GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team defeated the third-seeded Samford Bulldogs 13-5 in five innings on Thursday afternoon at the UNCG Softball Stadium in a quarterfinal game of the 2024 Southern Conference Softball Tournament.
The Spartans had an explosive first inning, scoring eight runs on three hits.
Maycin Brown was hit by a pitch to begin the frame, and
Brooklynn Maxwell took her fifth pitch of the at bat over the left center wall for a 2-0 lead. UNCG put two runners on by a walk and a single. With two outs and three-straight walks, the Spartans extended their lead to 4-0.
Brown returned to the plate for the second time in the first and hit a bases-clearing double to center field for a 7-0 advantage. Three more Spartans were walked and another run came across the plate for an 8-0 lead.
Samford put one runner on in each of the second and third innings, but UNCG retired the Bulldogs in both frames keeping them scoreless.
In the top of the fourth, Samford cut the deficit to five, 8-3, after scoring three runs on three hits.
Grace Loftin gave UNCG a seven-run cushion, 10-3, in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run home run to left center, for her 13
th blast of the season.
The Bulldogs saw solo blasts from Olivia Shaw and Katie Campbell in the top of the fifth to cut the deficit to five, 10-5.
Brown tallied her second hit of the day to lead off the bottom of the fifth and Maxwell walked with no outs. With one out,
Jorde Chartrand took hold of a full count and sent the ball over the right field wall for the game-clinching hit.
NOTES
- Brown went 2-for-3 with three runs scored, a double, and three RBI.
- Maxwell went 2-for-2 with a double, a home run, two walks, and two RBI.
- Chartrand went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, four RBI, one walk, and a home run.
- Loftin went 1-for-2 with two runs scored, one home run, and two RBI.
- This is the 21st game this season with at least one home run.
- The Spartans' nine walks is a season high. This is the fourth game with nine walks.
- The 13 runs is tied for the most runs this season. UNCG defeated Army 13-1 on February 23 in Greensboro.
PITCHING RECORDS
Maddie Spell: W, 11-8
Jorydn Partain: L, 9-16
RECORDS:
UNCG: 32-24, 13-8 SoCon
Samford: 22-31, 12-9 SoCon
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Up Next:
The Spartans will take on the top-seeded Chattanooga Mocs on Thursday, May 10 at 10:00 a.m. in the SoCon Semifinal at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
2024 SoCon Tournament Landing Page