COLUMBIA, S.C. – UNC Greensboro softball (2-5) dropped a pair of games in the first day of the Gamecock Invitational, 6-0 to St. John's and 11-3 (five innings) to No. 14/15 South Carolina, Friday afternoon at Beckham Field.

The Red Storm scored all six runs in the second inning. After loading the bases, a triple to right center knocked in all runners. A squeeze bunt followed to score the runner from third base, and a home run to left field came in the next at-bat.

Against the Gamecocks, the Spartans scored all three runs in the third inning. After consecutive singles by Makenna Matthijs and Stephanie Bryden to start the inning, Marisa Sholtes blasted a three-run shot over the right field fence.

South Carolina scored runs in each inning. Two were scored in the first on a sac fly and RBI-single. After an RBI-double in the second, South Carolina hit its first home run, a two-run shot to left field. The only runs in the third and fourth were solo homers to center. The Gamecocks ended the game in the final inning with an RBI-single and pair of RBI-doubles.

UNCG closes out the tournament with another doubleheader starting with Ohio at 11 a.m. followed by St. John's.

News and Notes

- St. John's pitcher Madison Morris (2-1) threw a two-hit shutout with no walks and six strikeouts. Bryden broke up the perfect game on an infield single to lead off the sixth inning.

- Sholtes went 2-3 against South Carolina, and Bryden was the only other Spartan with more than one hit on the day.

- Hannah Stiltner started the game against the Red Storm and lasted 1.1 innings. Kylie Bouplon threw 4.2 scoreless innings of relief with three hits, one walk and four strikeouts.

- Bryden started against South Carolina and went three innings, allowing five hits, four earned runs and a walk. Hannah Kincer threw an inning, and Bouplon finished out the game.

-- UNCG –