No. 1 seed UNCG 7, No. 2 seed Samford 6
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Jessie Shipley and Maycin Brown hit back-to-back home runs, with each facing a full count, in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the No. 1 seed UNCG a 7-6 victory over No. 2 seed Samford in the title game of the Southern Conference Softball Championship at Frost Stadium on Saturday.
With their third SoCon tournament title, the Spartans (37-20) claimed the SoCon’s automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals. The selection show will air on ESPN2 on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.
UNCG trailed the Bulldogs, 6-5, going into the bottom of the seventh inning. Samford (26-31) was three outs away from forcing another game to decide the title before the Spartans completed their comeback.
After a groundout began the frame, Shipley stepped into the batter’s box and crushed a homer to center field on the seventh pitch of the at-bat to tie the game at 6-6. Brown came up after that and saw six pitches before she was able to hit the game-winning home run over the right-field fence to end the game.
The wild title game began with Samford building a four-run lead. In the top of the first inning, Samford’s McKayla Cothran reached base on an one-out error, advancing to second on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Grier Bruce hit an infield single to place runners on the corners.
A stolen base by Bruce placed two runners in scoring position, setting the stage for a two-run single up the middle by Logan Champion. McKenzie Newcomb stepped into the batter’s box next and crushed a double to right field, scoring Champion and making the score 3-0 in favor of the Bulldogs.
Bruce continued her strong day at the plate in the third inning as she crushed a solo home run to left field to begin the frame, leading to a pitching change by the Spartans. Samford led 4-0 at that point.
In the bottom of the frame, Brooklynn Maxwell and Delaney Cumbie drew walks to put runners on first and second base for UNCG. After a groundout advanced both runners, Grace Loftin singled up the middle to score Maxwell and Cumbie, making the score 4-2.
Samford scored another run in the top of the fourth. After Sarah Squillace was hit by a pitch and Cothran singled to left field, Merritt Cahoon singled to bring Squillace across home plate, making the Samford lead 5-2.
Maddie Spell got one run back for the Spartans in the bottom of the fourth via a solo home run to left field. UNCG would eventually get runners on first and third; however, Samford would get out of the jam to keep its lead at 5-3.
The two teams’ seesaw battle continued into the fifth inning. Champion singled to begin the frame and advanced to second on a groundout. Ansley Yantis and Kinley Pate were walked on the next two at-bats to load the bases for Samford. Squillace worked a seven-pitch at-bat after that, resulting in another walk to force in a run and make the score 6-3.
UNCG would make it a one-run game in the bottom of the frame. Brown hit a one-out double to give the Spartans a runner in scoring position. Samantha Lagrama came to the plate next and hit an opposite-field home run over the right field fence, making Samford’s lead 6-5. The sixth inning was scoreless, leading to the heroics of Shipley and Brown in the seventh.
All told, the teams combined for five homers, as the Spartans hit four of their own on the day.
Salem Ward (7-6) retired both batters she faced in the seventh to get the win. Maddie Spell, the SoCon Softball Championship’s Most Outstanding Player, started for UNCG and pitched two innings before hitting her second home run of the season. Jorde Chartrand, who started the game as the designated player, threw 4 1/3 innings for the Spartans.
Newcomb (14-12) pitched three innings out of the bullpen for Samford, while Jordyn Partain started and threw 3 1/3 innings for the Bulldogs.
Brown, who had just one hit during the tournament entering the day, finished the game 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, one RBI and two runs scored. Six other Spartans had one hit in the game, with Loftin and Lagrama each finishing with two RBIs.
Bruce was 3-for-4 with a home run, an RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored. Champion was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Maddie Spell, R-So., LHP, UNCG
Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Ashley Gontram, Sr., OF, UNCG
All-Tournament Team
Brianna Bailey, ETSU
Riley Nayadley, ETSU
Alyssa Woods, Mercer
Delaney Cumbie, UNCG
Jessie Shipley, UNCG
Maddie Spell, UNCG
Olivia Lipari, Chattanooga
Merritt Cahoon, Samford
McKenzie Newcomb, Samford
Sarah Squillace, Samford
2023 SoCon Softball Championship
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Wednesday, May 10
Game 1: No. 4 Western Carolina 3, No. 5 Mercer 2
Game 2: No. 2 Samford 4, No. 7 ETSU 2
Game 3: No. 6 Chattanooga 8, No. 3 Furman 3
Thursday, May 11
Game 4: No. 7 ETSU 6, No. 3 Furman 4
Game 5: No. 1 UNCG 1, No. 4 Western Carolina 0
Game 6: No. 2 Samford 6, No. 6 Chattanooga 5
Game 7: No. 7 ETSU 3, No. 4 Western Carolina 1
Game 8: No. 5 Mercer 11, No. 6 Chattanooga 8
Friday, May 12
Game 9: No. 1 UNCG 2, No. 2 Samford 1 (9 innings)
Game 10: No. 5 Mercer 4, No. 7 ETSU 3
Game 11: No. 2 Samford 2, No. 5 Mercer 1
Saturday, May 13
Game 12: No. 1 UNCG 7, No. 2 Samford 6