GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team opened its 2021 team by dropping a pair of contests to 12th-ranked Kentucky in non-conference action at the UNCG Softball Stadium Friday afternoon.
The 7-2 and 14-4 setbacks were irrelevant in the big picture because all that mattered was that UNCG was playing the sport it loves after having its 2020 season truncated because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Spartans didn't get the benefit of playing last weekend like Kentucky, which entered this matchup after sweeping Southern Conference foe Samford.
UNCG showcased glimpses of brilliance and plenty of encouraging signs that will serve them well as they continue to develop this season during the two games against the Wildcats.
Freshman
Brooklynn Maxwell had three hits over the two games and started double plays in each contest. She played with the poise of a seasoned veteran against the nationally-ranked Wildcats.
Seniors
Kayleigh Willis and
Jordan Gontram attacked in quick and lethal strikes by mashing home runs on consecutive pitches in the sixth inning of the opening game. Junior
Makenna Matthijs drove in a pair of runs on two hits in the nightcap.
Quotable
UNCG head coach Janele Breneman on the Spartans performance.
"We were elated to be out here on the field. It's been a long time and we've been working hard at practice and you need those tests. You need to be facing different pitching than your own. I liked our energy and fight. Regardless of the score, we were fighting every inning and that's something we are going to continue to do. We were tough every inning and every play of the game. These kids have been waiting to play."
Willis on playing UNCG's first game since last March.
"It was great to be out there. We hadn't been there in a while. Bringing the tarp off the field this morning was beautiful. It was exciting. It felt like home being on the field. I think we held our own even when things weren't working out. We still came back next play like nothing ever happened. We kept fighting. Our pitchers came in and when things weren't looking great, they stayed calm and collected."
Records
Kentucky 5-0
UNCG 0-2
How It Happened Game One
- Willis hit her 18th career home run in the sixth inning for the first run of the season for UNCG.
- Gontram followed with a solo blast to rightfield on the next pitch, the 26th of her outstanding career.
- It was Gontram's first blast since she hit one against Northern Kentucky on Feb. 24, 2019.
- Maxwell had two hits and snagged a line drive to begin an inning-ending double play in the sixth.
- Matthijs registered all three putouts in centerfield in the seventh inning.
- Morgan Scott struck out seven batters.
- This was Scott's fifth consecutive game dating back to last season in which she struck out at least seven batters.
- This was the ninth time in Scott's fledgling career that she finished with at least seven strikeouts in a game.
- Alex Rodriguez allowed one run in 2.1 innings of relief.
- Delaney Cumbie, Katie Stettler, and Maycin Brown also reached base with walks.
- Mallory Payton, Miranda Stoddard, and Rylea Smith all hit solo homers to lead Kentucky's offense.
- Lauren Johnson started the scoring with a two-out, two-run triple in the fourth inning.
How It Happened Game Two
- Matthijs drove in a pair of runs with singles in the third and fourth innings.
- Matthijs has 30 career multi-hit outings.
- In batting around in the second inning, UNCG scored three runs and had five hits.
- Katie Stettler, Maycin Brown, Melanie Darges, and Blayke Batten opened the inning by reaching base with hits.
- Batten's double to right centerfield scored Stettler with the Spartans' first run of the game.
- Cumbie had a RBI walk that scored Batten.
- Maxwell scored the Spartans final run of the game in the fourth inning.
- Kayla Kowalik had four of Kentucky's 15 hits.
- Johnson and Renee Abernathy had three hits each for Kentucky, which also got a grand slam from Autumn Humes.
Final Word from Breneman
"Two losses are not what we are used to. The kids aren't satisfied and I am thrilled we get to turn this around and take the field tomorrow."
Up Next
- UNCG hosts Appalachian State in the opener of a three-game series on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 12 p.m.
