GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team swept The Southern Conference (SoCon) foe Mercer on Saturday in a doubleheader with scores of 7-5 and 7-4 at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
Game 1: UNCG 7 – Mercer 5
Both teams remained scoreless through the top of the fourth. UNCG then capitalized on four hits in the bottom of the frame to put up five runs.
Grace Loftin started a one-out rally in the inning with a single up the middle. With two outs and two runners on,
Maycin Brown singled to center field to drive in Loftin, 1-0.
Blayke Batten then took a 2-0 count smashing a double off the left center wall for a 3-0 advantage.
Anna White followed and connected on the first pitch for a two-run home run extending the lead to 5-0.
Mercer responded with a solo home run from Avery Barton in the top of the fifth, cutting the deficit to four, 5-1.
The Spartans continued their offensive attack in the bottom of the fifth, as Loftin once again began a one-out rally with a single.
Jorde Chartrand followed with a double to left center and
Jaden Cheek matched with her own double to score
Rylie Williams and Loftin, 7-1.
The Bears fought back with four runs on four hits and one error in the top of the sixth, 7-5. In the circle,
Maddie Spell retired three of the four batters in the top of the seventh to secure the win. She totaled a season-best nine strikeouts in her ninth victory of the season.
PITCHING RECORDS
Maddie Spell: 9-7
Grace Taylor: 10-11
Game 2: UNCG 7 – Mercer 5
The Spartans kicked off game two of the day with a 3-0 advantage as
Betsy Eatmon roped a ball over the center field wall for her fifth blast of the season. She drove in
Jessie Shipley and
Brooklynn Maxwell for the three-run homer.
Following a scoreless second inning, Mercer cut the deficit to one, 3-2, on Hedgecock's two-run home run to left center.
Brooklynn Maxwell led off the bottom of the third with a solo shot to straight away center, 4-2.
In the circle,
Rhyann Jones allowed one hit from the Bears in the top of the fourth before Batten extended the Spartans' lead to four, 6-2, on a two-run home run, her first of the season.
In the top of the fifth, Mercer once again chipped away at the deficit scoring two runs on four hits, 6-4.
Salem Ward, in relief, retired the side with a fly out to left field as the Bears left the bases loaded.
Batten tallied her second home run in the game, leading off the top of the sixth with a solo shot to left field, 7-4. This was her first multi-home run game of her career.
Mercer recorded two hits in the top of the seventh, but the Spartans' defense secured the win with a double play.
PITCHING RECORDS
Rhyann Jones: W, 5-4
Salem Ward: Save (2)
Hannah Pitts: L, 5-8
RECORDS:
UNCG: 29-22, 11-6 SoCon
Mercer: 21-24, 10-7 SoCon
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Up Next:
The Spartans will conclude their regular season home slate with the final game of the series against SoCon foe Mercer on Sunday, April 28 with a single game scheduled for 1:00 p.m. This weekend is senior recognition weekend as well as Alumni Weekend for softball.
On Sunday before the game, UNCG will recognize its seven seniors.
