GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG softball team held a 5-0 lead before holding off Ohio, 8-5, Wednesday at the UNCG Softball Stadium.

The Spartans picked up their seventh-straight victory and are 9-3 on the season. The Bobcats fall to 4-9 on the year.

Junior Danica Bishop (Irvine, Calif./Woodbridge/Nebraska) earned the victory in relief throwing one inning and had a strikeout. Freshman pitcher Alicia Bazonski (Sheffield, Mass./Mount Everett) started the game and threw three innings. Bazonski returned later in the game, helping secure the win with two innings and earned her second save.

Ohio's Lauren McClary (0-5) went 2.1 innings and allowed three earned runs in the loss. 

Four Spartans' had multiple hits with sophomore Tory Wright (Potomac Falls, Va./Dominion) finishing 2-for-3 with a two-run double. Senior Tatiana Alcala (Oxnard, Calif./Pacifica) was 2-for-3 with a RBI. Junior Lindsay Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) also was 2-for-3 with a RBI. Senior Dominique Madruga (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic) went 2-for-2 at the leadoff spot.

UNCG took a 3-0 lead after a three-run home run from junior Nicole Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) in the third inning. With one out, Madruga and Lindsay Thomas earned walks. Nicole Thomas delivered her first home run of the season on the first pitch to push the Spartans in front 3-0.

In the fourth inning, the Blue and Gold added two runs off three hits to take a 5-0 lead. Redshirt freshman Sidney Grkman (Salisbury, N.C./Jesse Carson) reached second after a error by the Ohio centerfielder to start the frame. Alcala roped a RBI double down the right field line and Lindsay Thomas lined a RBI single to left field in the inning.

Ohio cut the lead to 5-1 in the fifth inning scoring off a wild pitch. Adrienne Gebele doubles to right centerfield to start the inning. After a out, Dakota Pyles singled to setup runners at the corners. Gebele would score on a wild pitch to put the Bobcats on the scoreboard.

In the sixth inning, the Bobcats made a furious rally scoring three runs off two hits and two Spartan errors to inch closer at 5-4. Mikayla Cooper singled and a error put Casie Hutchinson on first. Ohio loaded the bases after another single from Kaylin Clarke and Raven King earned a RBI walk to make the score 5-2. Ohio would score two more runs off a UNCG error and another RBI walk. With no outs, Bazonski would limit the damage with a swinging strikeout, ground out and another swinging strikeout to end the inning.

The Blue and Gold would respond with three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning off three hits and a key Ohio error. With one out, Madruga and Lindsay Thomas had back-to-back singles. After a out, the Bobcat's shortstop committed a error that led to Madruga scoring to give UNCG a 6-4 lead. Wright roped a clutch two-run double to the left centerfield gap plating two runs to push the Spartans' lead to 8-4.

In the final frame, Ohio would make it interesting as Gebele lined a two-out RBI single up the middle to make the score 8-5. A single from Leanna Bachman loaded the bases but Bazonski saved the game with a groundout. 

UNCG heads to Riverside, Calif. for a seven-day spring break trip starting with the Highlander Classic Friday, March 6 against Howard at noon eastern time. 

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