Shipley Hits Walk-Off Double to Send Spartans to the Ship
CHATTANOOGA, TENN. – In another nailbiter, the top-seeded UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team walked off with a 2-1 nine-inning victory over the second-seeded Samford Bulldogs on Friday afternoon at Frost Stadium in the 2023 Southern Conference Softball Tournament.
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, sophomore Jessie Shipley hit a walk-off double to score fifth-year Delaney Cumbie from second to give the Spartans the win.
UNCG is now 36-20 overall, while Samford has a 25-30 record.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams had a hit in the first inning to start the game and neither were able to score a run.
Grace Loftin led off the bottom of the second with a single through the left side and she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Shipley. Maycin Brown then took a 1-1 count and lasered it to left center hitting the base of the fence for her fourth double of the season giving UNCG a 1-0 lead.
Rhyann Jones retired 10-straight batters from the second to the fifth, keeping Samford off the board.
The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the top of the sixth and Merritt Cahoon grounded out to third, scoring Sarah Squillace to tie the game at one. Jones got out of the inning with her sixth strikeout of the game.
Maddie Spell came in relief for the Spartans in the top of the seventh and retired three-straight batters, stranding the Bulldogs on first and second. The Spartans tried to answer in the bottom of the frame as Shipley had the lone hit, but the game was forced to extra innings.
After a scoreless eighth and UNCG stranding a Bulldog runner on base in the top of the ninth, the Spartans took advantage. With one out, Cumbie singled and Jorde Chartrand reached on an error. Following a second out, Shipley cranked a 2-0 count to right center doubling to score Cumbie for the game-winning run.
NOTES:
Cumbie went 2-for-4 with one run scored.
Loftin went 1-for-4 with one run scored.
Shipley went 2-for-3 with one RBI.
Brown hit 1-for-3 at the plate with one RBI.
Shipley and Brown each had a double.
Jones struck out a career-best six batters.
PITCHING RECORDS
Maddie Spell: W, 12-5
McKenzie Newcomb: L, 13-11
ON DECK
UNCG awaits its opponent in the 2023 SoCon Championship game with the tournament title on the line. The Spartans will play at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, May 13 at Frost Stadium.
Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro