UNCG Softball Falls to Mercer, 8-7, in Walk Off
MACON, Ga.– The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team fell to Mercer on Friday evening at Sikes Field with an 8-7 walk off in Southern Conference (SoCon) play.
Jorde Chartrand hit two of the Spartans’ four home runs in the game, while Delaney Cumbie and Maycin Brown each had a homer.
This was Chartrand’s second game of her career with multiple home runs. She hit two in an 8-2 victory against Radford on April 12, 2023. She now has seven homers in her career.
Cumbie cranked her seventh home run of the season and 42nd of her career, while Brown hit her 10th of the season and 29th of her career.
UNCG is now 29-19 overall and 8-4 in the SoCon, while Mercer is 17-31 overall and 7-6 in the conference.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Spartans didn’t waste time, scoring one run in the top of the first as Brooklynn Maxwell sprinted home after Jessie Shipley hit a sacrifice fly to shallow right field for a 1-0 lead.
Mercer didn’t answer until the bottom of the second, when Kylie Helm homered to lead off the frame, 1-1, and then on a misplay in the field, Kassidy Moore stole second and Avery Barton stole home for a 2-1 advantage.
Chartrand tied the game at two with her first home run to center field in the top of the third. Helm wasn’t done and crushed her second homer of the game in the bottom of the third to take back the lead, 3-2. The Spartans’ Cumbie had her solo blast to left field in the top of the fourth, which tied the game again, 3-3.
The Bears were scoreless for three innings thanks to Chartrand’s pitching performance in the circle. The Spartans then scored four runs on three hits in the top of the seventh for a 7-3 lead. Chartrand hit her second home run with Cumbie on base for a two-run advantage, 5-3. After Grace Loftin doubled to left field, Brown smoked the first pitch of her at bat over the center field wall, extending the score to 7-3.
Mercer put up five runs on four hits in the bottom of the seventh, as Tori Hedgecock hit the game-winning three-run home run for the 8-7 victory.
NOTES:
Chartrand went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI.
Brown went 2-for-4 with one run scored and two RBI.
Maddie Spell and Chartrand combined for four strikeouts in the circle.
PITCHING RECORDS
Jorde Chartrand: L, 7-7
Grace Taylor: W, 11-16
ON DECK
The Spartans look to bounce back in a doubleheader against Mercer tomorrow, Saturday, April 28 at Sikes Field. The games have been moved up to noon and 2 p.m. due to impending weather in Macon, Georgia.
Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro