MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The UNCG softball team dropped a heartbreaker against Belmont, 1-0, in eight innings but bounced back to defeat Alabama State, 4-0, on Day One Friday night at the Barbara Williams softball complex. 

Belmont 1, UNCG 0 (eight innings) 

In game one, redshirt junior Raeanne Hanks (Rainier, Ore./Rainier Senior) set a new career high with 13 strikeouts, coming just four shy of setting the UNCG single-game record, in a tough 1-0 loss in eight innings against Belmont. Hanks allowed just three hits with one walk in 7.1 innings pitched.

In the bottom of the eighth, Belmont's Kat Hollingsworth lined the game-winning hit to left field to give the Spartans their first loss of the 2013 season. The inning started with the international tiebreaker rule that put Heather Turner on second base. Hanks struck out the first batter swinging but Belmont put runners on second and third after a fielder's choice. Hollingsworth then ended the game with the walk off hit.

The Spartans had a chance in the top of the eighth when sophomore Dominique Madruga (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic) was placed on second base per the international tiebreaker rules. Junior Aisha Figueroa (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) grounded out moving Madruga to third with one-out. Pinch-hitter Nicole Thomas (Irvine, Ca./Northwood) struck out swinging, while sister Lindsay Thomas (Irvine, Ca./Northwood) popped out to end the inning.

UNCG had an opportunity in the top of the third after Madruga reached first base after an error by Belmont. Madruga moved into scoring position but the Spartans couldn't bring her home.

In the bottom of the fourth, Belmont put a runner in scoring position after Kirbie Ferrell reached on an error. Ferrell moved to third but Hanks got Jordan Daly to groundout to shortstop to end the threat.

UNCG 4, Alabama State 0

Hanks threw five solid innings, allowing just one hit, to earn her third victory of the season. The Spartans pounded out 16 hits to bounce back after a tough game one loss.

Junior Katelyn Bedwell (Surrey, British Columbia/Elgin Park Secondary) finished the game 4-for-4 at the plate with a double and an RBI triple.

In game two, UNCG quickly took a 1-0 lead after Figueroa bunted for a hit and advanced home on an errant throw by the first base man. After two outs, Bedwell and senior Eileen Horsmon (Dunkirk, Md./Northern) hit back-to-back doubles giving the Spartans a 2-0 advantage.

The Spartans scored another run in the top of the fifth after an RBI fielder's choice from junior Toni MacReynolds (Vienna, Va./James Madison). Bedwell started the inning with a single, followed by a bunt single from Horsmon. Freshman Danielle Vega (Rialto, Calif./Aquinas) picked up her third hit to load the bases. MacReynolds brought home one run but the Spartans couldn't push across another.

Bedwell gave UNCG a 4-0 in the top of the sixth with an RBI triple to right field. Bedwell brought home Lindsay Thomas, who singled with one-out.

UNCG continues the Hornet Invitational Saturday, Feb. 16 against Eastern Illinois at 11:30 a.m. at the Barbara Williams Softball complex.  

Be sure to follow all updates about the UNCG softball season on www.uncgspartans.com or on twitter @UNCGsports/@UNCGsoftball.