GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG stranded 11 runners in game one and couldn't hold a pair of leads in game two as Virginia Tech swept a doubleheader at the UNCG Softball Stadium on Wednesday, 3-0 and 8-4.
UNCG (8-16) hung tough with the Hokies (17-10) in game one, but just couldn't get the timely hit it needed. After starter Cory Mattson induced a 1-2-3 double play with the bases loaded to end the top of the first inning, the Spartans seemed to be in business in the bottom half. Alex Emeterio led off the frame with a single through the right side, and one out later, Eileen Horsmon reached on a fielder's choice that saw Emeterio safe at second on a Virginia Tech error.
The Spartans would not score in the frame, however, as Hokie starter Jasmin Harrell (10-6) got a flyout and a groundout to end the inning.
UNCG left the bases loaded the following inning after Dominique Madruga and Aubrey Baldwin led off with singles and Emeterio was issued an intentional walk with two outs. The Spartans stranded two more in the third and another in the fourth before the Hokies finally got on the board.
Virginia Tech batted around in the top of the fifth, with Lauren Gaskill hitting a two-run homer and Betty Rose's RBI single making it 3-0.
Eileen Horsmon hit a leadoff triple in the bottom half of the frame but was stranded at third, while UNCG also stranded runners in the sixth and seventh innings.
UNCG out-hit the Hokies in the contest, 7-5, with Ashley Reetz going 2-for-3 with a stolen base to lead the team offensively. Dani Anderson was 2-for-3 for Virginia Tech.
Mattson (5-8) took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits and eight walks in five innings. Erica Navarette worked the final two innings, allowing a hit and two walks.
Harrell earned the shutout by allowing seven hits and one walk, striking out four.
Game two was a wild affair, with a combined 12 runs, 12 hits, 11 walks and seven errors.
The Hokies jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, getting just one hit but drawing four walks from UNCG starter Josie Felix. Gaskill and Kylie McGoldrick drew consecutive free passes to lead off the game, but after Felix settled down with a strikeout and a flyout, Kelsey Mericka singled to left center to bring in two runs.
Another pair of walks knocked Felix from the game, making way for Navarette, who got a flyout to end the inning.
The Spartans came right back in the bottom of the inning, with Emeterio leading off with a single and Tatiana Alcala reaching on an error on a sacrifice attempt. Horsmon followed with a home run to left center, a three-run shot that put UNCG on top and tied her for the team lead with six on the season.
The lead would prove to be short-lived, as the Hokies tied it in the top of the second on Anderson's RBI single, but the Spartans had an answer in the bottom of the frame on Emeterio's RBI single off of the glove of diving shortstop Bkaye Smith.
Smith would knot the game at the 4 in the top of the third inning, hitting an RBI double down the left field line to bring in Rose, who reached on an error to lead off the stanza.
Neither team would score in the fourth but Gaskill put the Hokies ahead for good in the fifth, hitting a towering solo home run to right field to make it 5-4.
Virginia Tech added some insurance in the top of the seventh, with a run coming in on a UNCG error, Anderson hitting another RBI single and Courtney Liddle hitting a sacrifice fly to right.
The Spartans had the top of their order coming up in the top of seventh, but Bailey Liddle retired the side in order to nail down her fifth win of the year.
Liddle (5-3) allowed four runs (two earned) on three hits and three walks, striking out five.
Navarette (2-6) was charged with six runs (four earned) on eight hits and four walks in 6 1/3 innings of relief. Felix allowed two runs on four walks and a hit in 2/3 of an inning.
Emeterio had two of UNCG's three hits in the game, while Anderson and Mericka had two each for the Hokies.
UNCG is back in action this weekend when it hosts rival Elon for a three-game Southern Conference series. The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday, with 1 p.m. starts both days.
AGATE
Virginia Tech 3, UNCG 0 (Mar 14, 2012 at Greensboro, N.C.) (Game 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Virginia Tech....... 000 030 0 - 3 5 1 (16-10)
UNCG................ 000 000 0 - 0 7 0 (8-15)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Virginia Tech - Jasmin Harrell and Betty Rose; Logan Spaw. UNCG - Cory Mattson; Erica Navarette(6) and Toni MacReynolds.
Win-Jasmin Harrell(10-6) Loss-Cory Mattson(5-8) T-1:52 A-0
HR VT - Lauren Gaskill (1).
Weather: 79 degrees, partly cloudy
Virginia Tech 8, UNCG 4 (Mar 14, 2012 at Greensboro, N.C.) (Game 2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Virginia Tech....... 211 010 3 - 8 9 4 (17-10)
UNCG................ 310 000 0 - 4 3 3 (8-16)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Virginia Tech - Bailey Liddle and Betty Rose. UNCG - Josie Felix; Erica Navarette(1) and Toni MacReynolds.
Win-Bailey Liddle(5-3) Loss-Erica Navarette(2-6) T-1:56 A-279
HR VT - Lauren Gaskill (2).
HR UNCG - Eileen Horsmon (6).
Weather: 78 degrees and fair
- UNCG -
