans (15-20) to the comeback win. The catcher from Baytown, Texas, has made a habit of coming up with crucial hits off the bench so far this season, and Wednesday's bomb was her third pinch-hit homer of the year.
With the game tied at 7 heading into the ninth, Alex Emeterio was placed on second via the international tiebreaker rule. Kaitlin Merkt drew a one-out walk and Emily Akiyama dropped in a bloop single in shallow right to load the bases. After a strikeout, UNCG coach Jennifer Herzig called on Stripling to do what she's done best this season, and Stripling didn't disappoint, sending a 2-2 pitch out to left center for her first career slam.
The Flames (19-10) answered with three runs in their half of the inning to make it interesting. J'nae Jefferson scored on a UNCG error and Amber DePasquale added a two-run homer to cut it to one. But UNCG pitcher Cory Mattson got Kaylee West to foul out to first to nail down the win.
UNCG had jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the fourth inning on two-run singles from Akiyama and Brittany Ausley and an RBI fielder's choice by Heather Robb. But Liberty came roaring back with six in the fifth inning, all by a matter of inches. Jenny Law's two-run double glanced off the top of Kristen Gabel's glove after Gabel drifted back toward the wall in center, and Kelly Strickland hit a grand slam that was just out of Gabel's reach in right center to give the Flames their first lead of the day.
Down to their last three outs in the seventh inning, UNCG rallied to tie it at 6. Walks by Chelsea D'Ambrosio and Eileen Horsmon and a single from Emeterio loaded the bases for Merkt, who worked a four-pitch walk to tie the game. Liberty reliever Tiffani Smith struck out the next two batters to avoid further damage.
Both sides scored in the eighth inning, with Whitney Sirois driving in Heather Robb on a sacrifice fly to put UNCG on top and Cassie Hendrix – down to her last strike – stroking a two-out single to plate pinch-runner Jenna Eatmon and force the decisive ninth inning.
Mattson (8-10) picked up the win with 4 2/3 innings of relief, allowing four runs – two earned – on five hits and a walk. She struck out five.
Katie Warrington (6-5) took the loss, allowing 10 runs – only three of which were earned – on six hits and five walks in 5 2/3 innings. She walked five and struck out four.
Akiyama and Laura Olenderski had two hits each for UNCG. Strickland paced the Flames at the plate with two hits and four RBI. Ashley Bensinger and Hendrix also had two hits for Liberty.
Game two saw UNCG jump on top 1-0 in the first inning, with Emeterio reaching on a fielder's choice and coming in on Horsmon's single and a Liberty error.
The Flames would blow the game open in the second inning, however, getting the inning started with back-to-back doubles from DePasquale and West to even the score and rapping out six hits in the frame overall. Strickland had a two-run single in the inning.
Liberty added a pair of unearned runs in the third inning, with Meredith Baisden and Bridgett Woods scoring on a UNCG error with two outs.
UNCG got a run back in the top of the fourth, with Horsmon leading off with a single up the middle and later scoring when Liberty catcher Bensinger dropped what would have been a force out at the plate on a bases-loaded fielder's choice.
The Flames put the game in mercy-rule territory in the sixth, plating three runs. West knocked in a run on a bloop single to left center and Baisden ended the game with a two-run double to left center.
Mattson took the loss in game two, as she was credited with three runs on four hits in 1 2/3 innings.
Katrina Johnson (3-2) picked up the win for Liberty, allowing two unearned runs on three hits and five walks in 6 innings.
Four players had two hits for LU in the game. Horsmon was 2-for-3 to lead the Spartans.
UNCG returns to Southern Conference play this weekend at Appalachian State. The Spartans and Mountaineers will play a doubleheader Saturday followed by a single game Sunday, both starting at 1 p.m.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro 11, Liberty 10 (Apr 07, 2010 at Lynchburg, Va.) (Game 1)
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UNC Greensboro...... 000 500 114 - 11 10 2 (14-19)
Liberty............. 000 060 013 - 10 11 2 (18-10)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Amber Harrell; Cory Mattson(5) and Eileen Horsmon; Whitney Sirois. Liberty - Katie Warrington; Tiffani Smith(6) and Ashley Bensinger.
Win-Cory Mattson(8-9) Loss-Katie Warrington(6-5) T-2:49 A-0
HR UNCG - Katie Stripling (5).
HR LIBERTY - Kelly Strickland (10); Amber DePasquale (3).
Weather: 87 degrees, sunny
Liberty 10, UNC Greensboro 2 (Apr 07, 2010 at Lynchburg, Va.) (Game 2)
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UNC Greensboro...... 100 100 - 2 3 1 (15-20)
Liberty............. 052 003 - 10 12 3 (19-10)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Cory Mattson; Raeanne Hanks(2); Amber Harrell(2) and Eileen Horsmon;
Whitney Sirois. Liberty - Katrina Johnson and Ashley Bensinger; Keely McMillon.
Win-Katrina Johnson(3-2) Loss-Cory Mattson(8-10) T-1:38 A-137
Weather: 87 degrees, sunny
Hanks faced 4 batters in the 2nd.
- UNCG -
