GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG softball team (31-21, 8-6 SoCon) broke a 12-year drought with its first Southern Conference series victory over Chattanooga (27-24, 6-8 SoCon) with a pair of victories Saturday afternoon. It took a Lindsay Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh for a 9-8 game one victory to set the tone for the rest of the day. In game two, Nicole Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) blasted a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth, to give UNCG its first victory over UTC by way of mercy rule, 8-0, in program history.

In a day that began with a misty Senior Day ceremony where the Spartans recognized their six graduating seniors, both Thomas sisters, Danielle Vega (Rialto, Calif./Aquinas), Allison Geiner (Raleigh, N.C./Middle Creed), Lacey Leary (Norwood, N.C./Spartanburg Methodist) and Danica Bishop (Irvine, Calif./Nebraska), UNCG seized the day.

Vega drove in the first Spartans first run in both games. Ironically, both coming in the bottom of the first inning.

UNCG took a 1-0 lead in game one but Chattanooga answered back in the top of the third scoring two runs on three hits before Alicia Bazonski (Sheffield, Mass./Mount Everett) was able to work herself out of a bases loaded jam. UNCG immediately regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning scoring three runs on three hits for a 4-2 advantage.

Bazonski worked a three up, three down inning in the fourth and UNCG would strand bases loaded in the bottom half of the inning to hold the two-run advantage past the halfway point.

The Mocs put up four runs in the top of the fifth for a 6-4 lead but UNCG once again answered back, capitalizing on four UTC errors in the bottom of the fifth for a 8-6 lead with two innings to play.

A UNCG error in the top of the sixth allowed two unearned runs to score and tie the game eight-all.

Bazonski finished off the Mocs in order in the top of the seventh and a lead-off homer by the Spartans all-time leading home run leader L. Thomas was all it took as the Spartans rushed the field, clinching a 9-8 victory.

L. Thomas went three-for-four falling a triple shy of the cycle with three runs scored and the game winning hit in the victory. Bazonski improved to 17-7 on the season tossing a complete game allowing eight runs, two earned, on seven hits while striking out four.

Hagan Kiser (Asheboro, N.C./Southwestern) was the only other Spartan to log a multi-hit game going 2-for-2 with one run scored and a pair of walks. Tory Wright (Potomac Falls, Va./Dominion) drove in three runs with a bases clearing double to lead the team in RBI in the game.

In game two, UNCG carried over the momentum from its thrilling walk-off win earlier in the afternoon. The Spartans plated three runs on three back-to-back-to-back hits by Vega, Stephanie Bryden (Orlando, Fla./East River) and Wright in the bottom of the first inning for a early lead.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Leary reached on a fielder's choice and was safe at first as the Mocs failed to turn a double play. Rachael McClaskey (Pine Hill, N.J./Overbrook) scored on the throw for a 4-0 UNCG lead.

The Spartans plated a run in the bottom of the sixth when Geiner reached on an error, allowing McClaskey to score for the 5-0 lead. With two outs and two runners on base, N. Thomas blasted a home run over the left centerfield fence, ending the game by an eight run mercy rule. It marked the first time UNCG has ever defeated Chattanooga by mercy rule.

Bryden (12-11) earned the win tossing a complete game shutout while striking out six batters, walking none and allowing just six hits.

L. Thomas went 2-for-2 in the second game with two runs scored and a walk. Vega, Bryden and McClaskey also collected multi-hit games while N. Thomas paced the team with three RBI.

The pair of wins secured a series victory regardless of what happens in the finale scheduled for Sunday, May 1. It is the first series victory over UTC since the 2003 season when the Spartans swept the Mocs in the three-game series.

UNCG is now 4-8 against Chattanooga since head coach Janelle Breneman took over the program in 2013.

First pitch is slated for 1:30 p.m. at the UNCG Softball Stadium. The six seniors will be joined by their fathers on the field to throw out a ceremonial first pitch before the game begins. Fans can follow the action at UNCGSpartans.com or watching live on the SoCon Digital Network with UNCG's Parker Southern on the call.