UNC Greensboro 13, Marshall 5
UNC Greensboro 3, Marshall 1
GREENSBORO, N.C. - UNC Greensboro had four players hit home runs and Alex Emeterio was 4-for-4 in game one as the Spartans swept a doubleheader from Marshall on Wednesday, 13-5 in 6 innings and 3-1.
After UNCG (12-14) exploded for 14 hits and 13 runs in game one, Emily Akiyama hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning of game two to rally the Spartans past Marshall (15-14).
Emeterio, Kaitlin Merkt and Katie Stripling went deep for the Spartans in game one. For Merkt, it marked the second straight year she had homered on her birthday.
UNCG rocked Marshall starter Katie Murphree from the get-go in game one, pouncing on her for three runs in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Brittany Ausley lined the first pitch she saw from Murphree back up the middle to get things going, and one out later, Emeterio launched her fourth home run of the season.
After a Merkt single, freshman Eileen Horsmon tripled to right field to put UNCG on top 3-0.
The Spartans added another run in the second on Jordan Jewett's RBI double, but Marshall got a pair of runs back in the top of the third on Alianna Telles' two-run home run.
UNCG blew the game open in the third, plating four runs on a two-run double from Horsmon and a two-run homer for Stripling, who kept pace with Emeterio for the team lead.
Marshall would get a run back in the fourth when Jazmine Valle scored on a wild pitch, but the Spartans put two more runs on the board in the bottom of the frame on RBI singles from Emeterio and Akiyama.
The Thundering Herd added two runs of their own in the top of the fifth on Valle's RBI single and a sacrifice fly from Melanie Stoehr.
UNCG put the game in mercy-rule territory in the sixth inning, getting an RBI single from Emeterio and a walk-off, two-run homer from Merkt, who turned 22 Wednesday.
Cory Mattson picked up the win for UNCG, improving to 7-6 on the season despite giving up five runs on four walks and seven hits in 7 innings. Freshman Raeanne Hanks worked a scoreless sixth.
Murphree (9-8) took the loss for Marshall, as she allowed five runs on six hits and a walk in 2 innings of work.
Emeterio was 4-for-4 with a homer and four RBI in game one, scoring three times. Ausley, Jewett, Merkt and Horsmon had two hits each.
Valle was 2-for-2 with a walk to pace Marshall.
Game two was a dramatic departure from game one, as neither side could must much offense. The Herd plated a run in the third inning on Bri Anne Hope's RBI single, and it appeared Marshall starter Caitlyn Jackson might make the lead stand.
Jackson was nearly untouchable for much of the game, retiring the first seven batters in order and striking out the side in order in the second and fifth innings.
But Akiyama bailed out the Spartans in the sixth, crushing a three-run homer for just UNCG's third hit of the game.
UNCG starter Amber Harrell (3-7) worked around some early trouble in the seventh to nail down her third win of the season, getting three straight outs after allowing the first two runners to reach.
Emeterio, Akiyama and Merkt - UNCG's 3, 4 and 5 hitters - had one hit each, while Heather Robb had a single up the middle in the third inning to break up Jackson's perfect game.
Valle was again the only Marshall player with a multi-hit game, as she was 2-for-3.
Harrell allowed one run on six hits and two walks in 7 innings of work. Jackson (3-6) allowed three runs on four hits and a walk in 6 innings. She struck out seven.
UNCG won't have long to savor the sweep, as the Spartans are back in action Thursday when they host NC State for a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m.
Samford 5, Murray State 0
Murray State 11, Samford 3
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford softball team split its midweek doubleheader with Murray State Wednesday in the first meeting of the two teams in school history. Samford shut out the Racers, 5-0, in the first game but Murray State put together three three-run home runs in the second game to win, 11-3.
"Obviously, we played really solid in the first game," Samford Head Coach Beanie Ketcham said. "We hit, we played defense and had solid pitching. The difference between the first game and the second game is that we are still struggling to find consistency. As a team, we don't understand how to come out and play consistently and with purpose and passion."
In game one, Samford (9-15) got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning when Katie England reached on an error by the second baseman bringing Aaren Fisher home from second. Then Alex Adams doubled to left center to drive in England and put the Bulldogs up, 2-0.
The Bulldogs added two more in the third inning when England doubled down the right field line to drive in Fisher from second base with one out. Adams grounded out to the pitcher to record the second out which advanced England to third base. Amanda Jordan was walked. Amy Gonzalez then singled to drive England home before Jordan was picked off trying to steal third to end the inning.
In the fifth inning with one out already on the board, England singled and then stole second base before Adams doubled to bring her home. The Bulldogs took a 5-0 lead and that would be the final score of the first game.
Stephanie Royall (5-3) pitched her second shutout of the year and her third complete game. She recorded six strikeouts in seven innings of play and gave up just three hits while walking only one batter.
Katie England led the Bulldogs with two hits in three at-bats, three runs and two RBI. Alex Adams also went 2-for-3 and had two RBI. Fisher, Gonzalez and Anna Kimbrell also had a hit for Samford wile Gonzalez also recorded an RBI.
Starr Gilley (0-1) took the loss for Murray State. She gave up four earned runs on seven hits, struck out four batters and walked two in four and one-third innings of play. Shelby Kosmecki relieved her and pitched the remaining one and two-thirds innings, walking just one batter.
In game two, the Racers scored their first run in the second inning when Christian Cox doubled to drive Jenna Bradley home from second base. They then added three more in the third inning when Bradley hit a three-run shot to left center field. Another run scored when Laura Buch reached base on an error by Jordan with runners on second and third.
Still in the top of the fifth inning, Murray State's Madi Ratliff hit a three-run home run to give the Racers an 8-0 lead. However, Anna Kimbrell extended the game with her first career home run to left field.
Another three-run shot to center field by Bradley in the top of the sixth gave Murray State an 11-1 run, and despite a two-out two-run double by Reeves in the bottom of the inning, the Racers went on to win, 11-3.
Kosmecki (1-5) earned her first win of the season, pitching the complete six innings. She struck out two batters and walked two while giving up three earned runs on four hits.
Bradley led the Racers, adding one hit to her two home runs. She scored one runs and batted in six for the Racers. Christian Cox went 2-for-2 with one run and one RBI while Madi Ratliff recorded a hit and three RBI on her home run as a pinch hitter. Five other Racers scored a run while three others recorded a hit.
Barrs (1-8) took the loss, pitching four innings and giving up four earned runs on seven hits with two walks and one strikeout. Kayla Burrs pitched one inning, giving up that three-run home run in the fifth inning. Royall finished out the game with three runs on one hit with two walks and one strikeout.
Four Bulldogs recorded a hit including Barrs, Gonzalez, Reeves and Kimbrell while three scored runs. Reeves recorded two of Samford RBI while Kimbrell had one.
The Bulldogs are back at home this weekend as they play host to the defending Southern Conference Champions and Samford's conference rival, Chattanooga. Saturday will feature a doubleheader starting a 1 p.m., while Sunday will see a single game beginning at the same time.
Saturday will start the Samford Home Run Derby. Students and staff are invited to participate starting in between the two games. Three contestants will compete during the break while the rest will compete after the second game.
The Samford Cornhole Tournament benefiting the Jim Griffin Memorial Scholarship Fund will also be held on Saturday. The event begins at 1:30 p.m., in the Pete Hanna Center lower parking lot. The cost is $5 for a team of two and all proceeds go directly to the Jim Griffin Memorial Scholarship Fund.
North Florida 9, Georgia Southern 3
North Florida 7, Georgia Southern 0
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern dropped a heartbreaker in extra innings of Game 1 of a doubleheader against North Florida, 9-6, and fell in Game 2, 7-0.
The Ospreys took a 2-0 lead after the top half of the first inning, but the Eagles responded as Jenny Side (Loganville, Ga.) continued her hot hitting with a solo home run to center field. With Alexa Lewis (Lawrenceville, Ga.) on third and Mackenzie Williams (Baxley, Ga.) on second, Bethany Crenshaw (Warner Robins, Ga.) hit a slow roller back to the pitcher to bring in Lewis, her first run batted in as an Eagle. However, Williams and Crenshaw would be tagged out after the tying run scored.
The score was tied 2-2 until North Florida added two runs in the fourth and fifth innings to go up 6-2. Georgia Southern started a rally in the bottom of the seventh as Nina Iduate (Norcross, Ga.) singled to left field. Megen Smith (Springfield, Ga) walked and Sam Russo (Snellville, Ga.) singled to left field to load the bases. Side would be hit with a pitch to bring in Iduate. Andrea Tarashuk (Flemington, N.J.) singled up the middle to bring home Smith and Stephanie Peet (Lawrenceville, Ga.). Williams then singled to plate Side and tie the game at six.
The Ospreys would add three runs in the top of the eighth inning and the Eagles' offense could not match them.
Georgia Southern would fall behind in Game 2, allowing one run in each of the first two innings. In the second inning, the Eagles threatened, beginning with a Tarashuk single to center field. Williams advanced Crenshaw, pinch running for Tarashuk, to second and Hanna Ennis (Snellville, Ga.) walked. Both runners would advance on a wild pitch by Shannon Dent, but neither scored.
North Florida added three more runs in the top of the fifth and two in the top of the sixth. Georgia Southern would be unable to find an answer to the Ospreys and dropped Game 2, 7-0.
The Eagles resume Southern Conference action this weekend Saturday and Sunday, March 27-28 at Appalachian State. The series begins with a doulbleheader scheduled for at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The Eagles will wrap up the three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m.