GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG split a pair of games at the Spartan Classic on Saturday, dropping a 3-1 decision to Utah and topping Drexel 5-1. Utah dropped Rider in Saturday's first game, while Drexel topped the Broncs in the day's last contest.
UNCG (2-8), the designated visiting team in both of its contests, took an early 1-0 lead on Utah (9-3) thanks to a solo home run from Katelyn Bedwell in the top of the second inning.
The Utes tied it an inning later, hitting three straight one-out singles before Joni Cook lifted a sacrifice fly deep to center field, with Ashley Reetz making a nice catch on the run.
Utah took the lead on a Kelsi Hoopiiaina sac fly in the fifth inning and Tia Palauni followed with a home run to left center for some insurance.
The Spartans, meanwhile, couldn't get anything going against starter Generra Nielson after she settled in. UNCG got all three of its hits against her in the second inning, with Toni MacReynolds hitting a double and Reetz a bunt single with two outs after Bedwell's homer. Nielson struck out the next batter to end the threat, and Reetz's single would be UNCG's last hit against Nielson.
Nielson (6-2) allowed just two walks the rest of the way, and UNCG's only other base-runner came on an error in the fifth. Nielson struck out 16 on the afternoon, allowing just one run on the three hits and three walks.
UNCG starter Erica Navarette (0-4) allowed three runs on seven hits and didn't walk a batter in 4 2/3 innings. Cory Mattson worked 1 1/3 innings of no-hit ball in relief.
Reetz turned in an all-around solid game, as she also threw out a runner at the plate to end the first inning.
Palauni was 3-for-3 to pace the Utes at the plate.
UNCG rebounded with a win its second game of the afternoon, pounding out 12 hits to top the Dragons (2-6).
Senior Alex Emeterio got the Spartans off on the right foot with a mammoth first-inning home run that landed in the sand volleyball court well beyond the right field fence.
UNCG made it 2-0 in the second when freshman Dominique Madruga belted a double down the right field line to score Bedwell, who reached on an error to lead off the inning.
Drexel got a run back in the fifth inning, with Sylvia Llamas drawing a bases-loaded walk to bring in Devon Metcalf.
The Spartans would add some crucial insurance runs in the top of the seventh. After a one-out double by Emeterio, Bedwell hit a two-out RBI single. Heather Robb followed with a line drive home run out to left to make it 5-1.
Mattson worked around a one-out error to nail down the win, earning her first save of the season. She allowed two walks in 2 2/3 innings.
UNCG starter Josie Felix (1-1) turned in her best outing of the young season, allowing just one run on four hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings pitched.
She allowed two of those hits and one of the walks in the first inning but didn't allow a run. She surrendered a double by Jenn Reading in the fourth inning, but Emeterio, UNCG's right fielder, hosed Reading at third trying to stretch the hit into a triple after Reetz crashed off the fence trying to make the catch.
Emeterio, Bedwell, Madruga and MacReynolds had two hits each to lead UNCG.
The Spartan Classic concludes Sunday. Drexel will take on Utah at 10 a.m., followed by Rider (0-3) and Utah at 12 p.m. UNCG will face Rider at 2 p.m.
Utah 14, Rider 2 (6) – In Saturday's first game, Jackie Sweet was 3-for-3 with a homer and four RBI and Kelsi Hoopiiaina was 1-for-2 with a homer and four RBI as Utah topped Rider 14-2 in six innings. Mariah Ramirez (1-0) picked up the win with three innings of relief.
Drexel 12, Rider 0 (5) – Drexel scored four runs in the first and seven in the second to ease past Rider 12-0 in five innings in Saturday's nightcap. Hanna Parrish was 3-for-3, while Maddison Timoteo was 1-for-3 with a homer and four RBI. Devon Metcalf also went deep for the Dragons.
AGATE
Utah 14, Rider 2 (Feb 25, 2012 at Greensboro, N.C.)
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Utah................ 052 016 - 14 10 2 (8-3)
Rider............... 000 200 - 2 5 0 (0-2)
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Pitchers: Utah - Naomi Amu; Mariah Ramirez(4) and Shay Wallace; Desaray Akins. Rider -
Krysti Maronski; Rachael Matreale(6) and Sam Pugh; Allysen Breeden.
Win-Mariah Ramirez(1-0) Loss-Krysti Maronski(0-1) T-2:14 A-35
HR UTAH - Kelsi Hoopiiaina (3); Jackie Sweet (1).
Weather: 44 deg., partly cloudy, windy
Utah 3, UNCG 1 (Feb 25, 2012 at Greensboro, N.C.)
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UNCG................ 010 000 0 - 1 3 0 (1-8)
Utah................ 001 020 X - 3 7 1 (9-3)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Erica Navarette; Cory Mattson(5) and Katelyn Bedwell. Utah - Generra Nielson
and Shay Wallace.
Win-Generra Nielson(6-2) Loss-Erica Navarette(0-4) T-1:48 A-84
HR UNCG - Katelyn Bedwell (1).
HR UTAH - Tia Palauni (1).
Weather: 47 deg., mostly cloudy, windy
UNCG 5, Drexel 1 (Feb 25, 2012 at Greensboro, N.C.)
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UNCG................ 110 000 3 - 5 12 2 (2-8)
Drexel.............. 000 010 0 - 1 4 1 (1-6)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Josie Felix; Cory Mattson(5) and Toni MacReynolds. Drexel - Hillary Allen;
Jessica O'Hara(3) and Paige Collings.
Win-Josie Felix(1-1) Save-Cory Mattson(1) Loss-Hillary Allen(1-3) T-2:02 A-101
HR UNCG - Alex Emeterio (1); Heather Robb (1).
Weather: 48 deg., mostly cloudy, windy
Drexel 12, Rider 0 (Feb 25, 2012 at Greensboro, N.C.)
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Rider............... 000 00 - 0 2 1 (0-3)
Drexel.............. 470 1X - 12 9 1 (2-6)
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Pitchers: Rider - Kelsey Krisch and Allysen Breeden. Drexel - Shelby Taylor and Paige Collings.
Win-Shelby Taylor(1-3) Loss-Kelsey Krisch(0-1) T-1:26 A-16
HR DREXEL - Maddison Timoteo (1); Devon Metcalf (1).
- UNCG -
