BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Kaitlin Merkt went 2-for-3 with three RBI as UNC Greensboro topped Samford in game one of a doubleheader Saturday, 5-3, to move within a win of clinching a berth in the Southern Conference Championship. The Bulldogs took a 7-1 win in game two to salvage the split.
A win in Sunday's series finale would secure a spot in the league tournament for the Spartans. UNCG could still make it to postseason play without a win, but would need Georgia Southern to take two of three from Furman this weekend. That series starts with a doubleheader Sunday.
Merkt delivered a two-run single in the top of the first inning of game one to put UNCG (25-27, 12-10 SoCon) on top early. Heather Robb led off the second inning with a solo home run, her fourth of the season, to make it 3-0.
Merkt followed suit in the fourth, leading off with her team-leading ninth homer of the season, extending her career high in that category. After Robb reached on a walk, she stole second and took third on a wild pitch. Whitney Sirois then hit a grounder to the left side to knock in Robb with the Spartans' fifth run of the day.
Laura Olenderski followed with a single to left, knocking starter Amanda Barrs from the game. Reliever Kayla Burris was simply dominant from that point on, as she retired the next 11 UNCG batters in order to finish the game.
The Bulldogs (18-31, 9-14 SoCon) picked up a pair of runs in the bottom half of the fourth to get back in it. After loading the bases on a pair of errors and a walk, Anna Kimbrell battled back from an 0-2 count to work the count full – fouling off six pitches – before singling off third baseman Emily Akiyama's glove to drive in a run.
Starter Amber Harrell (13-13) got a strikeout for the first out of the inning, then retired Rachael Reeves on a sacrifice fly to right that brought in Amanda Jordan. UNCG would escape further trouble by defending the delayed double steal to perfection, nailing pinch-runner Madeline Baker at the plate to end the inning.
The Bulldogs added an unearned run in the sixth, taking advantage of a two-out error and a timely double from Kimbrell to put another run on the board.
Harrell evened her record on the season by allowing three unearned runs on five hits in seven innings. She struck out seven and walked two.
Barrs (4-15) took the loss, allowing five earned runs on five hits and two walks in 3 1/3 innings.
Game two saw UNCG take a 1-0 lead in the fourth. After Chelsea D'Ambrosio reached on an error to lead off, pinch-runner April alertly went to third on Emily Akiyama's sacrifice bunt. Robb then grounded out to first, allowing Langley to score.
The Bulldogs got the run back and then some in the bottom half, taking advantage of three hits and two UNCG errors to plate five runs.
With two runs already in, Aaren Fisher delivered a two-run triple. She then came in on a safety squeeze, just beating UNCG pitcher Cory Mattson's throw home.
The Bulldogs added two more runs in the sixth on a two-run single from Barrs to put the game out of reach.
Mattson (10-13) took the loss, allowing five runs – none earned – on seven hits in four innings. Harrell worked the final two innings, allowing two runs on two hits in two innings.
Stephanie Royall picked up the win, improving to 8-8 on the year. She allowed an unearned run on five hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Fisher was 3-for-3 with two RBI to lead Samford, while Kayla Shaffer was 2-for-3.
Sirois and Jordan Jewett had two hits each to pace the Spartans at the plate.
UNCG returns to action Sunday at 2 p.m. when it faces Samford in the regular-season finale for both squads.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro 5, Samford 3 (May 08, 2010 at Birmingham, Ala.) (Game 1)
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UNC Greensboro...... 210 200 0 - 5 5 3 (25-26, 12-9 SoCon)
Samford............. 000 201 0 - 3 5 0 (17-31, 8-14 SoCon)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Amber Harrell and Whitney Sirois. Samford - Kayla Burris; Amanda Barrs(4) and Anna Kimbrell.
Win-Amber Harrell(13-13) Loss-Amanda Barrs(4-15) T-1:48 A-257
HR UNCG - Kaitlin Merkt (9); Heather Robb (4).
Weather: Sunny, 83
Samford 7, UNC Greensboro 1 (May 08, 2010 at Birmingham, Ala.) (Game 2)
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UNC Greensboro...... 000 100 0 - 1 6 2 (25-27, 12-10 SoCon)
Samford............. 000 502 X - 7 9 3 (18-31, 9-13 SoCon)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Cory Mattson; Amber Harrell(5) and Whitney Sirois. Samford - Stephanie Royall; Kayla Burris(6) and Anna Kimbrell.
Win-Stephanie Royall(8-8) Loss-Cory Mattson(11-12) T-1:50 A-303
Weather: Sunny, 83
- UNCG -
