UNCG Softball Walks Off Twice Against Samford
GREENSBORO, N.C.– The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team played in two extremely close games on Saturday, where the Spartans walked off with victories in a doubleheader against Samford.
In game one, the Spartans came from behind to tie the game 3-3 and then walked off with a sacrifice fly from Jessie Shipley to earn a 4-3 victory in eight innings.
Game two was a pitcher’s duel up until the end, where UNCG walked off in eight innings on a wild pitch for a 1-0 victory.
UNCG is now 26-16 overall and 5-2 in SoCon action, while Samford is 17-25 overall and 6-5 in the SoCon.
GAME 1: UNCG 4 – Samford 3 (8 innings)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Samford scored first in the top of the second as Lindsey Nelson homered to center field for a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth with two outs and runners on second and third, the Bulldogs’ McKenzie Newcomb grounded out to second giving Merritt Cahoon time to run home extending the lead to 2-0.
In the bottom of the frame, Brooklynn Maxwell singled to lead off and Delaney Cumbie doubled scoring Maxwell cutting the deficit to one, 2-1. After the first out of the inning, Jorde Chartrand hit an RBI single to right center tying the game at two. The Spartans continued to threaten with another hit, but Samford retired the side.
UNCG took its first lead of the game as Maxwell crushed a 1-0 pitch in the bottom of the fifth over the left field wall for a 3-2 advantage. The Bulldogs bounced back in the top of the sixth with Nelson’s RBI double tying the game at three.
The Spartans led off the bottom of the eighth with back-to-back walks and Blayke Batten moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt. Chartrand walked to load the bases, and then Jessie Shipley hit a sacrifice fly to left field scoring Maxwell for the game-winning run, 4-3.
NOTES:
Maxwell went 2-for-3 with three runs scored, one RBI, and her fourth home run of the season.
Cumbie, Chartrand, and Samantha Lagrama each had a hit contributing to the Spartans’ five total hits on the day.
PITCHING RECORDS
Jorde Chartrand: W, 6-6
Jordyn Partain: L, 3-7
GAME 2: UNCG 1 – Samford 0 (8 innings)
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNCG’s first base runner came in the bottom of the first, as Delaney Cumbie walked, for one of her three walks of the day.
In the circle, Rhyann Jones retired nine straight batters from the second to the fourth, as Samford’s first base runner was in the top of the first as Grier Bruce singled to right field.
She retired 11-straight batters from fifth to the eighth innings. She concluded the game with her eighth win of the season pitching her fifth complete game with three strikeouts, giving up just three hits.
With the bases loaded for the first time in the game on either side, UNCG took advantage of a wild pitch with one out as Cumbie slide home for the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth.
NOTES:
Jaden Cheek went 1-for-3 at the plate with a double.
Maycin Brown went 1-for-3 at the plate.
PITCHING RECORDS
Rhyann Jones: W, 8-1
Jordyn Partain: L, 3-8
ON DECK
The Spartans conclude the three-game series against Samford tomorrow, Sunday, April 16 with a first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
The first 200 fans in attendance will receive a free replica jersey magnet!
Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro