GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team used a pair of big innings in each contest to sweep UNCW in a doubleheader at the UNCG Softball Stadium Friday.
UNCG scored six runs in the first inning to cruise to a 9-0 victory in the opening game. In the nightcap, the Spartans used an eight-run fifth inning to erase a five-run deficit to capture the contest, 13-8.
The Spartans extended their winning streak to six games and raised their record to 6-4 overall. They have scored in double figures in four of their last six games. The 13 runs were a season-high for UNCG.
Blayke Batten had a memorable afternoon by collecting four hits over the two games. She had a double in each contest.
Kayleigh Willis delivered a bases loaded double in the bottom of the first and
Brooklynn Maxwell hit a two-run triple to highlight the Spartans' six-run outburst.
Jordan Gontram completed the romp with her 30th career home run and SoCon leading fifth blast over the centerfield fence in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Jasmine Palmer had two hits in the opening game.
That early support was more than enough for
Morgan Scott, who allowed two hits and struck out four batters to earn her first victory of the season. It was also her third career shutout. Morgan was also backed by
Katie Stettler, who made a nice diving catch in rightfield to start a double play.
UNCG erased deficits of 2-0 and 7-2 in the second game.
Trailing, 7-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning, UNCG exploded. The big blasts were a three-run homer from
Jasmine Palmer and a grand slam from
Makenna Matthijs that gave UNCG the lead for good, 10-7. All four hits in the fifth inning for UNCG were the of extra base variety.
Willis had a RBI double and Batten started another rally after Palmer's homer with a double in the gap. UNCG sent 11 hitters to the plate. Overall, the Spartans and Seahawks combined to score 13 runs in the fifth inning.
Alina Varga tossed 2.2 innings in relief to earn the victory. Once the Spartans grabbed the lead, Varga was tough. She struck out five batters over the final two innings to raise her overall record to 4-0. Varga had six strikeouts to increase her total to a team leading 23.
For the Spartans, Batten had three hits in the second game while Palmer, Willis, and Samanth Lagrama had two hits each. Lagrama drove in three runs, including a two-run double in the second inning to tie the game at 2-2.
During its six-game winning streak, UNCG is averaging 10 runs per game. The Spartans also have two shutouts. The 10 hits in the second game tied a season-high.
Taylor Smith led UNCW with three hits. Tayler Vitola and Jada Santiago added two hits for the Seahawks.
UNCG finishes its three-game series against UNCW with a single game beginning at 1 p.m.
