GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG softball team (5-5) snapped a four-game losing streak Friday night with a 6-3 win over Iona (0-2) in the Spartans first game of the UNCG Invitational. Stephanie Bryden (4-2) (Orlando, Fla./East River) earned her fourth career win fanning five batters in seven innings of work. Nicole Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) and Rachael McClaskey (Pine Hill, N.J./Overbrook) both hit home runs in the victory.

Bryden led off the first inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by McClaskey. N. Thomas took no time to find her groove as she sent the first pitch she faced deep over the left field fence giving the Spartans an early 2-0 lead.

Iona got on the board in the top of the third inning when Briana King hit a solo home run to start the inning. A two-out double by Gergel placed runners into scoring position but Bryden caught Katie Newton looking for her second strikeout of the game to end the Gaels threat.

Emily Lopez (Charlotte, N.C./Olympic) started things off for the Spartans with a triple to right field in the bottom half of the inning. A sacrifice fly by Bryden scored Lopez, which extended UNCG's lead to 3-1. McClaskey then went yard for the first time in her career to make it a 4-1 game.

The Gaels once again responded scoring one run on a pair of hits in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit to two runs.

UNCG scored two runs on three hits in the top of the sixth to extend its lead to 6-2 when Rebecca Kale (Hudson, N.C./South Caldwell) and Lopez both drove in runs. Courtney Miller hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning as she tried to spark a late-inning rally for the Gaels but Bryden ended Iona's hopes with a groundout and back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.

Six different Spartans recorded hits in the win and Danielle Vega (Rialto, Calif./Aquinas) has now reached base in all ten games this season. Christina Costello was dealt the loss allowing six earned runs in six innings while striking out one Spartan.

UNCG returns to the diamond Saturday, February 27, when they host Iona at 2:30 p.m. before taking on Lehigh (2-0) at 5 p.m.

-UNCG-