GREENSBORO -- Right-handers
Alina Varga and
Morgan Scott both pitched complete games, and host UNCG swept a doubleheader against College of Charleston at UNCG Softball Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Spartans (10-5) took two out of three games in the weekend series against Charleston (3-12). UNCG has won 10 of its last 11 games.
Varga (5-0, 4.04 ERA), a freshman from Boca Raton, Fla., gave up a run on five hits and struck out four as UNCG won the opener 9-1 in five innings.
Scott (4-3, 2.84), a sophomore from Irmo, S.C., and the SoCon pitcher of the week, gave up just one earned run on five hits in the second game, walking none and striking out four as the Spartans won 4-2.
The Spartans hit four more home runs in the doubleheader to push their season total to 29 in 15 games. They had just two hits in the second game, but their team batting average remains an impressive .304.
Kayleigh Willis hit a towering three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning of the opener, a no-doubter into the trees beyond the left-field fence.
Samantha Lagrama added two-run shot to left-center in the third inning.
Blayke Batten and
Hannah Kincer both hit RBI doubles for the Spartans in the opener, and UNCG's offense was more than enough to support Varga, who pitched aggressively after being staked to the big lead.
In the second game, both of UNCG's hits were solo home runs.
Maycin Brown's homer hit off the top of fence and bounced into the scoreboard to give The G a 2-1 lead in the second inning.
Katie Stettler led off the sixth with a long homer to left field.
The Spartans took advantage of 10 walks in the second game, including Batten's bases-loading walk on a 3-2 pitch for an RBI in the first inning. Willis drew three walks.
Jasmine Palmer, who doubled and scored in the first game, walked twice in the second game.
Scott protected the lead throughout, retiring 10 batters in a row heading into the seventh.
The game ended on a bizarre play. Charleston cut the lead to 4-2 on Payton Wade's solo home run to start the seventh, and the Cougars had runners at second and third with two outs when Kayla Gutierrez lined what appeared to be a game-tying single into center field.
However, Gutierrez -- a left-handed slap-and-run hitter -- was ruled out of the batter's box when she made contact, an automatic out.
UNCG if off until next weekend, when the Spartans and Elon play home-and-home doubleheaders. UNCG will host the Phoenix for two games at noon Saturday, then travel to Hunt Softball Park for a 1 p.m. doubleheader Sunday.
