GREENSBORO, N.C. – Top seed UNC Greensboro got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning and added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to down No. 4 Mercer, 3-2, in the first game of the SoCon Softball Championship at UNCG Softball Stadium in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Thursday. The Spartans (32-15) will now face the winner of No. 2 Western Carolina and No. 3 Chattanooga, while the Bears (23-22) will play at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in a must-win game against the loser of the Catamounts and Mocs.  
 
UNCG scored first when Katie Stettler walked and advanced to second after an overthrow on a pick-off attempt from the catcher before coming around to score on a two-out single up the middle from Melanie Darges. Makenna Matthijs, a first-team all-conference outfielder, threatened with a deep fly ball to center field but Allie Jones, a second-team all-conference selection, recorded the catch on the warning track to end the threat.
 
Mercer got on the board and took the lead in the top of the fourth. With one out, Madison Headley singled on a bunt and advanced to second on a passed ball. A strikeout by Morgan Scott gave the Spartans two outs but leadoff batter Adele Braun singled to right field, allowing Headley to score, and Braun made it all the way to third base on an error by the right fielder. Braun scored as the next batter, Danielle Castleberry, a first-team all-conference infielder, hit a double to left center to put the Bears in front 2-1. Scott ended the inning and stopped the damage, getting Bree Comer to strike out looking.
 
The lead didn’t last long as UNCG sophomore Maycin Brown, a second-team all-conference pick, hit a home run to deep center field to lead off the top of the fifth inning, tying the game at 2. After back-to-back groundouts, shortstop Brooklyn Maxwell singled through the left side and Darges drew a walk. The next batter, Matthijs, singled to left field and advanced to second on the throw, allowing Maxwell to come around to score and advancing Darges advanced to third, putting the Spartans back in front, 3-2.
 
UNCG finished with nine hits and Mercer totaled five. Matthijs led the Spartans, going 3-for-4 at the plate, while Headley went 2-for-3 to lead the Bears offensively. Matthijs, Brown and Darges each had an RBI for UNCG, while Mercer’s came from Braun and Castleberry.
 
Scott, the SoCon Pitcher and Freshman of the Year, picked up the win for UNCG as the Irmo, South Carolina, native threw a complete game and struck out 12 and only allowed five hits and one walk.
 
Scoring Summary
Bottom 2^nd – UNCG 1, Mercer 0: Katie Stettler walked and advanced to second on an error on the catcher before Melanie Darges singled up the middle, scoring Stettler.
Top 4^th– UNCG 1, Mercer 1: Madison Headley singled to shortstop on a bunt, advancing to second on a passed ball before scoring on a double to left center from Adele Braun.  
Top 4^th – Mercer 2, UNCG 1: Danielle Castleberry doubled to left center, plating Braun.
Bottom 4^th – Mercer 2, UNCG 2: Maycin Brown homered to center field to lead off the inning.
Bottom 4^th – UNCG 3, Mercer 2: Brooklyn Maxwell singled through the left side and advanced to second when Darges drew a walk before Matthijs singled to left field, plating Maxwell.