GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team enjoyed a pair of victories over North Carolina A&T in non-conference competition at the UNCG Softball Stadium Saturday.
The Spartans cruised to an 8-0 victory behind the strong pitching of
Alina Varga and timely hitting of
Breanna Butcher in the first game. In the nightcap, UNCG hit five home runs to beat the Aggies, 11-2.
UNCG has won four consecutive contests.
It was Varga's third complete game this season. The freshman improved her overall record to 3-0. She also finished with a career best eight strikeouts. Varga threw 82 pitches. She allowed a single to the first batter she faced in North Carolina A&T's Jai Deese. That was the only hit Varga permitted.
Kayleigh Willis' two run double highlighted the Spartans' three-run first inning.
Delaney Cumbie ended the contest with a three-run homer, her second of the season. In between, Butcher had a pair of RBI hits and threw out a runner trying to steal third base.
In the second game, Willis,
Brooklynn Maxwell,
Jordan Gontram, and
Jasmine Palmer all hit homers. Palmer went yard twice to lead the UNCG offensive onslaught. The five home runs were the most UNCG hit in a game since it slugged six homers against Appalachian State on April 26, 2014.
Willis and Palmer hit two run homers in the first inning to stake the Spartans to a 4-0 lead. UNCG scored five in the first inning and never looked back. Maxwell hit her first career homer in the third inning.
Gontram slammed her fourth homer of the season and the 29th of her career in the fourth inning. Palmer followed on the next pitch to hit a blast over the rightfield fence. Willis, who also had a RBI double, Gontram, and Palmer all finished with three runs batted in.
It was more than enough for winning pitcher
Hannah Stiltner, who didn't allow any earned runs and struck out three batters over four innings.
UNCG returns to action on Friday, March 5 when it hosts UNCW in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
