GREENSBORO, N.C- The UNCG softball team (12-9) extended its win-streak to four games with a non-conference sweep over Appalachian Stain (4-17) in its first mid-week games of the season. The Spartans are now 8-4 at home this season and will hit the road for the first time since February 20 ending a 12-game home stand for UNCG.

Sidney Grkman (Salisbury, N.C./Jesse Carson) went four-for-six at the plate with her second home run of the season, and two runs batted in. Alicia Bazonski (Sheffield, Mass./Mount Everett) picked up the win in both games tossing six and two third scoreless innings allowing just one hit while striking out five. She held the Mountaineers to a .050 batting average as a team in the double header.

In the first game, it didn't take long for the Spartans to jump out for an early 2-0 lead. An RBI groundout in the bottom of the first by Tory Wright (Potomac Falls, Va./Dominion) would score the eventual game-winner as App State would go scoreless in the contest. Grkman singled to first base to score the Spartans second run for a 2-0 lead.

A seven run inning in the bottom of the fourth put UNCG three outs away from claiming its fourth victory by mercy rule of the season.

Grkman started things off with a solo home run deep over the right field fence for her second long ball in as many games. UNCG would go on to score six more runs on three hits and an App State error for the 9-0 lead.

Bazonski (5-2) ended the game with a one, two, three inning in the top of the fifth for her fifth win of the season while Vanessa Ciocatto (2-8) was dealt her eighth loss of the season for the Mountaineers.

Both teams would score one run on back-to-back doubles in the second inning of game two. Neither team would score over the next six and a half innings. Stephanie Bryden (Orlando, Fla./East River) tossed five and one third innings allowing just one run on five hits while tying her career-high seven strikeouts. She struck out the side in the top of the second inning after allowing the Mountaineers to tally back-to-back hits and score their only run of the game.

Bazonski came on in relief and tossed one and two thirds of scoreless ball allowing no hits. She struck out the side in the top of the seventh, which seemed to have been the spark for UNCG's rally in the bottom half of the inning.

Allison Geiner (Raleigh, N.C./Middle Creek) started things off with a one-out single through the left side. Alexis Overdiep (Apex, N.C./Apex) grounded out to the pitcher but Geiner advanced on the play to put her in scoring position with UNCG's slugger Lindsay Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) at the plate. The Mountaineers walked Thomas on four-straight pitches and Rachael McClaskey (Pine Hill, N.J./Overbrook) loaded the bases a batter later with a single up the middle of the infield.

Senior Danielle Vega (Rialto, Calif./Aquinas) drove in the winning run with bases loaded and two outs on a single to the pitcher, plating Geiner from third for the 2-1 UNCG win. It marked the second walk-off victory of the season for the Spartans as UNCG defeated #23 NC State 11-10 in extra innings during opening weekend.

Bazonski has now allowed just six runs, four earned in her last eight appearances. She has a 0.84 ERA at home this season with a 5-1 record and is holding opponents to a .174 batting average.

UNCG now leads the all-time series against App State 24-22 and have won 10 of the last 12 meetings. Since head coach Janelle Breneman took over the program, UNCG has posted an 8-2 record against the Mountaineers.

The Spartans hit the road this weekend for three games in Wilmington, N.C. where they will face UNCW and Presbyterian on Saturday followed by a single game against PC Sunday morning.

-UNCG-