GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG softball team earned a double-header sweep against visiting George Washington Saturday in the home opener at UNCG Softball Stadium.

The Spartans improve to 4-3 on the season with the two victories and George Washington falls to 1-5 on the year. The Blue and Gold also lead the all-time series with a 3-2 record against the Colonials.

UNCG 5, George Washington 4 (Game One)

In game one, the Spartans used the long ball to defeat George Washington, 5-4, thanks to a grand slam from senior second baseman Dominique Madruga (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic) and a solo home run from sophomore Tory Wright (Potomac Falls, Va./Dominion).

Freshman Alicia Bazonski (Sheffield, Mass./Mount Everett) threw a complete game earning her first collegiate win. Bazonski allowed just nine hits, four runs (zero earned) and had six strikeouts.

Sarah Costlow fell to 1-3 on the season after allowing five earned runs off four hits to take the loss for the Colonials.

In the top of the second inning, George Washington took a 1-0 lead after a error allowed a unearned run to score. With one out, Carlee Gray singled and moved to second after a error by the left fielder. Bazonski retired the next two hitters to keep it a 1-0 game.

UNCG would answer with four runs in the second inning after a grand slam from Madruga, her first home run of the season, to give the Spartans a 4-1 advantage. With one out, redshirt freshman Sidney Grkman (Salisbury, N.C./Jesse Carson) walked and classmate Rachael McClaskey (Pine Hill, N.J./Overbrook) singled. Freshman Alexis Overdiep (Apex, N.C./Apex) walked to load the bases to setup the big hit from Madruga.

In the bottom of the third, Wright blasted her first home run of the season to lead off the inning to push UNCG's lead to 5-1.

The Colonials would not go away scoring three runs all with two outs to cut the lead to 5-4 in the top of the fourth. George Washington loaded the bases with one out after two walks and a error. A force out at home plate kept the game at 5-1 but a passed ball and a two-run single from Samantha Dos Santos made the score 5-4.

Bazonski finished the game with three-straight scoreless innings, including the final frame. In the seventh, George Washington had back-to-back singles with two outs but a pop up to the shortstop ended the threat.

UNCG 5, George Washington 3 (Game Two)

In game two, a key pinch-hit double by junior Lacey Leary (Norwood, N.C./South Stanly/Spartanburg Methodist College) broke a 3-3 tie and gave the Spartans a 5-3 comeback win.

Freshman Mackenzie Winslow (Mooresville, N.C./Lake Norman) picked up her first collegiate victory after throwing 3.2 scoreless innings in relief and had four strikeouts.

Classmate Alexis Overdiep (Apex, N.C./Apex) went 2-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored.

George Washington struck first taking a 2-0 lead in the third inning off two hits and a Spartan error. Dos Santos had a RBI infield hit and Monica Macchiarulo had a RBI walk.

In the bottom of the third, the Blue and Gold cut the lead to 2-1 after a error by the Colonials in the outfield. Madruga had a bunt single to start the inning and moved to second off a sacrifice bunt from classmate Tatiana Alcala (Oxnard, Calif./Pacifica). Madruga went to third off a passed ball and scored off a error by the left fielder.

The Colonials added to their lead with a solo home run from Megan Lynn to make the score 3-1.

UNCG quickly responded tying the game with two runs off two hits in the fourth. After a walk by freshman Gabrielle Cubbage (Felton, Del./Lake Forest), Overdiep doubled to centerfield to put runners on second and third. Madruga walked to load the bases and a wild pitch allowed Cubbage to score cutting the lead to 3-2. Overdiep would score off a error by the catcher to tie the game at 3-3.

The Spartans would take the lead for good after scoring two runs off three hits in the fifth inning. With one out, Wright doubled to right field to setup a clutch pinch-hit double from Leary to give UNCG a 4-3 lead. After another out, Overdiep singled through the left side to add a insurance run for the Spartans at 5-3.

In the top of the seventh, Winslow finished the game with a pop out, strike out and a ground out working around two walks to seal the victory 5-3.

UNCG returns to action on the road at North Carolina Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 4 p.m.

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