MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – UNCG's Eileen Horsmon and Katelyn Bedwell hit back-to-back home runs to lead the Spartans to a 5-2 win over College of Charleston in game one, but the Cougars took a 2-0 win in game two to salvage a split of a Southern Conference doubleheader at the CofC Athletic Complex at Patriots Point on Saturday.
With the Spartans (18-29, 7-10 SoCon) trailing 2-0 entering the sixth inning, Aubrey Baldwin and Alex Emeterio led off with consecutive singles before Horsmon hit her 10th homer of the season out to left to put UNCG on top. Bedwell followed with her 10th homer, as well, making it a 4-2 spread and knocking CofC starter Stephanie Saylors out of the game.
Heather Robb greeted reliever Jen Rosene with a single then stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. Toni MacReynolds' RBI groundout drove her in for the Spartans' fifth run.
That was all the help UNCG starter Cory Mattson needed. Mattson (12-14) won her second straight decision, allowing just two runs (one earned) on four hits and four walks, matching her season high with eight strikeouts.
CofC (29-19, 12-8 SoCon) scored both of its runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Ashton Jarrett and Carly Corthell led off with consecutive singles and each advanced a base on a UNCG error. Two outs later, Kelsey Hodgson hit a two-run single to put the Cougars on top 2-0.
Horsmon finished 3-for-3 and fell a triple short of the cycle, while Baldwin and Emeterio had two hits each.
Jarrett was 2-for-2 to pace the Cougars.
Saylors, who entered the weekend tied for the league lead in wins, fell to 16-10 on the year. She was charged with four runs on seven hits and a walk in 5-plus innings. She struck out four.
Game two saw the Cougars score twice in the fifth, as well.
Corthell got things going with a bunt single to lead off, and a sacrifice moved her to second. One out later, Hodgson hit an RBI double to get the Cougars on the board. Amanda Lonergan followed with an RBI single to make it a 2-0 lead.
UNCG missed its chance to take the lead in the top half of the frame, leaving the bases loaded. After a leadoff single from Robb and a sacrifice bunt, MacReynolds singled to put runners on the corners. After a popup for the second out, Aisha Figueroa drew a walk to load the bases, but CofC starter Hope Klicker got a foulout to end the threat.
Klicker (12-8) tossed a seven-hit shutout, walking one. Lonergan celebrated her Senior Day by going 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Horsmon had two of UNCG's hits to bring her total to five on the day.
Erica Navarette (5-12) pitched well for UNCG in the losing effort, allowing two runs on six hits and four walks, striking out five.
The series concludes Sunday with a 1 p.m. contest.
AGATE
UNCG 5, Coll. of Charleston 2 (Apr 21, 2012 at Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) (Game 1)
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UNCG................ 000 005 0 - 5 10 1 (18-28, 7-9 SoCon)
Coll. of Charleston. 000 020 0 - 2 4 0 (28-19, 11-8 SoCon)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Cory Mattson and Toni MacReynolds. Coll. of Charleston - Saylors; Rosene(6) and Maples.
Win-Cory Mattson(12-14) Loss-Saylors(16-10) T-1:56 A-142
HR UNCG - Eileen Horsmon (10); Katelyn Bedwell (10).
Weather: Overcast
Saylors faced 4 batters in the 6th.
Coll. of Charleston 2, UNCG 0 (Apr 21, 2012 at Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) (Game 2)
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UNCG................ 000 000 0 - 0 7 0 (18-29, 7-10 SoCon)
Coll. of Charleston. 000 020 X - 2 6 1 (29-19, 12-8 SoCon)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Erica Navarette and Toni MacReynolds. Coll. of Charleston - Rosene; Klicker(1) and Maples.
Win-Klicker(12-8) Loss-Erica Navarette(5-12) T-1:28 A-142
Weather: Cloudy, intermittent showers
- UNCG -
