GREENSBORO, N.C. – Lindsay Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) surpassed Karyn Thompson's 20 year-old record of 46 career home runs Tuesday afternoon when she tallied three home runs in a non-conference double header against Bryant (0-14) at the UNCG Softball Stadium.

Thomas went deep twice in the first game, an 11-3 rout of the Bulldogs. She sent the first pitch she saw way over the left field fence in the bottom of the third inning in game two moving into sole possession as the all-time home run leader at UNCG as the Spartans went on to win 7-1 in game two.

In total, the Spartans hit six home runs in the midweek sweep. On top of Thomas' three long balls, Danielle Vega (Rialto, Calif./Aquinas) hit two in the second game and Kendall McKinney (Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnett) smacked her first career home run in the sixth inning of the first game ending the game early with a mercy rule.

Bryant took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning of game one and added on a pair of runs on two hits and a Spartan error in the second inning for an early 3-0 lead. UNCG responded in the bottom half of the inning on a RBI single by Lacey Leary (Norwood, N.C./Spartanburg Methodist).

UNCG added two runs in each of the next two innings for a 5-3 lead as they entered the fifth inning. Thomas led off the bottom of the third with her first home run of the day. After an Allison Geiner (Raleigh, N.C./Middle Creek) and a sacrifice bunt from Vega, Sidney Grkman (Salisbury, N.C./Jesse Carson) drive in the second run of the inning with a single up the middle.

In the fourth inning, Hagan Kiser (Asheboro, N.C./Southwestern) and Leary hit back-to-back singles to start off the inning. A batter later, Thomas drove in both on a double off the left centerfield fence.

The Spartans put up six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, ending the game early due to a mercy rule. Rachael McClaskey (Pine Hill, N.J./Overbrook) started things off with a single up the middle. Thomas homered to left center for a 7-2 lead. Vega then singled through the left side with one out and Grkman reached on an error by the Bulldogs second baseman to place runners on first and second. A throwing error by Elle Madsen plated a Spartan run and left runners on second and third with McKinney at the plate. The junior left fielder then smacked a 2-2 pitch deep over the center field fence for a 11-3 final score and her first career home run.

Alicia Bazonski (Sheffield, Mass./Mount Everett) tossed a complete game allowing just three runs, one earned in six innings of work. The Southern Conference pitcher of the week struck out six Bulldogs and walked just one en route to her ninth victory of the season.

In game two, Vega homered to right center for a 1-0 Spartans lead in the bottom of the first inning. Bryant answered back in the top of the second with one run on three hits before Stephanie Bryden (Orlando, Fla./East River) was able to escape the bases loaded jam with back-to-back strikeouts.

UNCG responded with one run in the bottom half of the frame, on a RBI single by Kiser after Tory Wright (Potomac Falls, Va./Dominion) led off with a double to left centerfield.

In the bottom of the third, Thomas led off with a home run to left field, moving into sole possession of first place on the UNCG all-time home runs list with her 47^th homer of her career. Geiner would reach on a bunt single and then steal back-to-back bases while Vega was at the plate. The senior third baseman then went yard in her second consecutive plate appearance for a 5-1 UNCG lead.

In the fifth inning, the Blue & Gold added one more run on one hit, an RBI single by Wright before Bryant got out of the bases loaded jam. The Spartans weren't done yet though, Thomas hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth inning for an insurance run, and her seventh RBI of the day for a 7-1 UNCG lead.

Bryden tossed a one, two, three inning in the top of the seventh as she struck out the side to secure the win. She tallied 13 punch outs in her sixth win of the season, tying for second most strikeouts in a game in program history and nearly doubling her career-high of seven 'K's. Bryden started six of her seven innings pitched with a strikeout and logged back-to-back strikeouts three times.

Bryden (6-5) allowed just one run on four hits and walking one batting in the complete game win.

Overall, seven different Spartans drove in runs in Tuesday's sweep while Thomas went four-for-five at the plate with a team-best seven RBI and four runs scored. Kiser and Wright also tallied four runs each while six other Spartans recorded at least one hit.

UNCG hit .389 as a squad while Bryant batted just .204. As a unit, the Spartans pitchers struck out 19 in 13 innings with a combined ERA of 1.08. Bazonski and Bryden allowed just two extra base hits and allowed only two batters to reach base on balls.UNCG improves to 3-0 all-time against Bryant and 2-0 at home against the Bulldogs.

The Spartans return to action this weekend when they host their third tournament in four weeks, the Blue/Gold Challenge.

-UNCG-