GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG softball (16-7) defeated North Carolina A&T (3-20) 10-1 in five innings on Thursday evening at UNCG Softball Stadium. Home runs by Makenna Matthijs (Greenville, N.C./D.H. Conley), Jordan Gontram (Wake Forest, N.C./Heritage) and Marisa Sholtes (Albany, N.Y./South Colonie Central) allowed the Spartans to only need four trips to the plate to win the game. 

The run for UNCG came in the first inning. Jasmine Palmer (Cander, N.C./ Florida State) reached base on a throwing error by the shortstop with one out, and Sholtes and Gabi Cubbage (Felton, Del./Lake Forest) loaded the bases with walks. With two outs, Matthijs singled up the middle to knock in Palmer and Sholtes.

In the second inning Gontram led off with a single to left field and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Rachael McClaskey (Pine Hill, N.J./Overbrook). Alexis Overdiep (Apex, N.C./Apex) hit an infield single and stole second base. Palmer brought home Gontram on a sacrifice fly to right field, and Sholtes hit her fifth home run of the season to left center.

UNCG scored four runs in the following inning. Matthijs led off with a double to center field, and Becca Kale (Hudson, N.C./South Caldwell) beat out a throw at first base for a bunt single. After Kale stole second base, Gontram hit her fourth home run of the year to left center. With two outs Palmer doubled to right center and went to third base on a wild pitch. Sholtes singled up the middle to score Palmer.

The final run for the Spartans came in the fourth inning. Matthijs got her second homer of the season to left center with one out. 

Hannah Stiltner (Mebane, N.C./ Eastern Alamance) improved to 2-3 on the season with her second complete game. She gave up just one run, two hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

UNCG had 11 hits in the game, and all 10 runs were produced on RBI-hits. Matthijs led the way by going 3-3 with three RBIs and two runs. Gontram and Palmer both went 2-2 with three RBIs, two runs and a walk.

UNCG will host its Spartan Classic Friday-Sunday and open the home tournament with a doubleheader against Canisius starting at 3 p.m. on the first day. 

-- UNCG –