Box Score ELON, N.C. – The UNCG softball team held off a late rally to defeat Elon, 11-9, Wednesday night at Hunt Softball Park. The Spartans scored 11 runs off 12 hits to earn the victory.
The Spartans improved to 13-12 with the win and Elon falls to 19-9 on the season. UNCG gave the Phoenix just their second loss of the season at home.
Junior Nicole Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) earned her first save of the season after returning to the circle in the fifth inning. N. Thomas was 3-for-4 with two RBI at the plate and started the game for UNCG. Freshman pitcher Alicia Bazonski (Sheffield, Mass./Mount Everett) picked up the win improving to 6-4.
Senior Dominique Madruga (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic) was 2-for-3 and junior Allison Geiner (Raleigh, N.C./Middle Creek) collected two hits.
UNCG struck first in the first inning with a two-out RBI single from Nicole Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood). Madruga worked a one-out walk and moved to second off a passed ball. N. Thomas produced her 24th RBI of the season with the two-out hit.
The Spartans batted around in the second inning scoring six runs off five hits, including a three-run blast from junior Lindsay Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) to take a commanding 7-0 lead. L. Thomas launched her team leading fourth home run of the season with one out in the inning. Madruga followed with a single and junior Danielle Vega (Rialto, Calif./Aquinas) reached on a bunt single. N. Thomas picked up her second hit with a single to centerfield to load the bases. Sophomore Tory Wright (Potomac Falls, Va./Dominion) earned a RBI walk to give UNCG a 5-0 lead. With two outs, sophomore Hagan Kiser (Asheboro, N.C./Southwestern) roped a pinch hit double scoring two runs pushing the Spartans advantage to 7-0.
In the third inning, UNCG added three more runs off two hits and a Elon error. Junior Lacey Leary (Norwood, N.C./South Stanly/Spartanburg Methodist College) started the frame with a single to left field. After a sacrifice bunt, L. Thomas was intentionally walked to put runners on first and second. With two outs, Vega walked to load the bases and N. Thomas lined a RBI single up the middle. Wright reached on a error plating the ninth run of the game and Vega scored on a passed ball to give UNCG a 10-0 lead.
Elon cut the lead to 10-3 in the bottom of the third inning off a two out three-run home run from Emily Cameron. Alaina Hall had a infield single for the first hit of the game for the Phoenix. Kara Shutt followed with a infield single to put runners on first and second. With two outs, Cameron hit her first home run of the season to make it 10-3 UNCG.
The Spartans added a run in the fourth inning off a RBI single from Madruga. Geiner singled to start the inning and freshman Rachael McClaskey (Pine Hill, N.J./Overbrook) reached on a error to put runners at first and second. After a out, L. Thomas was walked intentionally for the second time to load the bases. Madruga picked up her ninth RBI of the season giving UNCG a 11-3 lead.
The Phoenix rallied back with a five run fourth inning off three hits and a UNCG error. Grace Eng roped a pinch hit RBI double with one out. Elon would continue to trim the Spartan lead after a two out two-run double from Shutt. Emily Roper followed with a RBI double for the fourth run of the inning. Cameron reached on a error as Elon cut the lead to 11-8 after four innings.
In the fifth inning, Elon loaded the bases with no outs as Nicole Thomas re-entered to pitch in a big spot. The Phoenix would score a run off a fielder's choice as N. Thomas kept UNCG ahead 11-9 after five innings.
In the seventh inning, Nicole Thomas finished the game against Elon holding them off the scoreboard to give the Spartans a 11-9 win.
The Blue and Gold host SoCon foe Samford for a three-game series starting with a doubleheader Saturday, March 28 at 1 p.m. at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
Be sure to follow all updates about the UNCG softball team on www.uncgspartans.com or on twitter @UNCGsports/@UNCGsoftball.
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