For video of UNCG coach Jennifer Herzig's postgame comments, click here.
GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG swept a doubleheader from crosstown rival North Carolina A&T on Wednesday, taking both games by 11-3 scores.
In game one, UNCG (21-27) exploded for eight runs in the top of the second inning to put the contest out of reach early. The Spartans sent 12 batters to the plate in the frame, rapping out seven hits and taking advantage of two Aggie errors to blow the game open.
April Langley had a two-run single in the inning, while Alex Emeterio had a two-run triple. Kaitlin Merkt added an RBI single and Jordan Jewett hit an RBI triple, while another run scored an error and Jewett came in on a wild pitch.
The Spartans tacked on two more runs the following inning, with Aisha Figueroa scoring on another error and Merkt adding an RBI double.
North Carolina A&T (7-29) broke up the shutout in the bottom of the fourth, as Juanita Jernigan blasted a home run to center to make it a 10-1. UNCG got the run back on Merkt's third RBI hit of the game in the top of the fifth, but the Aggies would score twice more in the fifth on Ryanne Hill's two-run single. That was not enough to take the mercy rule out of effect, however, as the Spartans' eight-run bulge ended the game early.
Emeterio finished a home run short of the cycle in game one, going 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Merkt was 3-for-4 with three RBI. Langley and Katelyn Bedwell had two hits each in the contest. Hill was 2-for-3 to lead N.C. A&T.
Cory Mattson (11-12) scored her career-best 11th win of the season, allowing three runs on four hits, striking out five. Her counterpart, Hope Fletcher (6-12) allowed 11 runs on 14 hits in five innings.
Game two was much closer than the final score indicated, as the contest was tied at 3 going into the fifth inning before UNCG scored eight unanswered runs in the final two frames.
The Spartans took a 2-0 lead on Jewett's RBI double and her steal of home in the second, but A&T answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame to take its first lead of the day.
Dominique Gillard got the Aggies on the board with an RBI single, while Tiffany Macklin followed with a single through the right side to knock in Sabrina Edmonds with the tying run. A&T would take its only lead of the afternoon with some head's up base-running, as Gillard took off for home when UNCG had to throw down to first on Dominique Smith's strikeout. First baseman Eileen Horsmon's throw home beat Gillard to the plate, but Gillard slide in around the tag for the steal and the lead.
UNCG got a run back the following inning, as Langley scored from second on a sacrifice and throwing error to tie the contest at 3.
That's where the score would stay until the fifth, when UNCG would push across five runs to blow the game open. Singles from Langley and Figueroa got things started, and back-to-back walks to Emeterio and Merkt scored the Spartans' first run of the frame. Jewett followed with a sacrifice fly, while two more runs came on in a three-base throwing error by the Aggies. Katie Stripling added an RBI groundout to make it 8-3.
UNCG put the run rule into effect the following inning, with Kayla Hensley reaching on a leadoff single and eventually scoring on Merkt's sac fly to left. Langley was also able to score on the play on another A&T error, and Heather Robb's RBI single made it an eight-run spread.
Langley, Jewett and Horsmon had two hits each to lead UNCG, while Macklin and Detavia Kenan had two hits apiece for the Aggies.
Raeanne Hanks (5-3) picked up the win with 4 2/3 innings of relief. She allowed just three hits and a walk, striking out four. Tranea Jones (1-13) allowed 11 runs – just four earned – on 10 hits and four walks for the Aggies.
The Spartans return to action this weekend when they wrap up the home portion of the schedule against Samford for a three-game Southern Conference set. The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. followed by a Senior Day contest at 1 p.m. Sunday. The Spartans will honor seniors Merkt, Langley, Stripling, Hensley and Kristen Gabel prior to the contest.
AGATE
UNCG 11, North Carolina A&T 3 (Apr 27, 2011 at Greensboro, N.C.) (Game 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
UNCG................ 082 01 - 11 14 1 (20-27)
North Carolina A&T.. 000 12 - 3 4 4 (7-28)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: UNCG - Cory Mattson. North Carolina A&T - Hope Fletcher.
Win-Cory Mattson(11-12) Loss-Hope Fletcher(6-12) T-1:14 A-0
HR NCAT - Juanita Jernigan.
Weather: 82 degrees, mostly cloudy
UNCG 11, North Carolina A&T 3 (Apr 27, 2011 at Greensboro, N.C.) (Game 2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
UNCG................ 021 053 - 11 10 1 (21-27)
North Carolina A&T.. 030 000 - 3 7 5 (7-29)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: UNCG - Josie Felix; Raeanne Hanks(2). North Carolina A&T - Tranea Jones.
Win-Raeanne Hanks(5-3) Loss-Tranea Jones(1-14) T-1:38 A-30
Weather: 80 degrees, mostly cloudy
- UNCG -
