Senior Amber Harrell’s eight strikeouts and Brittany Ausley’s two RBIs, led the UNCG Spartans to their first home win over the Sacred Heart Pioneers (0-2, 0-0 NEC) on Fri, Feb. 26. The Spartans (3-6, 0-0 SoCon), hosted the UNCG Spartan Classic this weekend at UNCG Softball Stadium.
Spartan pitcher, Amber Harrell (0-2 on the season) started her strikeout numbers early, striking out two of the first three players at bat for the Pioneers in the top of the first. Both teams were slow to start, as the first one and a half innings were all even at 0-0.
In the bottom of the second, the Spartans were the first to rally. Designated hitter April Langley started things off with a double down the third base line that fell just fair. Third baseman Emily Akiyama followed when on a 3-2 count drove the ball into the right field gap for a double and to bring home Langley her only RBI in the game.
The Spartans led 1-0 with Akiyama still on second. As the inning wore on, Brittany Ausley’s pop up that landed between the pitcher and second base finally brought Akiyama home for the second run of the inning and one of Ausley’s two RBIs in the game. The Pioneers got out of the inning with a strike out from sophomore Liz Tsipouras, leaving Spartan runners on first and second.
In the top of the third inning, the Pioneers had an answer. After a pop up out, a strike out, and a walk, junior Taylor Froelich, drilled a homerun bomb deep into center field bringing in Carley Rudloff from first base and knotting up the game 2-2.
Errors found both teams in the fourth inning. The Pioneers loaded the bases with one out on back-to-back bunts, junior Shannon McCoy mishit the ball, which hardly moved forward. Spartan catcher Whitney Sirois bobbled the ball, dropping it for the error and allowing a run in for the Pioneers.
Sacred Heart now lead 3-2 going into the bottom half of the inning where an error from Pioneer shortstop Alyssa Garza allowed the Spartans to get Akiyama on base just in time for Ausley to pick up her second RBI in the game and tie the game at 3-3.
With a scoreless fifth and top of the sixth, the home half of the inning opened up the second rally for the Spartans.
Akiyama drew a leadoff walk, followed by a sacrifice bunt by Sirois to place a runner on second. The Spartans loaded the bases after a shallow left field single from pinch hitter Eileen Horsmon and an intentional walk of Ausley.
With the bases loaded the Pioneers Nicole Sidor could not throw a strike and walked home Kristen Gabel for the Spartans.
Leading 4-3 with the bases still loaded, Alex Emeterio hit a line drive down the third base line for her RBI and an insurance run to make the score 5-3. The Pioneers forced a pop up to right from Kaitlin Merkt to end the inning.
Amber Harrell stepped up and closed out the top of the seventh with two strike outs ending on a three pitch strikeout clenching the Spartan win over the Pioneers 5-3.
Harrell pitched 7 innings for the Spartans, allowing 4 hits and 3 runs. Emeterio would go 2-4 with 1 RBI and a strikeout.
The Spartans would fall to Niagara 3-2 in the second game of their double header on Friday.
UNCG would strike first against the Purple Eagles in the top of the first with an RBI single from Emerterio. Niagara would tie the game at 1 in the bottom half of the inning off of a home run from Maggie McDonald to left center.
Kristin Sito would single to bring in a run for Niagara in the third. The Purple Eagles held a 3-1 advantage through 3 innings and would take the game 3-2 after seven.
Sophomore right-hander Cory Mattson pitched 3 innings for the Spartans and allowed 3 runs on 4 hits.
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