CLEMSON, S.C.- The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team fell twice on the final day of the Clemson Classic. The Spartans fell to Bryant University, 7-6, and No. 4 Clemson, 6-1, on Saturday at McWhorter Stadium.
UNCG is now 14-11 overall.
Game 1: Bryant 7 – UNCG 6
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNCG scored the first run of the game on
Samantha Lagrama's RBI single to left field bringing home
Maycin Brown, 1-0.
The Bulldogs' five-run, three-hit inning in the top of the second gave Bryant a four-run lead, 5-1.
Grace Loftin hit the first pitch she saw in the bottom of the frame and sent it over the left center wall to cut the deficit to three, 5-2.
After three scoreless innings for either team, Bryant went down one, two, three in the top of the sixth and the Spartans took advantage of four runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth for a one-run lead, 6-5.
Jaden Cheek's one out RBI single scored Shipley and Brown crushed a three-run homer to left center in the frame.
In the top of the seventh, Bryant had four-straight hits scoring two runs for the advantage, 7-6. UNCG retired the side with three-straight outs before tallying one hit in the bottom of the seventh.
NOTES
- Brown went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI.
- Brown hit her eighth home run of the season, 27th of her career.
- Jorde Chartrand and Loftin each went 2-for-4.
- Samantha Lagrama, Loftin, and Jaden Cheek each had one RBI.
- Loftin hit her second home run of the season, 13th of her career.
PITCHING RECORDS
Salem Ward: L, 3-3
Kylie Kenney: W, 4-4
Game 2: No. 4 Clemson 6 – UNCG 1
HOW IT HAPPENED
With two outs, the Tigers' Valerie Cagle got the offense going with a single up the middle and scored on a double from Caroline Jacobsen for a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first.
Clemson added another run in the bottom of the second on a RBI single from McKenzie Clark for a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the third, the Tigers scored two more runs on three hits for a 4-0 advantage. UNCG tallied three hits in the top of the fifth, but Clemson stopped them from scoring.
The Tigers added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth for a 6-0 advantage. The Spartans threw in their last effort with three hits in the top of the seventh. With runners in scoring position, Maxwell singled up the middle scoring Loftin from third to cut the deficit to five, 6-1. Clemson got out of the jam with back-to-back ground outs.
NOTES
- Loftin and Shipley went 2-for-3 in the game.
- Maxwell had the Spartans' lone RBI and went 1-for-3 at the plate.
- Cheek also went 1-for-3.
PITCHING RECORDS
Valerie Cagle: W, 10-1
Rhyann Jones: L, 5-1
ON DECK
The Spartans return to Greensboro to begin a nine-game home stand. UNCG will first host Notre Dame for a single game on Wednesday, March 15 with a first pitch slated for 5 p.m. at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
Wednesday's game will be a Bark in the Park event, sponsored by All Pets Considered. Bring your furry friends to the stadium during all softball games between Monday to Thursday, except on Tuesday, April 4, when UNCG hosts North Carolina.