BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Junior Eileen Horsmon drove in a career-high six runs that included her second career grand slam as UNCG notched a season high in runs with a 13-8 win over Samford on Sunday at Bulldog Field.

The Spartans (14-22, 6-6 Southern Conference) emphatically won the rubber game of the series, with Horsmon's grand slam highlighting an eight-run third inning.

UNCG already led 3-1 at that point, as the Spartans put up a trio of runs in the second on a bases-loaded wild pitch and a two-run single by Aubrey Baldwin.

Samford (9-27, 3-9 SoCon) got a run back in the bottom half on Caroline Seay's RBI single, but the Spartans were about to blow the game open.

UNCG sent 11 batters to the plate in the third. Horsmon led off the frame with a walk and later came in on Toni MacReynolds' bases-loaded walk. Two more runs came in on a Samford error before Baldwin had another RBI hit. One out later, Horsmon hit the first pitch she saw out to right center to make it 11-1.

The Bulldogs didn't go away, getting one of those runs back in the bottom half on Shelby Scott's RBI single and putting up a five-spot in the fourth to make it interesting.

Alex Adams had an RBI single in the frame, but the big blow came from Misha Aldridge, who hit a grand slam of her own to pull Samford within four runs at 11-7.

Horsmon quelled any thoughts of a Samford comeback the following inning, hitting a two-out, two-run single to make it 13-7.

The Bulldogs scored a run in the bottom half on Julianne Surane's RBI single, but that was as close as they'd get.

UNCG starter Cory Mattson left with an 11-2 lead but didn't factor into the decision, as she fell two outs shy of the minimum number of innings to qualify for the win. She was charged with five runs on seven hit and four walks in 3 1/3 innings. Reliever Erica Navarette (3-8) picked up the win, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk in 3 2/3 innings.

Scott (2-5) took the loss for the Bulldogs, as she surrendered four runs on three hits and two walks in two innings. Aldridge allowed nine runs (seven earned) on seven hits and a walk in five innings.

Horsmon, Baldwin and Aisha Figueroa had two hits each to lead UNCG at the plate, with Horsmon's six RBI falling one short of the school record. Horsmon's big day vaulted her into the team RBI lead with 35 on the season, while her eighth homer of the year moved her into a tie for the team lead in that category with Katelyn Bedwell.

Surane was 4-for-5 to lead Samford, while Scott was 3-for-4.

UNCG is back in action Wednesday in Lynchburg, Va., when it steps out of conference for a doubleheader at Liberty. Game one is set for a 2 p.m. start.

AGATE
UNCG 13, Samford 8 (Apr 01, 2012 at Birmingham, Ala.)
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UNCG................ 038 020 0 - 13 10  1      (14-22, 6-6 SoCon)
Samford............. 011 510 0 -  8 13  1      (9-27, 3-9 SoCon)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Cory Mattson; Erica Navarette(4) and Toni MacReynolds. Samford - Shelby Scott;
Misha Aldridge(3) and Madison Dickey.
Win-Erica Navarette(3-8)  Loss-Shelby Scott(2-5)  T-2:09  A-83
HR UNCG - Eileen Horsmon (8).
HR SAM - Misha Aldridge (4).
Weather: 78 degrees, sunny
S Scott faced 1 batter in the 3rd.

- UNCG -