Softball Southern Conference

UNCG Softball Team Drops Doubleheader at Virginia Tech

BLACKSBURG, VA - The UNC Greensboro softball team lost both games of a doubleheader at Virginia Tech today at Tech Softball Park. The Hokies won the first game 7-1, before taking the nightcap in come-from-behind fashion for a 7-4 victory.

Virginia Tech struck first in game one with a solo home run by Stephanie Savre and an RBI single by Kelsey Hoffman in the second inning to lead 2-0. UNCG cut its deficit in half with a run scoring single by right fielder Gwen Johnson, scoring Heather Branche, who led off the inning with a double to the wall in center field.

Caitlin Murphy lined an RBI single to center in the fourth to make it 3-1. VT added two more runs in the inning on a catcher?s interference call with the bases loaded and a UNCG fielding error that put the home team up 5-1. The Hokies added two more runs in the fifth to lead 7-1.

Starting pitcher Vanessa Oakes (11-14) suffered the loss for the Spartans as she went the distance, allowing seven runs (three earned) on 10 hits. The Wilmington, NC native received little help from her defense as her mates committed five errors behind her.

Katie Maynard started for the Hokies and was in full command for five innings, striking out a season-high nine batters. She allowed one run on four hits and did not allow a walk. Karie Morrison worked two scoreless innings in relief.

Johnson had two singles for UNCG, while Kelly Allen notched her 10th double of the season in the sixth inning.

Murphy paced the Hokies 10-hit attack with three hits, including a triple. Hoffman was 2-for-3.

In the nightcap, UNCG held a 4-2 lead after 2 1/2 innings of play, but Virginia Tech scored five unanswered runs to garner the doubleheader sweep. Johnson and Jennifer Bonilla each knocked in a run in the first inning to give UNCG a 2-0 lead.

The Hokies answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first to make the score 2-2, but Bonilla put the visitors back on top with an RBI single to left in the second. In the third, Branche drove home Brandi Schnute from second base with a single to center field giving UNCG a 4-2 advantage.

Virginia Tech evened the score at 4-4 with a two-run single by Kathleen Jones in the bottom of the third and took the lead for good on a Murphy RBI single in the fourth and added single insurance runs in both the fifth and sixth innings.

Bonilla went 2-for-4 with two RBI in the nightcap for UNCG, while Krista Judge was 1-for-3 with two runs scored.

UNCG starter Danielle Byrne scattered 10 hits over 6.0 innings and allowed seven runs (three earned). Meanwhile, Maynard picked up the win as she worked 5.2 innings in relief and allowed two hits and one unearned run.

UNCG will visit Southern Conference rival East Tennessee State on Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at 1 pm.