CHARLESTON, S.C. – The UNCG softball team earned a split to open the 2015 season Friday, falling to Army 9-7 before rebounding to top Bethune-Cookman by a 14-11 margin at the Charleston Challenge. The Spartans will be back in action tomorrow with another pair of contests, facing UMass-Lowell at 3:30 p.m. before battling the host College of Charleston at 6 p.m.

Army 9, UNCG 7 (Game One)

Faced with an 8-0 deficit after three innings, the Spartans scored seven of the last eight runs in the game but came up just a little short to Army in the season opener for both teams. The game featured a combined 16 runs and 23 hits while UNCG was charged with two errors.

Sophomore outfielder Kendall McKinney had a nice day at the dish, going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Junior infielder Danielle Vega and sophomore infielder Tory Wright also recorded two hits apiece. Junior catcher Lindsay Thomas had just one hit in the contest but it accounted for three RBI.

Junior RHP Nicole Thomas (0-1) was saddled with the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits and two walks. She did not record a strikeout. Freshman RHP Mackenzie Winslow made her collegiate debut and gave up four runs (three earned) on seven hits while striking out one.

Senior infielder Dominique Madruga was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the first before a single up the middle by Nicole Thomas put runners at the corners with one out. Wright worked a two-out walk to load the bases, but freshman Marissa Sholtes struck out swinging to end the Spartan threat. Kasey McCravey led off the bottom of the first for Army with an infield single and reached second on a groundout before stealing third with one out. N. Thomas wriggled out of trouble, however, inducing a groundout and a pop up to keep the Black Knights scoreless.

Army struck for a big inning in the second, scoring five runs on four hits and a UNCG error. The Black Knights were able to extend the advantage to 8-0 in the bottom of the third as Xiomara Perez led off with a double and Kristen McPeek brought her home with a RBI single to right field. McCravey added a two-run double to account for the other two scores.

The Blue and Gold battled back in a big way in the top of the fourth, plating four runs on three hits. Wright led off with a double before senior outfielder Tatiana Alcala walked to load the bases. That brought up McKinney who had a nice hit through the left side to plate pinch runner Emily Lopez for the Spartans' first run. With two away, Madruga was hit by another pitch, bringing up L. Thomas. She would deliver, lacing a three-run triple just over the out-stretched glove of the right fielder to make it an 8-4 ballgame.

After Army scored an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth, UNCG rallied at the plate once more. With one out and the bases loaded, Alcala produced a RBI groundout to draw the Spartans within 9-5. Freshman outfielder Sidney Grkman then stepped up to the plate and poked a single up the middle that scored two runs – pushing the score to 9-7.

Junior RHP Danica Bishop came in for the final two innings and held the Black Knights off the board, but UNCG could not muster any more runs and fell just short.

UNCG 14, Bethune-Cookman 11 (Game Two)

In a contest that saw several lead changes and tie scores, it was the Blue and Gold striking for five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to record its first victory of the season.

Nicole Thomas and Vega each notched three hits while McKinney completed a strong afternoon by tallying four RBI. Thomas and Madruga also scored three runs apiece.  Thomas (1-1) was deemed the winner in the circle, throwing the final 2.1 innings and allowing two runs on three hits.

UNCG jumped on top in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs off a RBI single by Vega and a sacrifice fly by McKinney. Bethune-Cookman responded, however, plating five runs on five hits, two passed balls and a wild pitch. Nereyda Gutierrez provided the big blow, a three-run double with the bases loaded.

UNCG had an answer of its own in the bottom of the frame, and it was a big one. Freshman infielder Gabrielle Cubbage reached on an error to lead things off before Madruga singled up the middle. After a Lindsay Thomas lineout, seven-straight Spartans stepped to the plate and drove in runs to propel the Blue and Gold in front by a 9-5 margin. The scoring run consisted of three singles, three bases-loaded walks and a RBI groundout.

The Wildcats rallied again in the top of the fifth inning, tying the score at nine thanks to three RBI singles and a RBI double. After a scoreless bottom of the frame for UNCG, Bethune-Cookman took the lead back with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. The inning began innocently enough with a groundout, but a wild pitch and another groundout allowed the Wildcats to push ahead 11-9.

Alcala and Grkman singled to lead off the bottom of the sixth and they moved up a base on a sac bunt by Cubbage. Madruga then drew a walk before the Thomas twins delivered back-to-back RBI singles to tie the score at 11. Vega then reached on an error, allowing Madruga to cross home for the winning run. McKinney would add a two-run single to account for the final margin.

BCU put runners at first and second with two outs, but Thomas slammed the door shut and induced a foul out to end the contest.