BLACKSBURG, Va. – The UNCG softball team dropped a tough doubleheader 8-1 in game one and 10-9 in game two against Virginia Tech Tuesday night at the Tech Softball Park.
The Spartans fall to 25-10 on the season, while Virginia Tech improves to 21-8.
UNCG had a 9-8 lead in game two but Virginia Tech scored two runs in the seventh on a walkoff single from Kat Banks.
Junior Katelyn Bedwell (Surrey, B.C./Elgin Park) finished game two with two home runs and five RBI at the plate to lead the Spartans. Bedwell had four hits and six RBI in the doubleheader.
Virginia Tech 8, UNCG 1
In game one, Virginia Tech used two big innings including a four-run sixth inning to defeat UNCG, 8-1.
Bedwell went 2-for-3 with an RBI single for the Spartans, while junior Aisha Figueroa (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) also had two hits in the loss.
Senior Jasmin Harrell improved to 8-4 with the victory throwing six innings, allowing five hits and one earned run with six strikeouts. Freshman Nicole Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) suffered her first loss of the season after throwing 2.2 innings, allowing three hits and three earned runs.
UNCG took an early 1-0 lead after Bedwell lined an RBI single through the infield in the first inning. Figueroa started the frame with an infield single, followed by a stolen base. After two outs, Bedwell picked up her team-leading 32nd RBI of the season to give the Spartans a 1-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the third, Virginia Tech scored three runs on three hits to take the lead 3-1. Lauren Gaskill walked to start the rally for the Hokies. After a fly out, Courtney Liddle singled through the left side to put runners on first and second. After another fly out, Amanda Ake delivered a clutch two-run single to centerfield to give Virginia Tech a 2-1 lead. Dani Anderson made it 3-1 after an RBI single through the infield.
The Hokies added an insurance run in the fifth with another two out RBI from Bkaye Smith. Ake worked a one out walk and moved to third on two wild pitches. With two outs, Smith singled to left center to give Virginia Tech a 4-1 lead.
In the sixth inning, Virginia Tech scored four runs on two hits with a three-run double from Kat Banks to break the game open. Jessica McNamara brought home another run on a sacrifice fly to right field to give the Hokies an 8-1 lead. Freshman Kelly Lupton (Galloway, N.J./Absegami) limited the damage by recording two outs with the bases loaded to end the threat.
Virginia Tech 10, UNCG 9
In game two, the Hokies came back from a 9-8 deficit to win a wild game two, 10-9 after a walkoff two-run single from Banks.
Harrell picked up the win in relief to improve to 9-4 after allowing four earned runs on six hits in three innings. Redshirt junior Raeanne Hanks (Rainier, Ore./Rainier Senior) took the loss in a complete game effort, allowing 10 runs (eight earned) on eight hits.
UNCG took a 1-0 lead after freshman Lindsay Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) singled down the right field line for her 29th RBI of the season. With one out, classmate Danielle Vega (Rialto, Calif./Aquinas) singled to left center and moved to second on a wild pitch. Thomas picked up her 40th hit of the season with the RBI single.
The Hokies answered with two runs in the bottom of the first after Logan Spaw picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice. Lauren Gaskill reached on a fielding error to start the inning and Kylie McGoldrick grounded into a fielder's choice. Courtney Liddle doubled to left field to put runners on second and third. Spaw grounded to first as McGoldrick beat the throw home to tie the game at 1-1. Liddle then stole home on a squeeze attempt to give the Hokies a 2-1 lead.
In the bottom of the second, Virginia Tech scored two more runs off two RBI groundouts to take a 4-1 on the Spartans. The Hokies loaded the bases after an error, single and a walk to open the inning. Hanks induced three groundouts around an intentional walk to get out of the inning only giving up two runs.
The Spartans tied the game in the top of the third thanks to a two out three-run home run from Bedwell. Freshman Allison Geiner (Raleigh, N.C./Middle Creek) singled to start the rally. After an out, Vega singled through the infield to put runners on first and third. Bedwell earned her seventh home run of the season with a two out shot to left field to tie the game at 4-4.
UNCG regained the lead in the fourth inning after Figueroa beat out an infield single that allowed sophomore Tatiana Alcala (Oxnard, Calif./Pacifica) to score from third. Alcala opened the inning with a triple to the right field wall.
The Hokies took a 7-5 lead after scoring three runs on two hits in the bottom of the fourth inning. Bkaye Smith singled up the middle to start the frame. After a fielder's choice, McGoldrick walked to put runners on first and second. After a groundout, Spaw worked a walk to load the bases with two outs. Banks earned an RBI walk to tie the game at 5-5, while Ake singled home two more runs to give Virginia Tech a 7-5 lead.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Blue and Gold tied the game at 7-7 after Bedwell lined her second home run of the game to left field. Thomas singled to left field to start the inning, while Bedwell picked up her eighth home run and her fifth RBI of the game.
Virginia Tech broke the tie with a run in the bottom of the fifth after Spaw earned an RBI groundout with the bases loaded. The Hokies began the inning with a single from Smith and after an out McGoldrick singled to put runners on first and second. Liddle worked a walk, while Spaw brought home the tying run with a groundout.
The Spartans came through again in the sixth inning after Thomas lined a two-run single through the infield to plate two runs to make the score 9-8. Sophomore Dominique Madruga (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic) singled to the pitcher and Geiner singled to second base to put runners on first and second. Figueroa moved the runners to second and third with a groundout. After another groundout, Thomas picked up her third hit of the contest and third RBI to give the Spartans the lead.
The Spartans return home to play a doubleheader Thursday, April 4 against North Carolina Central with game one starting at 3 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.
