UNCG Softball Defeats Fairfield in Extras, Hits Past Charleston Southern in Five Innings
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team outlasted Fairfield in 10 innings, 4-2, and then later hit past Charleston Southern for a 13-1 five-inning victory on Friday at CSU Softball Complex.
The Spartans are now 19-7 overall.
GAME 1: UNCG 4 – Fairfield 2 (10 INNINGS)
After seven scoreless innings, both teams placed a runner on second in the eighth.
With the Spartans up to bat in the top of the eighth, Kaylyn Belfield moved Macy Michael over to third on a sacrifice bunt and then Samantha Beck hit a sacrifice fly to center field for a 1-0 lead.
Fairfield tied the game in the later half of the inning, as Faith Camilleri doubled to right field to score the Stags’ runner from third, 1-1.
UNCG went up 2-1 in the top of the ninth with Laney Deane’s sacrifice fly that drove in Beck.
The Stags once again responded, tying the game at 2-2, as Quinn McGonigle’s single and an error brought home Delaney Whieldon.
In the top of the 10th with one out and a runner on second, Hadley Gardner crushed a two-run homer over the center field wall, giving UNCG a 4-2 lead. This was her second home run of the season.
Fairfield had runners on first and third with no outs in the bottom of the 10th. The Spartans quickly retired two batters before loading the bases and Ward was able to secure the win with a fly out.
Belfield went 3-for-3 at the plate.
Gardner went 1-for-1 with one run scored and two RBI.
Jorde Chartrand went 8.0 innings, struck out out seven batters, allowed four hits and just one run.
PITCHING RECORD
Salem Ward: W, 8-3
Alyssa Weinberg: L, 4-3
GAME 2: UNCG 13 – Charleston Southern 1 (5 innings)
The Spartans batted around in the top of the first, as they scored seven runs on seven hits and one error.
Grace Loftin hit UNCG’s first of four home runs in the game for her sixth blast of the season and 35th of her career in the first inning.
Jessie Shipley and Meredith Harwood each collected one RBI and Beck had two RBI in the inning.
In the bottom of the first, Charleston Southern pushed across one run as Emma Villaescusa singled to the left side and was thrown out at second after Weslin Jones scored, 7-1.
Gardner hit her second homer of the day in the top of the second crushing a two-run blast to left center, giving UNCG a 9-1 lead.
Both teams went scoreless in the third, but the Spartans added another two runs in the top of the fourth on Chartrand’s solo homer to center field and Deane’s sacrifice fly.
Chartrand hit her third homer of the season and 17th of her career.
In the top of the fifth, Gardner connected for her third home run on the day tallying another two RBI to give UNCG a 13-1 advantage and hold on for the win.
This was the 11th game with double figure hits for the Spartans.
Gardner went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, four RBI and her first multiple home run game.
Beck went 3-for-3 with one run scored and two RBI.
Betsy Eatmon went 2-for-4 with one run scored, while Michael went 2-for-3 with one run scored.
Ward (3.0 innings) and Reese Byrd (2.0 innings) each allowed just two hits.
PITCHING RECORD
Salem Ward: W, 8-3
Mackenzie Rutkoff: L, 1-3
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UP NEXT
The Spartans return to the CSU Softball Complex to face Fairfield at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday before facing host, Charleston Southern at 3:00 p.m.
Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro