GREENSBORO, N.C. – Hot bats led the way for the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team to claim their fourth-straight win over Mercer by a score of 19-1 in five innings Sunday afternoon from UNCG Softball Stadium.
The Spartans clubbed eight home runs in the game. The Spartans last had six in a game against Elon on March 21, 2021.
This is the most in a game in head coach
Janelle Breneman's era as well as according to stats dating back to 2007. UNCG is the third team to reach eight home runs in a game this season. Wichita State was the first team to reach that feat this year and James Madison was the second.
Five of the eight home runs happened in the fourth inning.
The five home runs in an inning have happened nine times in NCAA history according to record books prior to the 2022 season. This is including UNCG's five homers in a 13-3 win against Elon on March 10, 2021.
Three of the eight homers were from freshman
Grace Loftin. This was the fourth time in program history that a Spartan has hit three home runs in a game. She is the first since March 11, 2014 when Nicole Thomas hit three versus Gardner-Webb.
Mercer scored their lone run of the game in the fifth as Alyssa Woods plated Tori Hedgecock home with a one-out double.
Morgan Scott induced Rebeca Laudino into a groundout and struck Kenlie Harvey out to settle the 19-1 final.
Junior
Morgan Scott struck out seven batters in her 12th win of the season.
From assistant coach Bethaney Wells
"This weekend was a ton of fun. Our entire lineup was taking hacks up at the plate. We had a great week of preparation going into conference play and it was awesome to see that show up in a big way!"
From Maria Nunez on her first-collegiate hit
"It felt scary at first but once I got into the batter's box, I felt at home. Hearing mis amigas cheer for me and coaches felt awesome."
RECORDS
UNCG: 20-10, 3-0 SoCon
Mercer: 7-24, 0-3 SoCon
NOTES
- UNCG leads the series 20-9.
- This was the 25th game this season with at least one home run.
- This was the 17th game with two or more home runs.
- This was the 11th time this season with double-digit hits, totaling 16.
- This was the seventh time this season with double-digit runs, totaling 19.
- This is the most runs scored by the Spartans since April 28, 2018 when UNCG won 24-2 against NC State.
- Loftin's three homers bring her season total to nine.
- Maycin Brown has hit at least one home run in the past two games, bringing her season total to six and her career to 16.
- Makenna Matthijs has hit seven home runs this season, for a career total of 33.
- Blayke Batten launched her eighth homer of the season, the 10th of her career.
- Samantha Lagrama crushed her seventh home run of the season, the 21st of her career.
- Jessie Shipley hit her third home run of the season.
- UNCG hit 18 home runs in the three-game series.
PITCHING RECORDS
Morgan Scott: W, 12-6
Katie Rearley: L, 2-6
ON DECK
The Spartans welcome non-conference Radford for a mid-week doubleheader on Wednesday, March 30. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at UNCG Softball Stadium.
