GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG softball team (7-7) lost a pair of non-conference games against Lehigh (4-1) and Youngstown State (4-4) Sunday afternoon in the final game of the UNCG Softball Invitational.  Stephanie Bryden (Orlando, Fla./East River) tallied three hits for the Spartans on the day while scoring a pair of runs and was credited with the loss against Youngstown State.

After three scoreless innings in the first game, Lehigh took the lead in the fourth inning on a RBI double by Vicky Lattanzio. The Mountain Hawks extended their lead with two runs on a pair of hits and two Spartan errors an inning later to lead 3-0. Lehigh added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning when UNCG had another pair of errors.

The Spartans rallied in the bottom half of the frame when Danielle Vega (Rialto, Calif./Aquinas) led off with a single to right field. A pair of groundouts moved over Alexis Overdiep (Apex, N.C./Apex) who pinch ran for Vega.Rebecca Kale (Hudson, N.C./South Caldwell) reached on an error by Lehigh's third baseman that scored the Overdiep to make it a 4-1 ball game.  Christine Campbell was able to get Gabrielle Cubbage out on swinging to end the game.

Danica Bishop (Irvine, Calif./Nebraska) was dealt the loss tossing four and a third innings allowing three runs, one earned. Alicia Bazonski (Sheffield, Mass./Mount Everett) threw two and two thirds innings of relief and allowed one earned run on one hit while recording the Mountain Hawks only strikeout of the game.

In game two, the Spartans took an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Vega was plunked with the bases loaded, which sent Bryden home for UNCG's first run of the game. Tory Wright (Potomac Falls, Va./Dominion)then drove in two runs with a single to center field.

YSU responded in the top of the fourth inning scoring seven runs on five hits, including a grand slam, and one Spartan error. Three Spartans would take the circle in the inning while the Penguins batted around to take a four-run lead.

Vega walked to lead off the fifth inning for UNCG and two batters later Hagan Kiser (Asheboro, N.C./Southwestern) would drive in pinch runner Emily Acquaviva (New Hartford, N.Y./Stony Brook) to make it a 7-4 game. Youngstown State loaded the bases once again in the top of the sixth inning and Katie Smallcomb blasted the Penguins second grand slam of the night over the right field fence for an 11-4 lead.

Nicole Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) drove in a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning but YSU put the game away with four more runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Five Spartans pitched in the loss and Bryden (5-3), UNCG's starter, was credited with the loss. The freshman pitcher went two-for-four at the plate with a walk and two runs scored as well.

The Spartans return to action Friday, March 4, when they take on Rutgers in the first day of the Spartan Classic. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.

-UNCG-