For video of UNCG coach Jennifer Herzig's postgame comments, click here.
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Raeanne Hanks picked up a win and a save in the circle and Alex Emeterio and Kaitlin Merkt combined to go 11-for-14 at the plate as UNCG swept its first Southern Conference doubleheader of the season on Saturday, topping Samford 12-4 and 4-1.
UNCG (23-27, 9-11 SoCon) had its offense firing on all cylinders in game one, pounding out 12 hits – seven of them for extra bases – in the mercy rule romp. Merkt and Jordan Jewett had three hits each in the contest.
Jewett got things going with a two-run double in the first inning, and UNCG seemed to blow the game open with four runs in the second, highlighted by Heather Robb's home run off the scoreboard in right center. Emeterio added an RBI single and Merkt had a two-run single to make it 6-0 after two innings.
The Bulldogs (11-36, 7-13 SoCon) answered with three runs in the third to get the margin back to a more manageable three runs, with Lakan Smith hitting a two-run single and Allison Reynolds drawing a bases-loaded walk.
Samford inched even closer in the fourth as Brianna Chambers hit a mammoth homer off the top of the scoreboard to make it a 6-4 game.
UNCG reclaimed the momentum and control of the game in the bottom of the fifth, however, scoring five runs on Katelyn Bedwell's RBI triple, an RBI groundout by Kayla Hensley and a three-run homer by April Langley.
The Spartans put the run rule into effect the following inning on another RBI double by Jewett.
Merkt was 3-for-3 with two RBI and Jewett was 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI for the Spartans. Emeterio was 2-for-3 with three runs scored.
Chambers paced the Bulldogs' offense, going 3-for-4 with a homer and two runs scored.
Cory Mattson (12-12) picked up the win for UNCG, allowing four runs on nine hits in four innings. Hanks earned her first career save with two innings of scoreless relief. She struck out four of the eight batters she faced.
Robyn Harmon (1-11) was rocked for 12 runs, all earned, on 11 hits in 5-plus innings for the Bulldogs.
Game two was a much more competitive affair, with teams locked in a scoreless duel until the fourth inning.
Samford broke through for the first run of the contest in the top half of that frame, as Nicole Bobrowski hit a one-out solo homer down the left field line.
The Spartans found an answer in the bottom of the fifth, striking for three runs on six hits. Langley and Aisha Figueroa led off the frame with infield singles, and Emeterio knocked in Langley with a single to center. Merkt followed with a single to bring in Figueroa, while Samford center fielder Kayla Shaffer nipped Emeterio at the plate to prevent another run from scoring on the play. Jewett followed with her third double of the afternoon, and when the throw from the outfield was cut off to try to nail Jewett at second, Merkt raced home for the Spartans' third run of the inning.
UNCG added an insurance run an inning later on Emeterio's RBI single.
UNCG had 13 hits in game two, but only one of them went for extra bases. Emeterio was 4-for-4 with two RBI, while Figueroa was 3-for-4 with two runs and three infield singles. Merkt was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI and Robb was 2-for-3.
Chambers again led Samford at the dish, going 2-for-3. Bobrowski was also 2-for-3.
Hanks (6-3) picked up the win with three innings of one-hit relief, again striking out four. Josie Felix took the no-decision after allowing one run on four hits in four innings.
Bobrowski (2-9) allowed four runs on 13 hits in six innings.
All told, UNCG banged out 25 hits in the doubleheader, while the Spartans' 2-5 hitters – Figueroa, Emeterio, Merkt and Jewett – were a combined 19-for-30 on the day.
UNCG, winner of four straight after Wednesday's doubleheader sweep of North Carolina A&T, will try to close out its first SoCon series sweep of the season Sunday in the Senior Day finale at 1 p.m. The Spartans will honor Merkt, Langley, Hensley, Katie Stripling and Kristen Gabel prior to the contest.
AGATE
UNCG 12, Samford 4 (Apr 30, 2011 at Greensboro, N.C.) (Game 1)
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Samford............. 003 100 - 4 9 0 (11-35, 7-12 SoCon)
UNCG................ 240 051 - 12 12 0 (22-27, 8-11 SoCon)
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Pitchers: Samford - Robyn Harmon; Emily Waters(6). UNCG - Cory Mattson; Raeanne Hanks(5).
Win-Cory Mattson(12-12) Save-Raeanne Hanks(1) Loss-Robyn Harmon(1-11) T-2:09 A-0
HR SAM - Brianna Chambers (2).
HR UNCG - April Langley (2); Heather Robb (5).
Weather: 65 degrees, sunny
Harmon faced 1 batter in the 6th.
Waters faced 2 batters in the 6th.
UNCG 4, Samford 1 (Apr 30, 2011 at Greensboro, N.C.) (Game 2)
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Samford............. 000 100 0 - 1 5 0 (11-36, 7-13 SoCon)
UNCG................ 000 031 X - 4 13 0 (23-27, 9-11 SoCon)
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Pitchers: Samford - Nicole Bobrowski. UNCG - Josie Felix; Raeanne Hanks(5).
Win-Raeanne Hanks(6-3) Loss-Nicole Bobrowski(2-9) T-1:35 A-207
HR SAM - Nicole Bobrowski (3).
Weather: 74 degrees, sunny
- UNCG -
