GREENSBORO, N.C. – After falling to Mercer (18-23, 1-4 SoCon), 15-2, in game one of Saturday's Southern Conference twin bill, senior's Nicole Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) and Lindsay Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) combined to go four-for-five in the second game to lift UNCG (25-15, 2-3 SoCon) past Mercer 6-3.

L. Thomas' pair of hits marked the tying and record-breaking hits that would permanently etch her name in the UNCG record books furthermore as the all-time leader with 231 career hits. N. Thomas came up big when the Spartan's needed her most with a walk-off grand slam to deal UNCG it's second SoCon win of the season.

It was a rough start to the day as UNCG quickly fell behind 5-0 in the first inning of the series opener. Another six runs later on a pair of UNCG errors and the Spartans found themselves in their biggest hold of the conference season, 11-0.

Mercer extended its lead to 12 runs with a sacrifice fly in the top of the third inning before UNCG was able to get a run on the board.

Kendall McKinney (Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnett) hit her fifth home run of the season in the top of the fourth for UNCG's first run but Mercer padded its lead in the fifth inning with a trifecta of runs on three hits to lead 15-1. Rachael McClaskey (Pine Hill, N.J./Overbrook) drove in UNCG's second run with an RBI groundout in the bottom of the fifth inning but it was not enough as UNCG dropped game one by mercy rule.

Alicia Bazonski (Sheffield, Mass./Mount Everett) was handed her fourth loss of the season moving her to 13-4 overall after allowing eight runs, six earned, on eight hits in one and a third innings. Danica Bishiop (Irvine, Calif./Nebraska) came in to relieve her but went just two-thirds of an inning allowing four runs, one earned on three hits.

Lacey Leary (Norwood, N.C./Spartanburg Methodist) tossed the final three innings allowing three earned runs on four hits while striking out three.

Mercer's Maxine Rodriguez held UNCG's 1-5 hitters to 0-for-10 while McKinney, Alexis Overdiep (Apex, N.C./Apex) and Allison Geiner (Raleigh, N.C./Middle Creek) were the only Spartans to record hits in the loss.

In game two it was a much different story for UNCG. The Spartans fell behind 1-0 in the top of the third after a Bears run scored on an infield single and Mercer would double its lead with a solo home run an inning later but McKinney would come up big for UNCG in the bottom half of the fourth.

She blasted her sixth homer of the season after Tory Wright (Potomac Falls, Va./Dominion) hit a one out double off the centerfield fence. It marked the 11^th straight game UNCG has hit at least one home run and fourth consecutive game McKinney has hit one out of the ballpark.

McKinney's two-run shot tied the game and gave new hope to the Spartan faithful.

Both teams went scoreless in the fifth inning but a solo home run by Kaytlin Haney to lead off the sixth would once again give Mercer the lead.

N. Thomas singled through the right side to start things off in the top of the sixth but Mercer's reliever Jill McElderry retired the next three batters in order to strand her on base.

 The Bears loaded the bases in the top of the seventh inning looking to add to their slim lead but Stephanie Bryden (Orlando, Fla./East River) got Emma Andrew to pop up to third base and end the threat.

After Sidney Grkman (Salisbury, N.C./Jesse Carson) struck out to start the bottom of the seventh, UNCG's dugout was hopeful that the bottom of the lineup would provide some late-inning magic for the Spartans. 

As head coach Janelle Breneman would later say, “I couldn't have scripted a better inning.”

A pinch-hit single up the middle by Hagan Kiser (Asheboro, N.C./Southwestern) followed by walk after a seven-pitch battle between McElderry and L. Thomas would put the tying run in scoring position for UNCG.

McElderry got McClaskey out on an infield pop up and the Spartans were down to their final out with Danielle Vega (Rialto, Calif./Aquinas) up to bat. Vega who had been hitless on the day connected on a 1-2 pitch for a hard hit single to shortstop, loading the bases for UNCG.

It was all up to N. Thomas who knew a base hit and would prolong the game as she dug her cleats into the batter's box. She turned and gave Breneman a nod.

She swung at the second pitch that came her way and the dugout erupted as the ball soared over the left centerfield fence securing the walk-off win for the Spartans.

“I had been waiting for this moment for so long,” said N. Thomas. “I knew that all I needed was two runs to score so I gave it my all.”

It was a warm welcome back for Thomas as she returned to UNCG's lineup for the first time in over a month for Saturday's doubleheader.

N. Thomas and McKinney both had multi-RBI games for UNCG while L. Thomas joined her sister as the only other Spartan with a multi-hit game.

Bryden tossed a complete game earning her 10^th win of the season with six strikeouts. She allowed three runs on seven hits and a pair of solo home runs for Mercer.

McKinney's home run in game two marked the fourth-consecutive game she has homered. The junior outfielder has now knocked one out of the park in five of UNCG's last six games.

The rubber match of the SoCon series is slated for 1 p.m. Sunday, April 10, at the UNCG Softball Stadium. Fans can watch the action live on the SoCon Digital Network with UNCG's Parker Southern and Luke Martin on the call.

-UNCG-