North Carolina Outlasts UNCG Softball, 8-7, in 13 Innings

North Carolina Outlasts UNCG Softball, 8-7, in 13 Innings

GREENSBORO, N.C.– In a historic game, where 13 innings were played, the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team fell to in-state rival North Carolina 8-7, Tuesday night at UNCG Softball Stadium.

According to the record book, this is tied for the longest game in UNCG history. The Spartans played 13 innings on March 27, 1990 falling to Charlotte, 1-0, in Charlotte, N.C.

The Spartans hit two home runs in the game. Fifth year Delaney Cumbie hit UNCG’s first hit of the game in the bottom of the fifth. It was her sixth home run of the season and 41st of her career.

Classmate Samanatha Lagrama added to the Spartan home run total with her fourth of the season and 29th of her career. Lagrama tied the game with a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tar Heels put two runs up in the top of the first as Alex Brown led off with a single. Following Jorde Chartrand’s first strikeout, Abby Settlemyre bunted and put runners in scoring position for Kiersten Licea’s single to right center giving North Carolina a 2-0 lead.

North Carolina doubled its score in the top of the fourth with solo home runs from Carlie Myrtle and Brown for a 4-0 advantage. The Tar Heels added another run in the top of the fifth as Regan Weisner hit a sacrifice fly in foul territory to bring home the fifth run of the game.

The Spartans’ offense came alive in the bottom of the fifth as Grace Loftin led off the frame with a walk. With two outs, Delaney Cumbie smashed a ball over the right center wall for a two-run home run, cutting the deficit to three, 5-2. UNCG’s bats continued, as Brooklynn Maxwell reached on a fielding error and Samantha Lagrama found a gap in right center for a stand-up RBI double, putting up another run, 5-3.

UNCG’s defense had its first 1-2-3 inning in the top of the sixth with Maddie Spell in the circle. Licea turned on a 1-0 count in the top of the seventh for a two-out, two-run home run to left field, extending the Tar Heels’ lead to four, 7-3.

After three-straight base runners in the bottom of the seventh, Samantha Lagrama took a 2-2 count and smoked the pitch over the left field wall for her second grand slam of the season to tie the game at seven.

Neither team scored for five-straight innings and in the top of the 13th, Isabela Emerling homered to center field for the advantage, 8-7. UNCG stranded one on base in the bottom of the frame, as the Tar Heels outlasted the Spartans, 8-7.

NOTES:
Five Spartans contributed to the eight hits in the game.
Cumbie went 2-for-6 with two RBI, one walk, and two runs scored.
Lagrama went 3-for-6 with five RBI, one walk, and one run scored.
Maxwell, Blayke Batten and Maycin Brown each had a hit in the game.

PITCHING RECORDS
Maddie Spell: L, 6-5
Kenna Raye Dark: W, 4-5

ON DECK

The Spartans will turn around and travel to Greenville, South Carolina to face Southern Conference foe Furman. The three-game series was moved up to Thursday and Friday this week.

The doubleheader will be played on Thursday with the first game starting at 5:00 p.m. Friday’s single game is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m.

Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro