For video of UNCG coach Jennifer Herzig's postgame comments, click here.
GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG earned a split with Southern Conference leader Elon on Saturday at the UNCG Softball Stadium, getting a 5-0 shutout from Cory Mattson in the opener before leaving the bases loaded three times and allowing a pair of late unearned runs in a 7-5 loss in game two.
Mattson (6-9) was brilliant in came one, not allowing a hit until Cyra Cottrell's high chopper fell for an infield single with two outs in the fourth inning. Aside from that, Mattson allowed only a Camille Hill infield single and a double by Johanna Spencer.
UNCG (9-17, 3-2 SoCon) gave Mattson the only run she would need in the second inning when Toni MacReynolds dropped a bloop single into shallow left to score Dominique Madruga, who doubled to left field with one out.
The Spartans gave Mattson some insurance in the fifth inning on Katelyn Bedwell's team-best seventh home run of the year, a two-run shot out to center that scored Eileen Horsmon.
Horsmon made it a 5-0 game the following inning, singling up the middle to bring in Ashley Reetz and Tatiana Alcala.
Elon (15-5, 4-1 SoCon) threatened to get on the board in the fifth inning but left the bases loaded. A fielder's choice and a walk put two runners on for Hill, whose grounder in no man's land on the right side of the infield resulted in a hit to load the bases. Mattson worked out the jam, however, getting a grounder to short to end the inning.
Mattson's shutout was her second of the season. She walked four and struck out six.
Erin O'Shea (8-3) took the loss, allowing three runs on six hits and four walks in five innings, also striking out six. Caitlin O'Shea worked the final inning, allowing two runs on two hits and a walk.
Horsmon and MacReynolds had two hits each to lead UNCG at the plate.
UNCG held an early lead in game two, as well, but stranded 11 runners in the contest and committed a pair of errors as the Phoenix came back for the win.
With the game tied at 5 in the top of the seventh inning, Elon's Karen Berna was hit by a pitch with one out. Erin O'Shea followed with a double to the gap in right center to put runners at second and third, but Mattson, who came on in relief in the sixth inning, got a popup on the infield for the second out. The Spartans appeared poised to escape unscathed, but a UNCG error on Spencer's grounder allowed Berna and O'Shea to score the go-ahead runs.
The Spartans weren't going down without a fight, loading the bases in the bottom half of the frame. Madruga led off with a single up the middle, and one out later, Kiah Ruffin reached on an infield single, with an error on the play allowing both runners to move up a base.
MacReynolds followed with a walk – her third of the game – to load the bases with one out, but Erin O'Shea got a strikeout and a groundout for her second save of the season.
UNCG had led 3-0 early in the contest, scoring three runs in the second inning on an RBI single by MacReynolds and a two-run single by Reetz. The Spartans missed a chance for more in the inning, however, leaving the bags full.
After the Spartans left the bases loaded again in the third, Elon tied the game in the fourth. Danielle Lafferty knocked in a pair in a stretch of four straight singles, while Lauren Oldham drove in another run on an RBI groundout to tie it.
The Phoenix would take its first lead of the day in the top of the sixth inning on Oldham's two-run triple, but UNCG would tie it in the bottom half on Alex Emeterio's RBI single and an Elon error.
Erica Navarette took the no-decision for UNCG, allowing five runs on seven hits and a walk in five-plus innings of work. Mattson was saddled with the loss, allowing a pair of unearned runs on two hits in two innings.
Berna, the third of Elon's four pitchers in the contest, picked up the win, not allowing a run on three hits in 1 1/3 innings. O'Shea allowed just a walk in 2/3 of an inning for the save.
UNCG got eight hits out of the bottom five batters in its order, with Madruga going 2-for-4 and Heather Robb going 3-for-4. MacReynolds reached base all four times she came to the plate.
Cottrell was 2-for-4 with two runs scored to lead Elon, while Oldham had three RBI.
The rubber match of the series will be Sunday at 1 p.m. at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
AGATE
UNCG 5, Elon 0 (Mar 17, 2012 at Greensboro, N.C.) (Game 1)
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Elon................ 000 000 0 - 0 3 0 (14-5, 3-1 SoCon)
UNCG................ 010 022 X - 5 8 0 (9-16, 3-1 SoCon)
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Pitchers: Elon - Erin O'Shea; Caitlin O'Shea(6) and Kaitlyn Piazzolla. UNCG - Cory Mattson and
Toni MacReynolds.
Win-Cory Mattson(6-8) Loss-Erin O'Shea(8-3) T-1:53 A-0
HR UNCG - Katelyn Bedwell (7).
O'Shea, E. faced 1 batter in the 6th.
Elon 7, UNCG 5 (Mar 17, 2012 at Greensboro, N.C.) (Game 2)
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Elon................ 000 302 2 - 7 8 3 (15-5, 4-1 SoCon)
UNCG................ 030 002 0 - 5 10 3 (9-17, 3-2 SoCon)
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Pitchers: Elon - Tomeka Watson; Caitlin O'Shea(2); Karen Berna(6); Erin O'Shea(7) and
Kaitlyn Piazzolla. UNCG - Erica Navarette; Cory Mattson(6) and Toni MacReynolds.
Win-Karen Berna(2-0) Save-Erin O'Shea(2) Loss-Cory Mattson(6-9) T-2:09 A-256
Navarette faced 2 batters in the 6th.
O'Shea, C. faced 2 batters in the 6th.
- UNCG -
