Box Score ELON, N.C. – Stephanie Bryden (11-5) allowed only three hits with eight strikeouts as UNC Greensboro softball (16-10) beat Elon (15-10-1) 4-1 in the series finale to earn the sweep Sunday afternoon at Hunt Softball Stadium. The Spartans outscored the Phoenix 14-1 in the series.
Bryden retired the side for all but two innings. Elon had runners on the corners with no outs in the fourth inning. The scoring threat ended when Bryden fielded a squeeze bunt, tossed it to catcher Delaney Cumbie for the out who then threw it over to third baseman Gabi Howard to tag the other runner out for the double play.
UNCG jumped out to a 3-0 lead to start the game. Makenna Matthijs, Marisa Sholtes and Gabi Howard all drew walks, and Kayleigh Willis knocked in Matthijs and Sholtes with a two-RBI single up the middle. Howard scored on a sac fly to left field by Stephanie Bryden.
The Spartans scored its last run in the fourth inning. Katie Stettler and Kamryn Graves started the inning with singles through the left side, and Melanie Darges brought home Stettler on a RBI-single up the middle.
UNCG returns to action next Saturday at 1 p.m. with a doubleheader against Samford to kick off Southern Conference play.
News and Notes
- With 407 career strikeouts, Bryden now ranks seventh all-time in program history, moving ahead of Christine Hornak (1997-98) at 399 and Raeanna Hanks (404) at 404.
- UNCG has won the last two series against Elon after winning two of three last year.
- Bryden allowed just two walks.
- Graves and Cumbie were the only two Spartans with two hits. Cumbie reached base a game-high three times with a walk.
-- UNCG –
