Softball Southern Conference

UNCG Drops Two Against Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech 12, UNCG 4
Virginia Tech 4, UNCG 0
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG softball team dropped a doubleheader against Virginia Tech in its home opener Tuesday at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
 
The Spartans fall to 2-5 on the season while Virginia Tech improves to 5-2.

In game one, the Spartans tried to make a late rally but lost 12-4 in six innings to ACC foe Virginia Tech.

Senior Katelyn Bedwell and sophomore Allison Geiner  each had two hits for UNCG. Sophomore Danielle Vega picked up her first home run of the 2014 season in the second inning.

Sophomore Kelly Heinz threw a complete game in six innings, allowing eights hits on four earned runs with six strikeouts. Senior Raeanne Hanks (Rainier, Ore./Rainier Senior) fell to 2-2 on the season in 2.1 innings, allowing six hits on nine earned runs with three strikeouts.

UNCG took an early lead in the bottom of the second after Vega smoked a solo home run to left field to make it 1-0 Spartans.

Virginia Tech took control with a nine-run third inning on five hits. The Hokies loaded the bases after two walks in between a single with no outs. Katey Smith doubled to left center scoring three-runs and came home on a throwing error to make it 4-1 Virginia Tech. The Hokies would load the bases again off a couple walks and a hit by pitch with one out. Kylie McGoldrick scored two on a single through the infield to give the Hokies a 6-1 lead. Michelle Prong followed with a two-run double to left center. Vanessa Gonzalez scored the ninth run with a single to centerfield.

In the top of the fourth inning, pinch-hitter Jessica McNamara lined a two-run home run off the scoreboard to give Virginia Tech an 11-1 advantage.

The Spartans scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth all on two outs. Junior Dominique Madurga started the rally with an infield single. Freshman Kendall McKinney lined a pinch-hit double to setup runners on second and third. Geiner singled through the infield to score Madruga. Sophomore Lindsay Thomas  followed with an RBI single up the middle and Bedwell doubled to left center to make it 11-4.

The Hokies added an insurance run in the sixth inning off a sacrifice fly from Logan Spaw.

UNCG had one last chance to extend the game in the sixth but freshman Ally Vergona  grounded out to second base to end the game.

In game two, sophomore Nicole Thomas set a new career-high with 6.2 innings pitched but the Hokies earned the doubleheader sweep with a 4-0 victory.

Thomas fell to 0-2 on the season and Maggie Tyler improved to 2-0. Tyler picked up the complete game two-hitter with one walk and eight strikeouts.

Bedwell and junior Tatiana Alcala each had a hit in the contest.

The Hokies took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on two hits. Smith singled to start the inning, followed by a fly out to centerfield. Dani Anderson doubled down the line to bring home the first run. Kat Banks grounded out to score the second run.

The Spartans had an opportunity in the sixth inning after a leadoff double from Alcala. UNCG could not push the run across as two groundouts and a line out ended the scoring threat.

In the seventh inning, Virginia Tech added insurance runs after Amanda Ake hit a two-run home run to left centerfield to push the Hokies lead to 4-0.

UNCG returns home to host the 2014 Spartan Classic starting Friday, Feb. 21 at 2:30 p.m. against Minnesota at the UNCG Softball Stadium.