GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG softball team put on a hitting display with two victories against Quinnipiac, 9-1 in five innings, and Marshall, 7-2, to sweep Day Two of the Spartan Classic Sunday afternoon at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
The Spartans improve to 10-1 on the season with two more wins running their win streak to seven-straight. Senior Heather Robb (Apex, N.C./Middle Creek) and junior Katelyn Bedwell (Surrey, B.C./Elgin Park) each ended the day with four hits apiece. Bedwell finished with a team-high five RBI combined for both games.
UNCG 9, Quinnipiac 1 (Five innings)
In game one, UNCG used 11 hits and nine runs to run-rule Quinnipiac, 9-1, in five innings. Sophomore Erica Navarette (San Marcos, Calif./Mission Hills) earned her first victory in her first start after throwing five complete innings. Navarette allowed just four hits, one earned run with one strikeout in the win.
Bedwell went 3-for-3 with four RBI, including the game-ending double off the wall in the bottom of the fifth. Robb also had three hits with three runs scored.
The Spartans took an early 1-0 lead after Bedwell worked a two out single up the middle to score freshman Lindsay Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) from second base.
Quinnipiac tied the game at 1-1 with a two out RBI single from Bridget Figmic. Nikkia Barba started the rally with a one out base hit to second, while Kortney Kesses reached on a hit by pitch. After a strikeout, Figmic tied the game with a single up the middle.
In the bottom of the fourth, UNCG took a commanding 5-1 lead after scoring four runs on two hits. Robb started the inning with a double to left center. Sophomore Tatiana Alcala (Oxnard, Calif./Pacifica) worked a walk and stolen base to put runners on second and third. After a groundout, sophomore Dominique Madruga (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic) loaded the bases with a hit by pitch. Junior Aisha Figueroa (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) earned an RBI groundout for the second out. Alcala scored on a wild pitch to give the Spartans a 3-1 advantage. Bedwell continued the damage with a two-run single to right field to make it 5-1.
Robb started the bottom of the fifth with a single through the left side. After two-straight groundout, Madruga singled up the middle to score Robb to give the Spartans a 6-1 lead. After a walk, freshman Danielle Vega (Rialto, Calif./Aquinas) lined an RBI single to right field to push the lead to 7-1. After a wild pitch allowed Figueroa to score, Bedwell ended the game with a double off the left field wall to make the final 9-1.
UNCG 7, Marshall 2
In game two, redshirt junior Raeanne Hanks (Rainier, Ore./Rainier Senior) went the distance to earn her sixth win of the season. Hanks pitched seven innings scattering seven hits with two earned runs and seven strikeouts.
UNCG took a 1-0 lead after an RBI single from Robb that scored senior Eileen Horsmon (Dunkirk, Md./Northern) from second base. Horsmon started the threat with a one out double to give the Spartans a runner in scoring position.
In the bottom of the third, the Spartans broke open the game with a five-run inning on four hits. After one out, Figueroa and Vega reached on back-to-back singles. After a walk from Thomas, Bedwell brought one home on an RBI single to left field. A force out at home plate, followed by a bases-loaded walk from Robb gave UNCG a 3-0 advantage. Junior Toni MacReynolds (Vienna, Va./James Madison) came up with the big hit, a pinch-hit bases clearing double off the wall in left center to make the score 6-0 Spartans.
Thomas added an insurance run with an RBI double to right field in the bottom of the fifth. Madruga singled to start the frame, followed by a fielder's choice from Figueroa who scored on the double by Thomas.
In the top of the seventh, the Thundering Herd broke the shutout with two runs thanks to a clutch two out two-run double from senior Jazmine Valle. Hanks was able to end the game with a routine groundout to second base to clinch the victory for UNCG.
UNCG conclude the Spartan Classic Monday, Feb. 25 against Marshall at 1:30 p.m. and against Drexel at 3:30 at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
Be sure to follow all updates about the UNCG softball season on www.uncgspartans.com or on twitter @UNCGsports/@UNCGsoftball.
- UNCG -
