MACON, Ga. -- Junior left fielder
Hannah Kincer hit a two-run home run and scored a key run on a wild pitch, helping UNCG to a 5-3 victory over Mercer at Sikes Field on Sunday afternoon.
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The Spartans (28-15 overall, 11-4 SoCon) won two out of three games in their final road trip of the regular season. They've already secured a spot in the Southern Conference Tournament, and host league-leading Western Carolina (25-21, 12-2 SoCon) in a three-game series this weekend that will determine the league's regular-season champ.
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The top seed will host the four-team conference tournament.
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UNCG kept control of its own destiny with a gritty victory at Mercer (21-20, 6-8 SoCon), which is fighting for fourth place and the final postseason spot.
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Sophomore right-hander
Morgan Scott (15-7, 2.25 ERA) pitched her 16th complete game of the season, scattering nine hits and allowing three earned runs in seven innings. She walked two and struck out one.
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UNCG took a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
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Senior
Kayleigh Willis drew a two-out walk, and cleanup hitter Kincer followed with a two-run homer over the left field fence that hit the scoreboard. Sophomore third baseman
Maycin Brown doubled down the right-field line to keep the rally going. Senior second baseman
Jasmine Palmer walked, and senior right fielder
Katie Stettler delivered an RBI single.
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The Spartans added two runs in the fifth to seal it. Willis drew a lead-off walk, and Kincer laid down a sacrifice bunt. Mercer third baseman Adele Braun made a throwing error on the play, and pinch-runner
Ashley Gontram scored all the way from first and Kincer took third base. Kincer scored the final run on a wild pitch from losing pitcher Ashlyn Donner (9-5).
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Scott stranded six Mercer baserunners, including two in the bottom of the seventh when Kincer caught Allie Jones' flyball to left field to end it.
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UNCG freshman shortstop
Brooklynn Maxwell went 2-for-3, and senior lead-off hitter
Makenna Matthijs was 1-for-4 with her league-leading 52nd hit of the season.
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The Spartans close out the regular season with their three-game series against Western Carolina at UNCG Softball Stadium. The teams play a doubleheader a 1 p.m. Saturday, and a single game at 1 p.m. Sunday.
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