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.
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.
The top seed will host the four-team conference tournament.
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.
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.
UNCG took a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
