JOHNSON CITY, TENN. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team defeated ETSU, 4-0, in game one and then 3-2 in eight innings on Saturday at Betty Basler Field in The Southern Conference (SoCon) opener.
The Spartans extend their streak to six wins and are now 21-12 overall and 2-0 in SoCon, while the Bucs are 12-10 overall and 0-2 in conference play.
The 4-0 victory is the 10
th shutout this season for UNCG.
GAME 1: UNCG 4 – ETSU 0
- In the top of the first with one out, Macy Michael picked the third pitch of her at bat and sent it over the center field fence for a 1-0 lead. This was her seventh home run of the season.
- Brooklyn Shroyer retired 12-straight batters from the first to the fourth innings, which included six of her 10 strikeouts. Her 10 strikeouts this game match her season best, which also happened in a 9-0 victory over Canisius this season on Feb. 20 at UNCG Softball Stadium.
- Michael led off the top of the third with a single through the infield and with one out, Laney Deane crushed a two-run blast to center field, extending the Spartans' lead to 3-0. This was Deane's eighth homer of the season.
- Deane added one more run to the lead following a lead-off long ball to center field in the top of the fifth, giving UNCG a 4-0 advantage, tallying her ninth homer of the season.
- ETSU saw its first base runner in the bottom of the fifth by way of a walk and then recorded its first hit of the game with two outs, but Shroyer retired the side with a strikeout.
- Michael, Deane and Hadley Gardner each went 2-for-4 on the day, as Deane paced the game with three RBI.
- Deane's two homer game is the first in her career and is the second time a Spartan hit two home runs in a game this season, as Nya South accomplished the feat against Southern Mississippi on Wednesday.
PITCHING RECORD
Brooklyn Shroyer: W, 11-4
Taylor Suchy: L, 3-2
GAME 2: UNCG 3 – ETSU 2 (8 innings)
- Both teams were scoreless in the first inning, before Deane's third homer on the day put a tally on the board for the Spartans in the top of the second. Her solo shot sailed over the left field fence for her 10th blast of the season.
- Following three scoreless innings, South drove the ball over the left field fence to give UNCG a 2-0 advantage in the top of the sixth. This was her ninth homer of the season.
- In the bottom of the frame, Riley Croley led off with a single and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt.
- Payton Moore then crushed a two-run homer to right center, tying the game, 2-2.
- Neither team was able to push across a run in the seventh, forcing extra innings.
- The Spartans' Avery Bouquin led off with a double down the left field line and Kaylyn Belfield's sacrifice bunt moved her over to third.
- Michael then hit a sacrifice fly to left field, giving Bouquin time to score for the 3-2 edge. South reached on a single, but the inning came to a close on a foul out, stranding a runner on base for the Spartans.
- Salem Ward, who came in to relieve Rhyann Jones in the bottom of the seventh, earned the win after retiring six straight batters.
PITCHING RECORD
Salem Ward: W, 5-5
Catlin Pennington: L, 3-2.
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UP NEXT
UNCG and ETSU will complete the three-game series tomorrow at Betty Basler Field starting at 1:00 p.m.