GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team won its third come-from-behind victory of the season with a 6-4 win over ACC opponent Virginia Sunday evening.
This was the sixth-straight win over the Cavaliers and first win over an ACC program this season. The Spartans will face three more this season as they are 1-1 thus far.
This game gave the Spartans their fourth-straight win and extended their home record to 8-0. They were also the only team in the UNCG Invitational this weekend to go undefeated.
The numbers mean a lot to this team, but emotion is the true measure of what is to come.
From Makenna Matthijs on the win
"This was a big team win for us and to be punched in the mouth first and come back and tack more runs on them shows how talented and determined this team is. I'm really proud of our response and of the direction we're heading following a strong weekend."
RECORDS
UNCG: 9-4
Virginia: 9-5
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Virginia launched back-to-back solo home runs to lead off the first inning for a 2-0 advantage.
- With runners on second and third with no outs, Morgan Scott got two batters to pop out to the infield and then retired the side with a fly ball out to center field in the top of the third.
- UNCG's had a big five-run fifth inning to take a three-run lead. Four of the five hits of the inning were doubles.
- Three of the five runs scored on one out, as Grace Loftin's two-out two-bagger to left center drove in the other two runs.
- In the bottom of the fourth with one out, Matthijs sent out a solo home run over the left center wall on a full count to extend the Spartans' lead to 6-2.
- The Cavaliers threatened in the top of the fifth as Sarah Coon singled with two outs, and Katie Goldberg blasted a two-run homer straight away to center field cutting the deficit to 6-4.
- Virginia left two on base in the sixth and seventh as UNCG was able to get out of the jam to hold on for the win.
NOTES
- Scott threw her sixth complete game this season for her fifth win.
- She struck out five and gave up five hits.
- Four Spartans tallied a double: Maycin Brown, Blayke Batten, Loftin, and Matthijs.
- Batten and Loftin each chipped in two RBI.
- Delaney Cumbie, Batten, Loftin, and Matthijs each recorded a multi-hit game.
- Matthijs recorded her third home run of the season, 29th of her career.
- Matthijs now moves up in five categories in program history: third in runs scored (144), tied for fourth in doubles (43), sixth in RBI (138), tied for ninth in home runs (29), and tied for 10th in walks (74).
- UNCG has launched a home run in 11 of the 13 games played this year.
- Virginia leads the all-time series 19-6.
From Matthijs on her production today
"I'm glad I was able to get things started for us in the third and we were able to pass the bat and get the job done. I had a plan going into my first at bat and I stuck to it. I was successful and that carried over into the rest of my at bats. Just know what I'm looking for, taking hacks and having fun."
PITCHING RECORDS
Morgan Scott: W, 5-2
Mikayla Houge: L, 5-1
ON DECK
The Spartans take a few days off before hosting Oregon, a top-10 team, on Thursday, March 3 with a first pitch at 4:30 p.m. This will be the second top-25 team UNCG will face this season.
