GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team split its home opening doubleheader against Winthrop on Wednesday at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
The Spartans claimed game one, 6-1 after concluding the game with four hits and zero errors. Winthrop was able to come away with the eight-inning win over UNCG in game two, 5-4.
Game 1: UNCG, 6 - Winthrop, 1.
KaDedra Temple singled through the right-side scoring Paige Rivas from third to give Winthrop a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first. Winthrop held this lead until the bottom of the third when the Spartans strung together two runs on three walks and one hit, 2-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, with two runners in scoring position, Grace Loftin's ball four was a wild pitch that advanced the runners. It also scored Brooklynn Maxwell for a 3-1 lead.
Maddie Spell, in the circle, retired seven batters from the fourth to the sixth keeping the Eagles off the bases. In their final inning at the plate, the Spartans tallied three runs off one hit to extend their lead to five, 6-1. The first run came off a solo home run to left field from Maxwell. The second run of the inning was brought on by a sacrifice fly to center field from Anna White to allow Shipley to score. The final run of the frame came from a base-loaded walk from Blayke Batten.
With one last try at the plate, Winthrop's Buckner singled to left field, but the side was retired with a double play and a ground out to secure the victory for the Spartans.
Maddie Spell earned her second win of the season in the circle and struck out four batters.
Game 2: UNCG, 4 – Winthrop, 5 (8 innings)
Both teams remained scoreless after the first inning. The Eagles once again hopped on the board first with two runs in the top of the second off four hits. The first came from an RBI double from Peyton Bryden scoring Emma Roberson from second. Following a walk for Rivas, the Eagles gained another run from an RBI single from Ashton Vanhouse sending Aspen King home for Winthrop to take a 2-0 lead.
Winthrop held its 2-0 lead until the Spartans came to bat in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded including Betsy Eatmon, Loftin and Maxwell, Jorde Chartrand blasted a 1-1 count over the left center wall for her first homer of the season to give the Spartans a 4-2 lead over the Eagles.
UNCG remained on top until the top of the seventh when Grayson Buckner singled down the right field line to bring Rivas and Vanhouse to tie the game at four runs apiece.
With the international tiebreaker in effect in the top of the eighth, the Eagles placed a runner on second and quickly loaded the bases. After a pitching change, Jackson walked in the eventual game-winning run, 5-4. The Sparatns were able to load the bases themselves in the bottom of the eighth, but Winthrop retired the side.
Records:
UNCG: 2-5
Winthrop: 3-3
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UNCG will continue at home by hosting the Spiro Classic from Friday, Feb. 16 to Sunday, Feb. 18. The Spartans will host Sacred Heart at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16 and then Drexel at 5:30 p.m. at the UNCG Softball Stadium. Click here for the Spiro Classic Tournament Central.
