GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team run-ruled The Southern Conference (SoCon) foe Mercer in a doubleheader on Saturday at UNCG Softball Stadium.
The Spartans began the day with an 8-0 six-inning victory secured by a grand slam from
Avery Bouquin. In game two,
Emmy Clark hit a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth for the second 8-0 win.
UNCG now has 14 shutouts this season, matching the 2018 season mark. The Spartans had 10 hits in game two, which marks the 17
th game this season with double-figure base knocks.
The Spartans are now 33-15 overall and 12-2 in the SoCon and the Bears fell to 17-25 overall and 5-9 in the conference.
Game 1: UNCG 8 – Mercer 0 (6 innings)
- After a 1-2-3 top of the first, Macy Michael crushed her 10th homer of the season in the leadoff spot, a long ball to deep left field to give UNCG a 1-0 lead.
- The Spartans had three walks to load the bases and following their first out, Bouquin crossed home plate on a passed ball to put UNCG up 2-0.
- Mercer saw its first base runner in the top of the second on a leadoff walk, but Brooklyn Shroyer retired the side with a fly out and back-to-back strikeouts to keep the Bears at bay.
- UNCG's Nya South roped a two-out single to center field, bringing home Macy Michael from second, extending the Spartans' lead to 3-0.
- The Bears kept the Spartans scoreless for three innings, before UNCG scored five in the bottom of the sixth to take the run-rule 8-0 victory.
- In the top of the sixth, Mercer tallied its only two hits of the game, as Shroyer once again kept them from scoring.
- Following back-to-back walks in the bottom of the sixth, Kayly Belfield singled to load the bases and South's second base knock of the game drove in a run for a 4-0 advantage.
- The Bears got the first out of the inning at the plate, but then Bouquin with her full count, smashed a grand slam over the left field wall to walk off the game.
- Shroyer held the Bears hitless for 5.1 innings, striking out six batters and walking just one.
- Bouquin, Michael and South each had two hits in the win.
PITCHING RECORD
Brooklyn Shroyer: W, 16-5
Grace McKillop: L, 6-4
Game 2: UNCG 8 – Mercer 0 (5 innings)
- In the circle, Rhyann Jones had a 1-2-3 top of the first and the Spartans' bats supported her with a 2-0 lead at the end of the frame.
- With Belfield on third and two outs, Laney Deane doubled to left center to bring in the first run for a 1-0 lead.
- Bouquin singled, putting runners on the corners and then Rylie Williams hit an infield base hit, driving home the second run, 2-0.
- Neither team was able to push across a run over the next three innings, until UNCG broke open the game with six runs on five hits and one error in the bottom of the fifth.
- Prior to the fifth-inning finale, Mercer tallied its first hit of the game in the top of the frame.
- After that, the Spartans started the offensive rally with the bases loaded and no outs, as Williams hit a sacrifice fly to right field for a 3-0 advantage.
- Hadley Gardner then doubled to right center and was able to advance to third on an error, driving home Deane and Bouquin for a 5-0 cushion.
- Betsy Eatmon's single to center field added the sixth run for UNCG and then with one out, the Spartans saw Michael and Clark hit doubles for the eventual game-winning runs.
- Jones tossed 5.0 innings with two strikeouts, while giving up just one hit and one walk.
- Belfield and Bouquin had two hits each and were the only Spartans with multi-hit games.
PITCHING RECORD
Rhyann Jones: W, 6-3
Grace Roark: L, 3-9
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UP NEXT
UNCG and Mercer will face off in the final game of the series tomorrow, which is slated for 1:00 p.m. at UNCG Softball Stadium. Fans can play softball BINGO and buy one get one free hot dogs.
