CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Kaitlin Merkt hit a pair of home runs and UNCG scored its most-ever runs in a Southern Conference game as UNCG split a doubleheader with Western Carolina on Saturday. The Spartans fell 3-2 in game one before erupting for an 18-3 win in 5 innings in game two.
The 18 runs in game two were the most for the Spartans (14-18, 5-3 SoCon) in nearly 16 years. UNCG last reached 18 in a 32-0 win North Carolina A&T on April 5, 1995.
Western Carolina (15-20, 2-9 SoCon) held a 1-0 lead in game two after scoring on an error in the first. UNCG tied it in the top of the second on April Langley's RBI single, then blew it open with a six-run third.
Heather Robb's RBI double put UNCG ahead to stay, followed by an RBI single from Jordan Jewett, an RBI groundout from Katelyn Bedwell and a two-run double from Langley. UNCG added another run on an error, one of Western Carolina's six in the contest.
The Catamounts got a run back in the bottom of the frame on a bases-loaded walk to Erin Foster, but the Spartans continued to pour it on with another six-spot in the fourth inning. After Alex Emeterio got things going with a leadoff single, Robb launched her third home run of the season to make it 9-2. Later in the inning, Langley added her third RBI hit of the day, followed by Kristen Gabel's two-run double and another run off a Catamount error.
Trailing 13-2 in the fourth, WCU got another run back on a passed ball, but UNCG put the game into record territory with another five runs in the top of the fifth. Merkt led off with a solo home run, and a couple of batters later, Kayla Hensley ripped an RBI double to the gap in left center. Two more runs came in on a Western throwing error, and Emeterio capped the scoring with an RBI single up the middle.
Jewett finished 4-for-4 with four runs scored for her first career four-hit game, while Langley was 3-for-4 with four RBI. Emeterio, Merkt, Robb and Aisha Figueroa all had two-hit games for the Spartans, who pounded out 18 hits total. Every UNCG player that recorded an official at-bat had at least one hit.
Raeanne Hanks (3-2) picked up the win, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits in 5 innings. She struck out a career-high eight batters.
Bekah Burkett (1-5) took the loss, allowing four runs on four hits in 2 1/3 innings. Katie King was roughed up for nine runs – only two of them earned – on seven hits in an inning and a third, while Amber Steinhardt allowed five runs (two earned) on seven hits in 1 1/3.
This season marks the second straight that UNCG has set some sort of scoring record against the Catamounts. The Spartans took a 15-1 win over WCU in the first game of the series last year, which was then the largest SoCon win in school history. That record stood for exactly a day, as UNCG picked up a 17-1 in game three of the series, setting new school records for largest win and most runs scored in a SoCon game.
Saturday's big win salvaged a split in the doubleheader, as the Catamounts – who entered the contest losers of 13 of their last 15 – used back-to-back home runs in the third inning of game one to take a 3-2 win.
With the game scoreless heading to the bottom half of the third, Western used a little two-out magic for its second SoCon win of the season. Kelly Braman reached on an infield single and Morgan Wyatt crushed the first pitch she saw out to center to make it a 2-0 game. Shemekia Scotton followed with a homer of her own to make it a 3-0 game.
Western could have added more in the fourth but left the bases loaded. UNCG took advantage, scoring twice in the fifth inning to make it a one-run game. Merkt hit a leadoff homer to right to get the Spartans on the board, and Figueroa knocked in Robb with an infield single later in the inning. The rally would stop there, however, as King would not allow another base-runner the rest of the game.
Josie Felix (4-7) took the loss after allowing three runs on four hits in 3-plus innings of work. Cory Mattson come on and recorded the final nine outs, not allowing a run on three hits.
King improved to 7-9 on the season, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits in the complete-game effort.
Robb and Figueroa had two hits each for the Spartans, with Figueroa stealing three bases. She would add two more in game two for a total of five on the day.
Scotton had two hits to lead Western at the plate in game one.
The teams will wrap up the series Sunday at 1 p.m., with the Spartans seeking their third straight SoCon series win.
AGATE
Western Carolina 3, UNCG 2 (Apr 02, 2011 at Cullowhee, N.C.) (Game 1)
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UNCG................ 000 020 0 - 2 5 0 (13-18, 4-3)
Western Carolina.... 003 000 X - 3 7 1 (15-19, 2-8)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Josie Felix; Cory Mattson(4). Western Carolina - Katie King.
Win-Katie King(7-9) Loss-Josie Felix(4-7) T-1hr 29 A-0
HR UNCG - Kaitlin Merkt (6).
HR WCU - Morgan Wyatt (3); Shemekia Scotton (3).
Weather: Sunny, windy and cool
UNCG 18, Western Carolina 3 (Apr 02, 2011 at Cullowhee, N.C.) (Game 2)
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UNCG................ 016 65 - 18 18 1 (13-18, 5-3)
Western Carolina.... 101 10 - 3 5 6 (15-20, 2-9)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Raeanne Hanks. Western Carolina - Bekah Burkett; Katie King(3); Amber Steinhardt(4).
Win-Raeanne Hanks(3-2) Loss-Bekah Burkett(1-5) T-1hr 46 A-233
HR UNCG - Kaitlin Merkt (7); Heather Robb (3).
Weather: Sunny, cool and windy
- UNCG -
