STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern got a pair of solid pitching performances and took advantage of some shaky UNCG defense as it swept a Southern Conference doubleheader from the Spartans on Friday, 3-1 and 8-0.
The Spartans (19-26, 7-10 SoCon) managed just five hits and committed six errors in the two games.
GSU (27-24, 15-5 SoCon) never trailed on the day, getting on the board first in game one with two runs in the bottom of the third. After Alexa Lewis led off the inning with a single, Jorie Walker drew a walk. Marie Fogle doubled down the right field line to score Lewis, but UNCG right fielder Jordan Jewett nailed Walker at the plate to limit the damage. Hanna Ennis followed with a sacrifice fly to score Fogle, making it 2-0 after three innings.
The Spartans cut the deficit in half the following inning, with April Langley singling to start the inning and then stealing second. One out later, Kaitlin Merkt reached on an error, which allowed Langley to score all the way from second.
Brianna Streetmon, the two-time defending SoCon Pitcher of the Year, got a strikeout and a groundout to escape further damage.
GSU tacked on an unearned insurance run in the fifth, with Ennis hitting an RBI double to score Lewis, who reached on an error to lead off the inning.
UNCG made it interesting in the seventh, putting a pair of runners on, but could not push a run across. Katelyn Bedwell hit a one-out single, and Katie Stripling singled down the left field line to put with two outs to put pinch-runner Ashley Reetz in scoring position. Streetmon got out of the jam, however, inducing a popup to end the game.
Streetmon (11-10) picked up the win, allowing just an unearned run on four hits and a walk. UNCG starter Josie Felix (5-12) took the loss, as she allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Kayla Brooks was 2-for-3 for the Eagles, while Katie Stripling was 2-for-3 to lead the Spartans. Bedwell was 1-for-2 with a walk.
Game two didn't go any better for the Spartans, who were one-hit and committed five errors in the nightcap. GSU starter Allie Miles was simply brilliant, striking out 15 batters in just six innings of work.
The Eagles got the only runs they would need in the bottom of the first inning, when three Spartan errors allowed both runs to score.
GSU added three runs in the fourth, with Fogle belting a two-run triple and coming in on another UNCG error. The Eagles pushed across two more in the fifth on Kelly Burnett's RBI double and Tabby Douberley's RBI double, then put the mercy rule into effect on Megen Smith's RBI double in the sixth.
UNCG's only hit in the contest was Heather Robb's leadoff double in the third. Miles got a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to escape the inning unharmed.
Fogle and Smith had two hits each to lead the Eagles at the plate.
Cory Mattson (10-12) took the loss, allowing eight runs (six earned) on nine hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings.
UNCG will try to avoid the series sweep Saturday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Eagle Field.
NOTE: The start of the doubleheader was delayed more than three hours due to rain in the Statesboro area.
AGATE
Georgia Southern 3, UNCG 1 (Apr 22, 2011 at Statesboro, Ga.) (Game 1)
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UNCG................ 000 100 0 - 1 4 1 (19-25, 7-9 SoCon)
Georgia Southern.... 002 010 X - 3 6 1 (26-24, 14-5 SoCon)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Josie Felix; Raeanne Hanks(5). Georgia Southern - Brianna Streetmon.
Win-Brianna Streetmon(11-10) Loss-Josie Felix(5-12) T-1:33 A-0
Weather: HOT, Sticky, PCloudy
Georgia Southern 8, UNCG 0 (Apr 22, 2011 at Statesboro, Ga.) (Game 2)
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UNCG................ 000 000 - 0 1 5 (19-26, 7-10 SoCon)
Georgia Southern.... 200 321 - 8 9 0 (27-24, 15-5 SoCon)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Cory Mattson. Georgia Southern - Allie Miles.
Win-Allie Miles(13-7) Loss-Cory Mattson(10-12) T-1:30 A-206
- UNCG
