GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG softball team fell twice against Furman, 8-0 in five innings and 10-5 in game two Saturday afternoon at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
The Spartans fall to 23-7, 5-3 on season, while the Paladins improve to 15-13, 4-4 in the SoCon. It marks the first time that UNCG has dropped a doubleheader this season.
Furman 8, UNCG 0 (in five innings)
In game one, The Paladins used a three-run first inning to jump out on UNCG and take game one 8-0 in five innings.
Furman came out swinging by scoring three runs on four hits in the top of the first inning. Sieara Bishop singled up the middle to start the frame. After an out, Ambree Muller singled to put runners on first and second. Lauren Collier roped a two-run double to right center to give Furman a 2-0 lead. Stephanie Field singled up the middle to score the third and final run of the inning.
The Paladins added two more runs in the second inning to take a 5-0 lead. Stephanie Spain was hit by a pitch to start the inning. After a strikeout and a groundout, Natalie Clemmons walked to put runners on first and second. Muller worked a walk to load the bases, while Collier earned an RBI walk to push the lead to 4-0. Field walked to score another run but a force out to third base ended the damage.
In the top of the fourth, Muller doubled to left center with one out, while Collier was hit by a pitch to put runners first and second. Field grounded out but Taylor Jenkins hit a three-run home run to left field to give Furman an 8-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, freshman Nicole Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) doubled to left center with one out. Classmate Allison Geiner (Raleigh, N.C./Middle Creek) singled to second base to put runners on first and third. Collier would finish the shutout with back-to-back groundouts to give Furman the victory.
Collier improved to 7-6 on the seasons after allowing just five hits with two strikeouts. Redshirt junior Raeanne Hanks (Rainier, Ore./Rainier Senior) suffered her third loss throwing two innings, allowing five earned runs with four walks.
Furman 10, UNCG 5
In game two, the Paladins used a key six-run first inning to defeat UNCG, 10-5 in game two.
junior Katelyn Bedwell (Surrey, B.C./Elgin Park) finished the game with a 3-for-3 effort, including a solo home run and three RBI.
Furman quickly took a 6-0 lead in the first inning after a grand slam from Hannah Pace provided the big blow. The Paladins started the frame with a double from Bishop. Collier earned a one out double to bring home Bishop for a 1-0 lead. A bases-loaded walk led to the second run before Pace delivered her second home run of the season to push the Paladins' lead to 6-0.
The Spartans responded with two runs in the bottom of the first inning after Bedwell plated two runs with a single up the middle. Junior Aisha Figueroa (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) worked a walk to start the rally. After an out, freshman Lindsay Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) reached on an error by the first baseman to move runners to second and third. Bedwell lined a two-run single to cut Furman's lead to 6-2.
In the bottom of the third, Bedwell smashed her sixth home run of the season off the scoreboard in right center to make it 6-3 Furman. Senior Heather Robb (Apex, N.C./Middle Creek) and Nicole Thomas hit back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second. After a strikeout, freshman Danielle Vega (Rialto, Calif./Aquinas) was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. Pinch-hitter Toni MacReynolds (Vienna, Va./James Madison) lined a ball to left field to end the inning.
Furman would answer with a three-run fourth inning thanks to a three-run double from Jenkins. Bishop singled and Clemmons walked to put runners on first and second. After two outs, Jenkins lined a shot just past the diving Figueroa to plate three runs.
UNCG would not go away quietly after scoring two in the bottom of the fifth. Bedwell reached base after a hit by pitch and Robb followed with a single to left centerfield. Senior Eileen Horsmon (Dunkirk, Md./Northern) singled to load the bases with one out. After a fly out to second, sophomore Tatiana Alcala (Oxnard, Calif./Pacifica) lined a single off the third baseman's glove to score two runs and cut the lead to 9-5.
Furman added an insurance run with a solo home run from Ambree Muller, her team-leading sixth of the season, to push the lead to 10-5.
Collier threw 4.2 innings of relief to earn her second win in the series. Sophomore Erica Navarette (San Marcos, Calif./Mission Hills) fell to 4-3 after allowing nine earned runs in four innings of work.
UNCG concludes the three-game series with a single game against Furman Sunday, March 24 at 1 p.m. 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.
