BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – UNCG split a nonconference doubleheader at Gardner-Webb on Thursday, pounding out a season-high 16 hits in an 11-1 win in game one but falling 10-5 in game two.

Game one was tied at 1 heading into the fourth inning, but UNCG's offense was about to come roaring to life. The Spartans (11-19) batted around in the inning, with Eileen Horsmon, Katelyn Bedwell, Heather Robb and Tatiana Alcala hitting consecutive one-out singles to put UNCG ahead to stay.

Toni MacReynolds was hit by a pitch the bases loaded and another run came in on Aubrey Baldwin's fielder's choice and a GWU error. The Spartans' fourth run of the inning came in on Aisha Figueroa's RBI groundout, putting UNCG up 5-1.

UNCG added three more runs in the fifth on a Horsmon home run and a two-run single by Alcala. The Spartans put the mercy rule into effect the following inning, getting RBI singles from Robb and Alex Emeterio and a sacrifice fly by Horsmon.

Alcala, Robb and Bedwell had three hits each for UNCG.

Gardner-Webb (13-15) scored its lone run in the first inning, when Samantha Meenaghan came in on a UNCG fielding error. Meenaghan had two of the Runnin' Bulldogs' four hits in the game.

UNCG starter Cory Mattson (8-10) picked up the win with five innings of three-hit ball, allowing just an unearned run. Josie Felix pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

GWU's Cindy Boomhower (5-3) took the loss, surrendering six runs (four earned) on eight hits and a walk in 4 1/3 innings. Kellie Beres was tagged for five runs on eight hits in 1 2/3 innings.

Game two also got off to a phenomenal start for the Spartans, as UNCG scored five runs before a second out had been recorded. GWU rattled off 10 unanswered, however, to rally for the win.

UNCG's first four batters in the game reached base, with Figueroa drawing a leadoff walk and Dominique Madruga, Emeterio and Horsmon following with singles. Emeterio stole home on a double steal to make it 3-0, and one out later, Robb hit a two-run homer to center to knock GWU starter Alyssa Gutierrez from the game.

Reliever Jessica Childers came in and stopped the bleeding, getting a strikeout and a popup to end the inning.

GWU got four of those runs back in the second inning, drawing four walks and getting an RBI single from Beres. Another run came in on Savannah Burns' sac fly and the Runnin' Bulldogs pulled within a run on a McKenzie Morenus groundout.

Gardner-Webb pulled ahead the following inning, with Amanda Gomes hitting a leadoff homer to tie the game and Meenaghan hitting an RBI triple to put the Runnin' Bulldogs on top.

GWU put up four more runs in the fifth, with Meenaghan hitting a two-run single and Burns hitting an RBI single.

Robb had two hits for UNCG's lone multi-hit performance in the contest.

Meenaghan was 3-for-4 with three RBI in game two, while Burns, Taylar Pridgen and Jordyn Arrowood had two hits each.

Felix (1-3) took the loss for UNCG, allowing two runs on two hits in an inning of relief. Starter Erica Navarette was charged with four runs (three earned) on two hits and five walks in two innings and Mattson worked the final three innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks.

Childers (2-4) picked up the win, allowing just two hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings of relief. Gutierrez allowed five runs on four hits and a walk in a third of an inning.

UNCG returns to action this weekend at Furman with a doubleheader starting Saturday at 1 p.m. and a single game Sunday at 1 p.m.

AGATE
UNCG 11, Gardner-Webb 1 (Mar 22, 2012 at Boiling Springs, NC) (Game 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
UNCG................ 010 433  - 11 16  2      (11-18)
Gardner-Webb........ 100 000  -  1  4  1      (12-15)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: UNCG - Cory Mattson; Josie Felix(6) and . Gardner-Webb - Cindy Boomhower;
Kellie Beres(5) and .
Win-Cory Mattson(8-10)  Loss-Cindy Boomhower(5-3)  T-1:42  A-54
HR UNCG - Eileen Horsmon (7).
Weather: partly cloudy; slight wind

Gardner-Webb 10, UNCG 5 (Mar 22, 2012 at Boiling Springs, NC) (Game 2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
UNCG................ 500 000 0 -  5  6  3      (11-19)
Gardner-Webb........ 042 040 X - 10 11  0      (13-15)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: UNCG - Erica Navarette; Josie Felix(3); Cory Mattson(4) and . Gardner-Webb -
Alyssa Gutierrez; Jessica Childers(1) and .
Win-Jessica Childers(2-4)  Loss-Josie Felix(1-3)  T-2:00  A-59
HR UNCG - Heather Robb.
HR GWU - GOMES, A..
Weather: clear skies; 65 degrees

- UNCG -