GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG softball team (7-5) scored 18 runs in a pair of non-conference wins over Iona and Lehigh in the second day of the UNCG Invitational. The Spartans opened the day with a 10-1 win over Iona (0-4) in six innings backed but a stellar pitching performance by Alicia Bazonski (Sheffield, Mass./Mount Everett).  UNCG then handed Lehigh (3-1) its first loss of the season in an 8-0 shutout. The Spartans allowed just one unearned run in 11 innings Saturday.

In game one, Iona scored its only run, unearned, in the top of the first inning. The Spartans answered back with three runs, two of which game off a two-out home run by Tory Wright (Potomac Falls, Va./Dominion) for a 3-1 lead. UNCG added one run in the third and the fifth. UNCG led 5-1 entering the bottom of the sixth and the Spartans put the game away with five runs on four hits and a Gaels error to end the game with a 10-1 victory.

In game two, UNCG tallied four runs on five hits in the fourth inning for a 4-0 lead. A double by Nicole Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) in the fourth inning plated a pair of Spartans for a 6-0 lead and Danielle Vega (Rialto, Calif./Aquinas) drove in Thomas with a single to right field.

An inning later Rachael McClaskey (Pine Hill, N.J./Overbrook) singled through the right side scoring Allison Geiner (Raleigh, N.C./Middle Creek) who reached on an infield hit earlier in the inning to secure the 8-0 win over the Mountain Hawks who reached the NCAA Super Regional a season ago.

Bazonski earned the win in game with improving her record to 2-1. She allowed just two hits in the win while striking out two after retiring 15-straight batters without a hit. Stephanie Bryden (Orlando, Fla./East River) improved to 5-2 overall with the victory in game two after tossing four scoreless innings while allowing just two hits. Danica Bishop (Irvine, Calif./Nebraska) threw one inning of relief against the Mountain Hawks.

McClaskey and Vega both went 5-for-6 at the plate in the sweep while Vega, Thomas and Wright all drove in a team-high four runs each. As a team, UNCG batted .444 as they extended their win streak to three Saturday.

The Spartans return to action Sunday for the final day of the UNCG Invitational. They will face Lehigh (3-1) in the first game of the day at 12:30 p.m. and will take on Youngstown State (3-3) in the last game of the tournament at 3 p.m.

-UNCG-