Thursday's Softball Results

UNCG Softball Splits Doubleheader With Longwood

Greensboro, NC - The UNC Greensboro softball team split a nonconference doubleheader, Thursday afternoon, with Longwood University. The Spartans took game one 7-1 before falling in the nightcap, 2-1.

In game one, UNCG (27-23) jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage in the first inning. Jennifer Hubbard opened the scoring with a leadoff home run that sailed just over the center field fence. Following a Christina Montana single, Joni Gomez blasted a two-run home run to left field.

After tacking on single runs in the second and third innings, highlighted by a solo home run by Jennifer Bonilla, the Spartans posted an additional two runs in the fourth inning, putting the game out of reach. Heather Branche reached on an error to open the frame. After advancing to third, Branche scored on a perfectly executed bunt by Montana. Bonilla would cap the inning with a RBI double to right center, plating Joni Gomez who reached on a fielder?s choice.

Longwood (37-13) would rally for a single run in the top of the sixth inning. Shamana Washington and Heather Williams registered back-to-back singles to leadoff the inning. Washington would later score the lone Lancer run on a Spartan fielding error, but it was not enough for the victory.

Danielle Byrne worked all seven innings for UNCG, allowing no earned runs on four hits, while striking out one. Offensively, Montana led the Spartans with four hits, while Bonilla went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in.

Jen Steele took the loss for Longwood, giving up six earned runs in six innings. Washington went 1-for-2 with one run scored to lead the Lancers at the plate.

In game two, Abbey Welch threw a complete game three-hitter and Mallory Gordon went 2-for-4 at the plate, as Longwood salvaged a split of the doubleheader.

The Lancers scored their lone two runs in the third frame. Megan Camden opened the inning with a single to left field before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt. Mallory Gordon then plated Camden with a RBI single to center field. After advancing to third, Gordon scored on a throwing error by Spartan pitcher Vanessa Oakes as she attempted to complete a double play, after snagging a line drive off the bat of Washington.

UNCG would answer with a single run in the sixth inning. With two outs, Adriane Audley registered an infield single and later scored on a fielding error by the Lancer defense. However, the Spartans would remain scoreless over the remainder of the contest, as Longwood held on for the victory.

Vanessa Oakes was saddled with the loss despite allowing just one earned run in six innings of work. Audley went 2-for-3 at the plate to pace the Spartan attack.

UNCG will return to action on Saturday, April 24, as the Spartans host Southern Conference rival Georgia Southern in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.


Chanticleers Sweep Cougars

Conway, S.C. ? Leshe Russell hit two home runs but Coastal Carolina downed College of Charleston 10-9 to complete a double-header sweep in non-conference softball action in Conway, S.C.. The Chanticleers downed the Cougars 4-3 in eight innings in game one.

Russell took the first pitch of the second game and homered to center field to put the Cougars up early on. Coastal Carolina used a three run bottom of the first to take the lead capped off by Kristina Sheppard?s two run home run. The Cougars tied the game up in the top of the third when Bridget Loudermilk doubled in Amanda Cone. Coastal responded again in the bottom of the inning when Brittany Nelson hit a three run double to right field.

The Cougars took the lead back in the top of the fourth when Russell hit her second home run of the game, a three run shot to left center. Charleston?s advantage lasted a half an inning until the Chanticleers put up five runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good. Nelson doubled to right field knocking in three runs for the big hit of the inning.

In game number one the Cougars scored three runs in the top of the sixth to take a 3-2 lead. The Chanticleers scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to force extra innings and plated a run in the bottom of the eighth for the win. Cone hit a two run home run to left field to put the Cougars on the board. Brittany Pohlen doubled to right center to plate Loudermilk who tripled down the right field line.

In the eighth inning, Danyelle Gerdts retired Loudermilk and Katie Ballard with Jacquie Rothey at third to stage off the Cougar rally. In the bottom of the inning Kelly Feely singled to left center to knock in Jennifer Britton for the game-winning run to set the score at 4-3.

Cone?s home run was her 15th of the season which sets a new Southern Conference and program record for most round trippers in a season. Pohlen hit her sixth home run of the season in game two.

Coastal Carolina travels to Columbia, SC to take on the Gamecocks next Wednesday. The Cougars next face East Tennessee State on Saturday and Sunday in Johnson City, Tenn in Southern Conference action at 1:00. The Cougars hold their final home games of the season on May 1-2 against UNC Greensboro.


Early Innings Give Winthrop Two at Appalachian; 5-0, 4-1

BOONE, N.C.?Winthrop (33-19-1) used the long ball and complete-game pitching performances by Kelli Johnson and Danna Haydar to take two wins at Appalachian State University, 5-0 and 4-1. In Game One, Winthrop scored all five of its runs in the first inning, including a two-run home run by Lindsey Merriman, en route to a 5-0 victory and in Game Two, it notched two-run homers in each of the first two innings of its 4-1 win.

With Mountaineer starting pitcher Marie Watson chased from the game after loading the bases and not retiring a batter, Jennifer Hurley came in to pitch, but quickly yielded a double to Laura Hill that scored Janiva Willis and Katie Kipisz, while Kjersti Johnson was gunned down at third, for an early 2-0 Eagle advantage.

With Hill on second, Lindsey Merriman knocked a home run over the left field fence to give the Eagles a quick 4-0 lead. After Catherine Cashion popped out, Stephanie Turney singled and then stole second. Turney came home on Sarah Conrad?s single up the middle to make the lead 5-0.

After getting the Mountaineers (16-30) out of the first inning, Hurley served seven innings of relief. The reigning Southern Conference Pitcher of the Week, Hurley held Winthrop down, and allowed only two hits the rest of the way. Watson slid to 2-9 with the loss.

Kelli Johnson improved her record to 17-7 with an impressive pitching performance for the Eagles. Johnson kept herself out of trouble all afternoon, giving up only two hits and hitting two batters, while striking out three.

In the nightcap, Willis started the offense for Winthrop in the first inning with a leadoff double. After the next two batters were retired, Hill smashed a home run to right-center field for an early 2-0 lead.

In the second inning, it was more of the same for the Eagles. Turney ledoff with a double down the right field line. Lauren Blaser followed immediately with a home run, high over the left field fence to boost the unfriendly guests? lead to 4-0.

In the bottom half of the second, the Mountaineers loaded the bases when Sarah Gough, Kristyn Hurt, and Kasey Motsinger all recorded singles. With two away, Eagle pitcher Danna Haydar induced Wendy Lewis to pop out in foul ground to end the threat.

Haydar earned the complete game, after striking out six to improve to 5-6. The Winthrop pitcher sprayed seven hits over the distance, including three to Hurt, who finished the game 3-for-3.

It was Hurt?s hot bat that produced Appalachian?s only run of the game. In the bottom of the seventh, the rookie opened the frame with a solo blast to left field. Two outs later, Caitlyn Ryan registered a pinch-hit double, but the rally ended there as the final score was 4-1.

In her first start in the circle in over a month, Heather Bradbury gave up four runs on four hits over the first four innings. The Otway, Ohioan struck out three and walked one to move to 1-3. Jordan Arnold worked three scoreless innings of relief.

Appalachian travels to Greenville, S.C. this weekend for a key Southern Conference series at Furman. Both Saturday?s doubleheader and Sunday?s game begin at 1 p.m.