UNCG 8, Iona 5
UNCG 15, George Washington 13
LEXINGTON, S.C. – The UNCG softball team earned two comeback victories against Iona, 8-5, and a thriller versus George Washington, 15-13, to sweep Day One of the SC Blue/Gold Challenge in Lexington, S.C.
The Spartans improve to 7-3 on the season and have won five-straight games. Iona dropped both games to start its season and George Washington falls to 5-8.
In game one, UNCG scored eight runs off 10 hits coming back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat Iona, 8-5.
Freshman pitcher Alicia Bazonski improved to 3-0 on the season throwing another complete game. Bazonski allowed five runs (four earned) in the win and had a career-high seven strikeouts.
Four UNCG hitters had multiple hits with junior Nicole Thomas going 3-for-3 with two RBI. Redshirt freshman Sidney Grkman was 2-for-4 with a solo home run and three RBI.
Senior Tatiana Alcala and junior Danielle Vega each finished with two hits apiece.
Iona took a 3-0 lead in the second inning off three hits and a key error. Lauren Filardi had a RBI single and Katie Newton followed with a two-run single to give the Gaels a 3-0 advantage.
The Spartans tied the game at 3-3 in the third inning after a key two-run double from Nicole Thomas. Lindsay Thomas tied the game with a sacrifice fly to right field.
In the top of the fourth inning, Grkman lead off the inning with a solo home run to left field to give UNCG a 4-3 lead.
The Blue and Gold tacked on four insurance runs in the fifth inning off three hits. Alcala doubled to centerfield to start the inning and scored off a fielder’s choice from Lindsay Thomas. Grkman picked up two more runs batted in off a two-run single. Freshman Alexis Overdiep had a sacrifice fly for the fourth RBI of the inning.
Iona answered with two runs off one hit in the fifth inning to cut the Spartans’ lead to 8-5. Filardi had a RBI groundout and Newton had a RBI infield single in the frame.
Bazonski ended the game with a quick 1-2-3 seventh inning off a swinging strikeout and two groundouts.
In game two, the Spartans stormed back after trailing 9-3 scoring 12 unanswered runs and held on for a wild 15-13 victory against the Colonials.
Junior Lacey Leary earned the victory in relief. Leary threw 2.2 innings allowed seven runs (five earned) off five hits. Leary was 2-for-2 at the plate with a three-run home run and four RBI.
Bazonski threw three innings to pick up her first collegiate save, allowing one earned run off two hits.
Sophomore Tory Wright was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and Lindsay Thomas was 3-for-5 with a two-run home run and three RBI. It was the first of the season for Thomas and her 31st career home run.
Alcala had another multi-hit game going 2-for-5 with two RBI and junior Allison Geiner was 2-for-3 with a RBI.
George Washington jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the second inning off six hits and two Spartan errors. Rochelle Draper had a two-run double and Morgan Rinehart had a two-run home run in the frame.
UNCG would cut into the lead after Leary blasted a three-run home run in the second inning. Vega singled to start the inning and Wright reached on a error to setup the home run from Leary.
The Colonials would add two more runs in the third inning after Rinehart doubled in a run and Megan Linn picked up a RBI on a fielder’s choice.
The Spartans would change momentum in the bottom of the third inning scoring seven runs off three hits. UNCG would load the bases after two walks and a single from Wright. Grkman worked a RBI walk and another run would come home on a wild pitch. Overdiep lined a two-run single up the middle and Alcala earned a RBI off a groundout. With two outs, Lindsay Thomas hammered her first home run of the season to give UNCG a 10-9 lead.
The Blue and Gold would add five more runs in the fourth inning to take a 15-9 lead. Leary earned her fourth RBI off a sacrifice fly and Geiner picked up a RBI off a single up the middle. Alcala followed with a RBI single and Lindsay Thomas roped a RBI single to right field. Nicole Thomas plated the final run with a RBI single to right centerfield.
George Washington mounted one last comeback in the fifth inning scoring four runs off three hits to cut UNCG’s lead to 15-13. Victoria Valos had the big hit in the frame, a two-run double with two outs.
In the seventh, Bazonski closed the game with three-straight groundouts to pick up the save.
Mercer 7, Evansville 1
Mercer 9, Buffalo 8
MACON, Ga. – On a wild day at Sikes Field, Mercer wins both games against the University of Evansville, 7-1, and the University at Buffalo, 9-8 on the second day of the Black & Orange Challenge. With the wins Mercer moves to 10-9 on the year.
Mercer got off to a fast start scoring the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning on Molly Garmany's sack fly to center field, scoring Meghan Rud. The Bears had an opportunity to extend their lead but left the bases loaded to close out the first.
Mercer stayed hot in the second with help from a pair Aces errors. Meghan Rud stole third and advanced home on a fielding error by the Evansville third baseman. On the same play, Taylor Miller would advance to third and score on a throwing error by the Aces left fielder to give Mercer a 3-0 lead. Kaylynn Sloat would drive in Riley Carter on a lined shot to right field but would end the inning being thrown out at home on an inside the park home run try.
Evansville added their first run of the game in the top of the third on a RBI single to center field. The Bears would break a three inning scoring drought in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs on two walk-ins and a hit batter. Kirsten Stevens picked up her 5th win of the season, allowing one run on five hits, while striking out nine batters through seven innings. Stevens did not sacrifice a base-on-balls in her sixth complete game.
Mercer carried their hot streak into their second game of the day against the University at Buffalo. Miller scored on an error by the first basemen to start off the inning, followed by Sloat's two-run blast to left center. Megan Bilgri started the game for the Bears, retiring nine of her first ten batters faced. Bilgri worked out of a jam in the top of the fourth, with help from her defense, but not before giving up two runs, cutting the Mercer lead to 1.
In the bottom of the fourth Mercer answered with three runs on two hits and two errors. Miller reached on a throwing error by the Bulls. The error allowed Garmany, Andrew, and Rud to score. Buffalo clawed its way into the lead adding three runs in both the fifth and sixth innings three hits and two errors in the fifth and three hits and one error in the sixth.
In the bottom of the sixth, Mercer scored two runs to tie the game at eight-all. Miller stole second, creating a throwing error by the catcher, which allowing Rud to score. Carter drove in Miller on a RBI single up the middle. Stevens retired the side in order in the seventh setting up a walk-off opportunity for the Bears.
Taylor and Alaan went down in order to open the inning. Andrew beat out the throw from the shortstop bringing Rud to the plate. Andrew stole second, putting a runner in scoring position for the Bears. On a one-two count Rud lined to center field scoring Andrew on a RBI triple to end the game with a Mercer victory. Stevens earned her sixth win of the year.
Mercer will be back in action Sunday for the closing game of the Black & Orange Challenge. The game is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. EST against Kennesaw State University. Looking ahead, the Bears will face Georgia State in a double header on Wednesday, March 4th at Sikes Field.
Furman 3, Ohio 1
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Freshman Lindsey Bert tossed a two-hitter and Sieara Bishop went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs to lift Furman to a 3-1 victory over Ohio and a three-game series sweep of the Bobcats on Saturday afternoon at Pepsi Stadium
The three-game sweep versus the defending MAC Tournament champions improved the Paladins to 7-2 and stretched their winning streak to four games. Ohio slipped to 4-7.
Bert picked up the win for the Paladins in the circle to improve to 4-2. The Tallahassee, Fla., native allowed just a leadoff single in the first inning and a leadoff triple in the top of the sixth against an Ohio squad that entered the weekend hitting .341 as a team. Bert fanned five batters and issued just one walk.
Bishop, who stretched her streak of consecutive at-bats with a hit to six, got the Paladins on the board in the bottom of the third inning. Bert reached on an error to start the frame and moved to second base on Ambree Muller’s one-out single. After Courtney Jacobs bounced into a fielder’s choice and Elise Smith drew a walk to load the bases, Bishop grounded an 0-1 pitch back up the middle to plate two runs.
In the bottom of the fourth, Taylor Jenkins and Andrea Abbatiello opened the inning with a single and walk, respectively. After a fielder’s choice erased Jenkins at third and Ohio reliever Mikayla uncorked a wild pitch, Abbatiello came home on Hannah Reynold’s pinch-hit sacrifice fly to center field to up the lead to 3-0.
Bert worked out of a bases loaded jam in the fourth inning and allowed just one run in the top of the sixth after allowing a leadoff triple.
Muller finished 2-for-4 while for the Paladins, while Sloan Walker and Amanda Dalton collected the two hits for the Bobcats.
Starter Lauren McClary (0-4) allowed three runs, one earned, on four hits over three-plus innings of work to absorb the loss for Ohio.
UNCW 4, Western Carolina 1
Western Carolina 3, Delaware 1
WILMINGTON, N.C. - Western Carolina softball (3-5) split day two action at the Seahawk Softball Spring Classic falling to host UNCW 4-1 and bouncing back to defeat Delaware 3-1.
After two scoreless innings, Western Carolina jumped on the scoreboard first in the top of the third. Junior shortstop Karley Harkey drew a lead-off walk and moved to second on sacrifice bunt by Courtney Price. Harkey scored on an RBI single by Victoria Mariscal.
UNC Wilmington took the lead when it scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the third.
The Catamounts missed a golden scoring opportunity in the top of the fifth. With two outs, Mariscal reached first on a Seahawks' error. A pair of walks by Kara Salvo and Taylor Sigmon loaded the bases. Junior Crystal Cyr popped up to second base to end the Catamount scoring threat.
UNCW added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Senior pitcher Jordan Garrett started the game and went 5.1 innings allowing 11 hits, four runs, walking five and striking out two. Junior Taylor Sigmon came into the game with one out in the bottom of the sixth. She got out of the inning and struck out one facing two batters.
Garrett took the loss and fell to 1-2 on the year. Western Carolina had just one hit in the game.
Garrett got the call again facing Delaware in game two on the day. The Blue Hens jumped on the board early scoring a run in the top of the first.
After a scoreless second inning, Western Carolina scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. Freshman Abigail Daniels hit s one out single through the left side and moved to second on a wild pitch. Mariscal was hit by a pitch to place runner on first and second. With two outs, Sigmon hit an RBI single, scoring Daniels, and went around to second on a Blue Hens scoring error. Mariscal moved to third on the error and moved around to score on an RBI single, to right field, by Price.
The Catamounts added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Price was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Heather Chastain doubled to left center scoring Price.
Delaware avoided the shutout scoring a run in the top of the seventh inning.
Garrett went 4.1 innings allowing one run on hit and struck out two. Garrett took the win and moves to 2-2 on the year. Sigmon tossed 2.2 innings in relief striking out seven.
Daniels and Chastain each had a pair of hits. The Catamounts had a total of six hits.
Western Carolina and Delaware will meet for the third time at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.
ETSU 10, Morehead State 1
UMBC 7, ETSU 5
SAVANNAH, Ga. - The ETSU softball team split a pair of non-conference games in Savannah, Ga., Saturday, knocking off Morehead St., 10-1, in five innings before being edged, 7-5, by University of Maryland-Baltimore County.
The Buccaneers (6-6) picked up their sixth win of the season by convincly defeating Morehead St., in their first game of Saturday's double-header.
Seven ETSU players scored runs in the game, including Nicole Fox andJenine Duncan, who scored three times and twice, respectively. Fox finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate, joining Kelsey Smith as the two ETSU players to record multi-hit games.
Smith belted hits in each of her three at bats, finishing with six RBI and just a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. The Tucson, Ariz., native leads ETSU with five home runs this season. Her first-inning, three-run homer helped spark a 10-0 run for the Bucs.
After falling behind 1-0, ETSU plated 10 consecutive runs to seal the win in five innings.
Senior Latosha Rectenwald also hit a first-inning homer for the Bucs, her third of the season.
Sophomore Taylor Carter earned the win on the mound, striking out six batters in five innings. Carter has recorded 17 total strikeouts in her last three starts while allowing just four walks.
ETSU's win versus Morehead St., marked the Bucs' sixth win in seven contests.
In the latter game of the double-header, ETSU was edged by UMBC, 7-5, after the Terriers (2-8) rallied to score five runs in the bottom of the seventh.
The teams were deadlocked in a 2-2 draw until the seventh inning when the Bucs plated three runs due, in part, by a Carter two-run, two-out homer and a Cassi Pickett two-out, RBI single.
However, UMBC responded with a five-run final frame. With ETSU leading, 5-4, UMBC senior Taylor Hall hit her first home run of the season, a three-run, walk-off shot to left-center field, to give the Terriers the narrow, 7-5 victory.
After scoring just 13 runs in their first eight games of the season, UMBC tallied a total of 19 runs in two wins Saturday. The Terriers defeated Morehead St., 12-2, earlier in the day.
ETSU will conclude weekend action Sunday, March 1 at 12:00 p.m., as the Bucs go toe-to-toe with UMBC once more.
SIUE 7, Samford 2
Ohio State 10, Samford 0
AUBURN, Ala. - The Samford University drop a pair of games on the second day of the Wilson-DeMarini Classic hosted by Auburn University on Saturday, Feb. 28, at Jane B. Moore Field. The Bulldogs were edged out 7-2 by SIU-Edwardsville and dropped a 10-0 decision to Ohio State University.
The Bulldogs (13-4) opened the day against the Cougars (9-4) and fell behind early 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning when SIUE scored on a SAC fly that was set up by a leadoff walk, passed ball and stolen base.
Sophomore Abby Sweeney gave Samford its first lead of the game in the top of the fourth with a two-run home run to left field. It was Sweeney's third home run of the season.
The Cougars rebounded in the bottom of the inning to plate two runs on three hits en route to regaining the lead 3-2 over the Bulldogs.
SIUE put the game away in the bottom of the sixth when Smiley hit a grand slam off of relief pitcher Mollie Hanson to extend the Cougars lead to 7-2.
The Bulldogs tallied eight hits in the game: Sweeney, Megan Dowdy and Caitlin Bice each picked up a pair of hits while Callie Brister and Abby Adams notched 1 for 3 performances.
Samford 's struggles continued in the second game of the afternoon as the Bulldogs fell 10-0 to Ohio State University in five innings.
The Buckeyes jumped out in front early 5-0 thanks a pair of back-to-back walks from starting pitcher Rebecca Leonard and a three-run home run by Anna Kirk. OSU plated two more runs in the inning with one from a wild pitch and the other from an SU error.
Ohio State kept the pressure on in the second and eventually plated four more runs to take a 9-0 lead thanks in part to another three-run home run and one on another Bulldog miscue.
Samford tallied three hits in the game with one each from Shelby Maze , Abby Adams and Karsin Spinks.
The Bulldogs take the field again tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. against the University of Connecticut and will wrap up its play in the Wilson-DeMarini Classic with a contest against Auburn at 1:30 p.m.