GREENSBORO, N.C - Spartans softball (5-4) kicked off their 10-game homestand with a 3-2 win over the Clemson Tigers (7-5), Tuesday afternoon at the UNCG Softball Stadium. Morgan Scott earned the win (4-2) in the circle for the Spartans, tossing another complete game, allowing just one earned run on six hits and striking out six. 

"I knew we'd be in a tough battle," said head coach Janelle Breneman. "Clemson has been doing a great job early on. They're scoring a lot of runs and certainly have a deep pitching staff. I thought our ladies were ready for the fight and to compete when they stepped up in the box."

THE RUNDOWN
Melanie Darges got things going for the Spartans, knocking their first hit of the ballgame with a single through the left side in the bottom of the second. Preason First Team All-SoCon selection, Kayleigh Willis stepped up to the plate following Darges, and sent a laser over the right field wall for a two-run home run to put the Spartans on the board first. 

"That's what Kay is capable of," Breneman added. "She is a strong, tough hitter. We see that out of her, day in and day out. She was extremely focused out there today and was locked in at the plate. She just has an amazing hand path to the ball and she showed it with two big hits."

Clemson catcher Hyatt (single) and second baseman Pereira (double) sparked some momentum for the Tigers in the third to respond to the Spartans attack. A sacrifice fly and pass ball scored the pair to knot it up at two early in the contest. The ACC foe, playing in their inaugural season, kept up the pressure by executing a double steal in the fourth to put two runners in scoring position with two outs. Taylor laid down a bunt with a runner on third, creating a rundown that was played to perfection by thrid baseman Maycin Brown, catcher Samantha Lagrama and Melanie Darges. Scott set her sights on the next batter and made quick work for the strikeout to get out of the inning.

"Morgan did really nice job improving as the game went on," Breneman said. "She maybe left one or two pitches up in the zone and heavy on the plate, but she was unfazed by it and got us out of the jam."

UNCG looked to add on more runs in the fourth, but it was Clemson's freshman starting pitcher Logan Caymol who denied the Spartans from breaking the tie, following back-to-back walks. 

Delaney Cumbie didn't slow down, making her 2020 home debut. The sophomore catcher came through with another clutch at-bat, driving in Makenna Matthijs with an RBI double to put the Spartans ahead for good.  

WEB GEM
Play of the day goes to sophomore left fielder, Hannah Kincer. In the sixth inning, with the Spartans looking to hang on to the one-run lead, Kincer raced to foul territory lunging forward for the diving grab

UP NEXT
The Spartans continue their homestand this weekend as they host the annual UNCG Inivitational. UNCG welcomes three teams, including Purdue, Fairfield and North Carolina. First pitch vs. Fairfield is set for Friday, February 21 at 5 p.m.