UNC Greensboro 6, North Carolina A&T 5
UNC Greensboro 9, North Carolina A&T 1
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Pinch-runner April Langley scored from third on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning to give UNC Greensboro a 6-5 win over North Carolina A&T in game one of a doubleheader on Thursday, and freshman Chelsea D'Ambrosio did the same in the sixth inning of game two to put the mercy rule into effect as the Spartans completed the sweep with a 9-1 win.
UNCG (21-22) scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 5-1 lead in game one, but the Aggies (18-22) answered with four in the top of the sixth to make it a tie game. With the score knotted at 5 in the bottom of the seventh, Alex Emeterio led off with her third hit of the game, a single to short. Langley then came in to run for her, and Eileen Horsmon's single to right, coupled with an A&T error, put runners on the corners with no one out.
Pitcher Brittany Wade (0-1) then uncorked a wild pitch with Kaitlin Merkt at the plate, and Langley raced home, just beating catcher Jessie Larson's tag for the walk-off win.
Larson had put A&T up 1-0 in the second with a solo home run to straightaway center, and the Aggies held that lead until the fifth. UNCG's bats finally came roaring to life in the frame, as the Spartans batted around to put five runs on the board.
Katie Stripling's leadoff double was the first of four straight hits to open the inning, and Laura Olenderski's two-run single got UNCG on the board. Brittany Ausley and Emeterio would add RBI hits in the inning, while Emily Akiyama had a sacrifice fly.
The Aggies were down but not out, tying the game the following inning with some timely two-out hitting. Larson got things going with a single up the middle and Channing Statham doubled to the gap in right center to bring her in. A UNCG error allowed prolonged the inning and Bianca Alsobrook made the Spartans pay with a three-run homer off the top of the wall in right center to pull N.C. A&T even.
Emeterio was 3-for-3 with a walk to lead the Spartans at the plate, while Ausley, Horsmon, Olenderski and Heather Robb had two hits each. Larson had two hits to lead the Aggies at the dish.
Amber Harrell (10-10) picked up the win with an inning of one-hit relief. Wade took the loss, allowing an unearned run one four hits in 1 2/3 innings.
UNCG found its offense early in game two, jumping out to a 4-0 lead after two innings. Horsmon and D'Ambrosio had RBI singles in the first to make it 2-0, and the Spartans added a pair of unearned runs in the second on an A&T error and D'Ambrosio's bases-loaded walk.
The Aggies got a run back in the third on pinch-hitter Kelly Aponte's RBI single, but the Spartans blew it open in the fourth on Merkt's three-run homer, a line drive that cleared the wall in left center in a hurry.
Emeterio added an RBI single in the fifth and D'Ambrosio scurried home from third on a wild pitch in the sixth to put the mercy rule into effect and end the game early.
Emeterio was 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in the contest, raising her season average to a career-best .395. The Spartans' 3-6 hitters - Emeterio, Horsmon (1-for-2, two walks, RBI), Merkt (1-for-3, walk, three RBI) and D'Ambrosio (2-for-3, walk, two RBI) - were a combined 6-for-11 with five walks and seven RBI in the game.
While UNCG's offense was firing on all cylinders, Harrell was shutting the Aggies' down, as she allowed just two hits in the contest and struck out 11, one short of her career high. After allowing a leadoff single in the second, she struck out the next three batters.
N.C. A&T used all three pitchers on its roster, with starter Sasha Philpot (8-11) taking the loss after allowing four runs - two earned - on four hits and five walks in two innings.
The Spartans return to Southern Conference play with a crucial three-game set at Furman in Greenville, S.C., this weekend. UNCG and Furman enter the weekend tied for third in the league standings at 8-6 in the SoCon. The top four teams at the end of the season qualify for the league tournament.
Western Carolina 8, Winston-Salem State 2
Western Carolina 11, Winston-Salem State 7
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina softball (10-35) picked up its first doubleheader sweep of the season, taking both games against Winston-Salem State (6-22), 8-2, 11-7, Thursday at the Catamount Softball Complex.
Two Western Carolina players increased their Catamount record book records and one took over a record in the contest. Senior left fielder Kristen Gay moved into first place for triples in a career with the fourth of her career in the first game against the Lady Rams. Also in the first game, freshman Jordan Fulton added a pair of steals to her single-season record and now has 16. Senior Danielle Reese kept pace with her career stolen base records, with a stolen base in the opening game as well, and now has 19.
Freshman pitcher Amber Steinhardt had a huge game on the mound and at the plate in the first game of the doubleheader. On the mound, she pitched her ninth complete game of the season, throwing five scoreless innings, before giving up a homerun to Whitney Hall in the sixth inning. Overall, she allowed just five hits, two runs and struck out four in the win. At the plate, Steinhardt scored the first two runs of the game with a two RBI double to right field. For the game she was 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored.
After scoring two runs in the first, thanks to the two RBI double by Steinhardt, the Catamounts added a single run in the third inning. Haley Pace led off with a double and scored on an RBI single by Colby Liles.
With two outs in the fifth inning, Gay hit the triple that broke the career record and scored off an RBI double by Danielle Reese. An RBI single by Robyn Burnette scored Reese.
Pace hit her second double of the game, in the sixth inning, and scored thanks to a Steinhardt RBI single. Freshman Missy Wills hit the first homerun of her career in a two RBI homerun over the centerfield wall that also plated Steinhardt.
Reese led the game going 3-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Pace and Burnette also had a pair of hits in the game.
Winston-Salem State tagged starting Catamount pitcher Bekkah Burkette for four runs in the top of the first in the second game. After giving up four runs, Burkette was replaced on the mound with Steinhardt who completed the game.
In the bottom of the first, trailing 0-4, Western Carolina posted five runs to re-claim the lead. Shemekia Scotten hit a one out double and moved to third on a Lady Rams' error, after Haley Pace reached on a fielder's choice. Pace stole second and Liles drew a walk to load the bases. Steinhardt doubled through the left side scoring Scotten and Pace for two RBI. With two out, Gay hit a two RBI double scoring Pace and Steinhardt and scored a run of her own off an RBI single by Reese.
After two scoreless innings, Western Carolina scored two runs in the fourth, fifth and six innings.
Winston-Salem State scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning. An RBI double by Hall accounted for the first run and Britney Cato posted a two RBI single for the second and third runs of the inning.
Steinhardt got the win in the second game as well, and improves to 7-12 on the season. In game two she allowed three runs on nine hits and struck out two.
Fulton, Scotten, Liles, Steinhardt and Gay each had a pair of hits in the game. Steinhardt had four RBI in the game.
Western Carolina has an off weekend, from Southern Conference play, and will return to action on April 28 at East Tennessee State. First pitch for the doubleheader begins at 5 p.m.
Furman 8, Presbyterian 2
Presbyterian 5, Furman 3
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Senior Lana Mackey fanned 10 batters in a complete-game effort and went 2-for-2 with three RBI to lead Furman to an 8-2 victory and doubleheader split with Presbyterian in the Paladins' final non-conference twinbill on Thursday at Pepsi Stadium. PC rallied to down Furman 5-3 in game two.
After Presbyterian (17-22) opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning, Furman answered with all the runs it would need in game one. Catcher Alex Bimonte led off the frame with a double that bounced off of the chalk down the right field line. She advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Hannah Bradley's single through the left side of the infield.
With one out, Katie Michaels reached on an infield single and moved around to third on a throwing error allowing Bradley to score and knot the game at 2-2. Michaels scored on the third Blue Hose error of the inning to give Furman a 3-2 lead. Furman added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Jessie Homesley was hit by a pitch and moved to third when Morgan Hughey reached on a single and advanced to second on an error. Mackey followed with an RBI double to score Homesley and Brythe Blankenship plated Hughey on a squeeze bunt. Alyssa Williams drove in Blankenship on a grounder to cap the frame with Furman leading 6-2.
Mackey extended her lead in the bottom of the sixth delivering a two-out, two-run double into the left-center field gap to up the margin to 8-2. She tossed seven innings allowing just one earned run on two hits while striking out 10 batters to improve to 14-7 in the circle. Mackey went 2-for-2 with two doubles and three RBI at the plate.
Bradley went 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI while Homesley drew two walks, was hit by a pitch and scored two runs.
Brittany Howell (3-6) took the loss for PC allowing four runs on four hits in 4.1 innings. She walked three and struck out two Paladins.
In game two, Presbyterian rallied to score four runs in the top of the seventh to rally past Furman 5-3.
Kayla Handy reached on an error to start the inning and Rachel Hopper followed with a single to chase Furman starter Kayla Suskauer. Reliever Hannah Bradley got Tera Powell to bounce back to the circle but her throw to third was misplayed allowing Handy to score and runners to move up to second and third. After Morgan Durham was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Katie Anderson laced a two-run single to left field to give the Blue Hose a 4-3 lead. Mackey entered the game in relief and retired the next three batters surrendering a lone run on a groundout that increased PC's lead to 5-3.
Furman (20-18) opened the bottom of the seventh with singles from Michaels and Homesley, but Leslie Hensley settled down to retire the next three hitters in order to earn the win.
Hensley (7-10) limited the Paladins to one earned run on 11 hits in seven innings while striking out nine batters. Bradley (2-6) suffered the loss allowing two unearned runs.
Furman scored all three of its runs in the first. Stephanie Field laced a leadoff double to left and Michaels reached on a passed ball on strike three. Field scored when Homesley reached on an error and the Paladins upped the lead to 3-0 on RBI singles from Hughey and Blankenship.
Blankenship went 3-for-4 while Homesley and Michaels collected two hits apiece. Field and Mackey each recorded doubled.
The Paladins host UNC Greensboro for a three-game Southern Conference series this weekend at Pepsi Stadium. Saturday's doubleheader is set for a 1 p.m. start with Sunday's single game slated for 1 p.m.
Most Furman home games and selected road contests will be available via GameTracker. Fans can follow Furman action by logging onto www.furmanpaladins.com and following the links on the athletics schedule or by surfing to the Furman softball page.
Elon 4, Charlotte 3
Charlotte 3, Elon 2
ELON, N.C. - Elon took the first game of Thursday's softball doubleheader against Charlotte, 4-3, before dropping the second game, 4-2. In the 3-2 decision, Ashlee Crewe belted a home run, her eighth of the season, which put her in a tie for ninth on Elon's all-time career list with 13 round-trippers to date. Elon moved to 31-13 on the year, while Charlotte is now 32-12 overall.
Game One - Elon 4, Charlotte 3
The Phoenix got off to a quick start in the bottom of the first, loading the bases with nobody out on a walk by Jackie Gonzalez and a pair of infield singles by Hannah Shelton and Tomeka Watson. Elon took a 1-0 lead when Caitlin McGowan was a hit by a pitch that sent Shelton home with two away. Charlotte pitcher Emily Jeffery caught the final batter swinging to end the inning before the Phoenix could do any more damage.
Elon's Erin O'Shea pitched her way out of a jam in the top of the second. Charlotte loaded the bases with just one out, but O'Shea retired the next two batters to end the inning and any threat of a 49er run.
Crewe made it a 2-0 game in the bottom of the fourth inning when she belted a two-out solo home run over the scoreboard in left field.
The Phoenix tacked on two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning that gave it a 4-0 edge. Gonzalez got things started when she reached on a fielding error. After moving to second on a sacrifice bunt, Gonzalez crossed the plate on a RBI-single to left field by Watson. With two away, O'Shea laced a single up the middle that scored the Watson from second for the second run of the inning.
Charlotte cut the lead to one, 4-3, in the top of the sixth inning on a pair of home runs, including a two-run shot to left field off the bat of Bri Gwaltney. With a runner at third, O'Shea ended the inning with a strikeout of Chelsea Stamey.
The three-run sixth was not enough, as Elon did not give up a hit in the top of the seventh to come away with the 4-3 win.
O'Shea improved to 13-5 on the year after giving up one run on four hits and three walks. She also struck out two batters. Pam DelPizzo saw time in the circle as well, giving up two runs on one hit and a walk.
Jeffery suffered the loss to fall to 17-8 on the year. In six innings in the circle, she gave up four runs, two of which were earned, on seven hits and one walk. She also fanned nine batters.
Game Two - Charlotte 4, Elon 2
With one out in the bottom of the first, Shelton and Watson put runners at first and second that brought Emerald Graham to the plate. Once there, she hit a bases-clearing double down the left field line that gave Elon an early 2-0 lead. She tried to make it a three-base hit but was thrown out at third for the second out of the inning. O'Shea followed with a walk but was left stranded as the final batter was retired.
Charlotte made it a 2-1 game in the top of the third inning when Lorena Vela scored on a RBI-single by Lindsey Holloman.
Elon threatened in the bottom of the fourth when McGowan worked a 3-2 walk that was followed by a single off the bat of Kaitlyn Piazzolla. The Phoenix tried to add to its lead when Lauren Taylor singled to center, but McGowan was gunned down at the plate for the final out of the inning.
Stamey was hit by a pitch and Holloman reached on a single to right field to lead off the top of the fifth inning. Taylor settled in to strike out Whitney Williams and Kendra McCall for the first two outs of the inning. Following a pitching change that brought Kari Pervell into the circle for Elon, Serena Smith belted a three-run home run to straightaway center field that allowed the 49ers to take a 4-2 lead.
The Phoenix was unable to record a hit over the final three innings as it fell to the 49ers, 4-3.
Pervell recorded the loss to fall to 1-1 on the year. She gave up one run on three hits in 2.1 innings of work. Taylor earned the start and threw 4.2 innings. She allowed three runs on five hits, while striking out six batters.
Katy Hackett improved to 15-4 on the year with the complete game win. She surrendered two runs on six hits and three walks.
Elon will host the Samford Bulldogs this weekend in its final Southern Conference home series of the season. The first game of Saturday's doubleheader is slated to begin at 1 p.m.