WOODSTOCK, Ga. – UNCG's softball team earned a split on Sunday, the final day of the Buzz Classic, picking up a 6-5 win over Kennesaw State and falling to Winthrop 2-0. Freshman pitcher Erica Navarette earned her first career win in the opener.
Against the Owls (10-7), all of the game's scoring came in the first three innings. The Spartans (5-11) drew first blood in the bottom of the first, quickly striking for two runs. After Aubrey Baldwin drew a one-out walk, Eileen Horsmon hit a triple to right center for the game's first run. Katelyn Bedwell followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.
KSU responded emphatically, scoring four runs in the top of the second on three hits and a pair of UNCG errors. Carly Van Auken had the big blow, a two-run single, while Jamie Saunders drove in a run with a groundout. Kennesaw State also scored on UNCG's second error of the inning to take the 4-2 lead.
The Spartans answered in the bottom half of the frame, getting back-to-back RBI singles from Alex Emeterio and Baldwin to knot the game at 4. But KSU wasn't done, reclaiming the lead the following inning on Bianca Durant's leadoff double and an RBI single from Kaylee Williams.
Navarette settled in after that, getting a strikeout and two groundouts to escape further damage.
The Spartans put her back in line for the win in the bottom of the third, starting with Bedwell's leadoff single, which extended her hitting streak to seven games. After a sacrifice and an error, pinch-runner Kiah Ruffin came in on a wild pitch to tie the game at 5. Two batters later, Tatiana Alcala came in on another wild pitch to put UNCG ahead to stay.
Navarette (1-5) allowed just two hits and five base-runners the rest of the way to nail down her first win. All told, she allowed five runs, only two of which were earned, on seven hits and four walks in the complete game. She struck out five.
Jessica Cross worked 3 2/3 innings out of the bullpen for the Owls, retiring 10 straight after Alcala came in with the go-ahead run. Monica Vickery (0-1) took the loss for KSU, allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits and a walk in 2 1/3 innings.
Six different players accounted for UNCG's seven hits, with Emeterio going 2-for-4 to lead the way. Durant finished 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored to pace the Owls.
The Spartans couldn't find their offense against Winthrop (8-9), as the Eagles' Natalie Becker (3-5) threw a one-hitter. Alcala broke up Becker's no-hit bid with a single up the middle to lead off the fifth inning.
UNCG pitcher Cory Mattson was nearly as good to that point, allowing just three hits in the first four innings. After allowing a leadoff single in the bottom of the first, Mattson retired the next 10 batters in order before surrendering a solo home run to Kathryn Eberlin with two outs in the fourth.
After Alcala broke up the no-no in the top of the fifth, Winthrop doubled its advantage in the bottom half. Alex White reached on an infield single to lead off the inning, and Kelly Blea's single knocked her in to make it 2-0.
UNCG had just three base-runners in the contest. Baldwin reached on an error in the top of the first inning, and Toni MacReynolds drew a leadoff walk in the third. Alcala ended up on third after a sacrifice and a grounder in the fifth, but Becker got a strikeout to keep the shutout intact. She retired the final nine batters of the game in order.
Mattson (3-4) took the loss despite a solid outing in which she surrendered just two runs on just five hits and a walk. She struck out five.
Becker struck out six and walked one.
UNCG returns to action Thursday for a doubleheader at coach Jennifer Herzig's alma mater, Charlotte. Game one is slated to begin at 4 p.m.
AGATE
UNCG 6, Kennesaw State 5 (Mar 04, 2012 at Woodstock, Ga.)
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Kennesaw State...... 041 000 0 - 5 7 1 (10-7)
UNCG................ 222 000 X - 6 6 3 (5-10)
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Pitchers: Kennesaw State - Monica Vickery; Jessica Cross(3) and Lindsay Vollmer. UNCG - Erica Navarette and Katelyn Bedwell.
Win-Erica Navarette(1-5) Loss-Monica Vickery(0-1) T-1:54 A-116
Weather: Sunny, windy, 40 degrees
Winthrop 2, UNCG 0 (Mar 04, 2012 at Woodstock, Ga.)
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UNCG................ 000 000 0 - 0 1 0 (5-11)
Winthrop............ 000 110 X - 2 5 1 (8-9)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Cory Mattson and Toni MacReynolds. Winthrop - Natalie Becker and Kelly Blea.
Win-Natalie Becker(3-5) Loss-Cory Mattson(3-4) T-1:07 A-0
HR WINTHROP - Kathryn Eberlin.
Weather: Sunny, chilly
- UNCG -
UNCG Athletics News Release
SUBJECT: Softball splits on final day of Buzz Classic
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Phil Perry (CELL: 336-207-2383)
DATE: March 4, 2012
WOODSTOCK, Ga. – UNCG's softball team earned a split on Sunday, the final day of the Buzz Classic, picking up a 6-5 win over Kennesaw State and falling to Winthrop 2-0. Freshman pitcher Erica Navarette earned her first career win in the opener.
Against the Owls (10-7), all of the game's scoring came in the first three innings. The Spartans (5-11) drew first blood in the bottom of the first, quickly striking for two runs. After Aubrey Baldwin drew a one-out walk, Eileen Horsmon hit a triple to right center for the game's first run. Katelyn Bedwell followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.
KSU responded emphatically, scoring four runs in the top of the second on three hits and a pair of UNCG errors. Carly Van Auken had the big blow, a two-run single, while Jamie Saunders drove in a run with a groundout. Kennesaw State also scored on UNCG's second error of the inning to take the 4-2 lead.
The Spartans answered in the bottom half of the frame, getting back-to-back RBI singles from Alex Emeterio and Baldwin to knot the game at 4. But KSU wasn't done, reclaiming the lead the following inning on Bianca Durant's leadoff double and an RBI single from Kaylee Williams.
Navarette settled in after that, getting a strikeout and two groundouts to escape further damage.
The Spartans put her back in line for the win in the bottom of the third, starting with Bedwell's leadoff single, which extended her hitting streak to seven games. After a sacrifice and an error, pinch-runner Kiah Ruffin came in on a wild pitch to tie the game at 5. Two batters later, Tatiana Alcala came in on another wild pitch to put UNCG ahead to stay.
Navarette (1-5) allowed just two hits and five base-runners the rest of the way to nail down her first win. All told, she allowed five runs, only two of which were earned, on seven hits and four walks in the complete game. She struck out five.
Jessica Cross worked 3 2/3 innings out of the bullpen for the Owls, retiring 10 straight after Alcala came in with the go-ahead run. Monica Vickery (0-1) took the loss for KSU, allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits and a walk in 2 1/3 innings.
Six different players accounted for UNCG's seven hits, with Emeterio going 2-for-4 to lead the way. Durant finished 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored to pace the Owls.
The Spartans couldn't find their offense against Winthrop (8-9), as the Eagles' Natalie Becker (3-5) threw a one-hitter. Alcala broke up Becker's no-hit bid with a single up the middle to lead off the fifth inning.
UNCG pitcher Cory Mattson was nearly as good to that point, allowing just three hits in the first four innings. After allowing a leadoff single in the bottom of the first, Mattson retired the next 10 batters in order before surrendering a solo home run to Kathryn Eberlin with two outs in the fourth.
After Alcala broke up the no-no in the top of the fifth, Winthrop doubled its advantage in the bottom half. Alex White reached on an infield single to lead off the inning, and Kelly Blea's single knocked her in to make it 2-0.
UNCG had just three base-runners in the contest. Baldwin reached on an error in the top of the first inning, and Toni MacReynolds drew a leadoff walk in the third. Alcala ended up on third after a sacrifice and a grounder in the fifth, but Becker got a strikeout to keep the shutout intact. She retired the final nine batters of the game in order.
Mattson (3-4) took the loss despite a solid outing in which she surrendered just two runs on just five hits and a walk. She struck out five.
Becker struck out six and walked one.
UNCG returns to action Thursday for a doubleheader at coach Jennifer Herzig's alma mater, Charlotte. Game one is slated to begin at 4 p.m.
AGATE
UNCG 6, Kennesaw State 5 (Mar 04, 2012 at Woodstock, Ga.)
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Kennesaw State...... 041 000 0 - 5 7 1 (10-7)
UNCG................ 222 000 X - 6 6 3 (5-10)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Kennesaw State - Monica Vickery; Jessica Cross(3) and Lindsay Vollmer. UNCG - Erica Navarette and Katelyn Bedwell.
Win-Erica Navarette(1-5) Loss-Monica Vickery(0-1) T-1:54 A-116
Weather: Sunny, windy, 40 degrees
Winthrop 2, UNCG 0 (Mar 04, 2012 at Woodstock, Ga.)
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UNCG................ 000 000 0 - 0 1 0 (5-11)
Winthrop............ 000 110 X - 2 5 1 (8-9)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: UNCG - Cory Mattson and Toni MacReynolds. Winthrop - Natalie Becker and Kelly Blea.
Win-Natalie Becker(3-5) Loss-Cory Mattson(3-4) T-1:07 A-0
HR WINTHROP - Kathryn Eberlin.
Weather: Sunny, chilly
- UNCG -
