GREENVILLE, S.C. – The UNCG softball team won game one, 10-3, but fell just short in game two, 4-3, against Furman in a Saturday doubleheader at Pepsi Stadium.
 
The Spartans snapped Furman's nine-game winning streak in game one but the Paladins returned the favor in game two ending UNCG's six-game winning streak. UNCG is 23-20 with a 6-10 SoCon record while Furman is 29-22 with a 10-7 conference mark.  

UNCG 10, Furman 3

In game one, the Spartans used a key six-run fourth inning to defeat Furman, 10-3, to win the series opener.

Freshman pitcher Alicia Bazonski (Sheffield, Mass./Mount Everett) threw three innings and allowed just one hit. Junior Nicole Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) earned the win in relief after going four innings and allowed three runs off four hits.

Freshman Gabrielle Cubbage (Felton, Del./Lake Forest) went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Junior Danielle Vega (Rialto, Calif./Aquinas) was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI. 

UNCG took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a two-out RBI single for junior Lindsay Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood). Vega singled to right field with one out and moved to second off a foul out to left field. L. Thomas drove in her team leading 46^th run of the season giving the Spartans a 1-0 lead.

In the second inning, UNCG scored three runs off four hits to pull ahead 4-0 against the Paladins. Senior Tatiana Alcala (Oxnard, Calif./Pacifica) singled to start the frame and Cubbage smoked a single past third base. Senior Dominique Madruga (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic) moved the runners to second and third off a sacrifice bunt. After a out, pinch hitter Sidney Grkman (Salisbury, N.C./Jesse Carson) lined a two-run single to centerfield. Vega gave the Spartans a 4-0 lead after a RBI single to centerfield.

The Spartans scored six runs off five hits, including a three-run home run from sophomore Tory Wright (Potomac Falls, Va./Dominion) in the fourth inning. Cubbage and Madruga opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Freshman Alexis Overdiep (Apex, N.C./Apex) laid down a sacrifice bunt. Junior Allison Geiner (Raleigh, N.C./Middle Creek) lined a RBI single up the middle. Madruga scored on a passed ball and Vega followed with a RBI double to right center to give UNCG a 7-0 lead. With two outs, Wright blasted her sixth home run of the season as the Spartans pulled ahead 10-0.

Furman kept the game going scoring three runs off four hits in the fourth inning. Sieara Bishop singled to start the rally and Taylor Jenkins singled to left field. With one out, the Paladins loaded the bases after a infield single by Lindsey Bert. Elise Smith lined a two-run single to centerfield to break the shutout. Andrea Abbatiello earned a RBI off a groundout cutting UNCG's lead to 10-3.

N. Thomas worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning to seal the 10-3 victory for UNCG.      

Furman 4, UNCG 3

In game two, freshman Lindsey Bert tossed a complete game and drove in three runs to help Furman edge UNCG, 4-3.

Bert improved to 21-11 on the season after throwing seven innings and allowed three earned runs off nine hits. Bazonski took the loss falling to 10-9 on the year after going 4.1 innings.

Vega, Alcala and Nicole Thomas each had two hits to lead the Spartans at the plate. Lindsay Thomas had three RBI in the loss.

Furman jumped ahead after a RBI double from Natalie Clemmons gave the Paladins a 1-0 lead. Ambree Muller worked a walk to start the inning and Clemmons followed with a RBI double to deep centerfield.

In the third inning, UNCG tied the game at 1-1 after Lindsay Thomas earned a RBI off a sacrifice fly to centerfield. The Spartans loaded the bases after three-straight singles from Geiner, Vega and Nicole Thomas. L. Thomas picked up her 47^th RBI of the season with the sacrifice.

The Paladins regained the lead after a two-run home run by the starting pitcher Lindsey Bert in the bottom of the third inning. Bishop doubled down the left field line with one out. After a line out, Bert delivered a first pitch home run, her fourth of the season.

The Spartans opened the fifth inning with three-straight hits to tie the game at 3-3. Vega singled to centerfield and N. Thomas doubled to right center to open the frame. Lindsay Thomas roped a two-run double down the right field line to make it 3-3.

Furman regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth after Jenkins tripled to centerfield to start the inning. Bert lined a RBI sacrifice fly to right field to give the Paladins a 4-3 lead.

Bert finished the win with a 1-2-3 seventh inning to salvage the split for Furman.

The Blue and Gold finish the three-game series against Furman Sunday, May 3 at 1 p.m. at Pepsi Stadium.