UNCG Softball Defeats ETSU 6-0, Falls 3-1 in Doubleheader Battle
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team defeated ETSU 6-0 in game one of a doubleheader on Friday, before falling 3-1 to the Buccaneers in game two at UNCG Softball Stadium in The Southern Conference (SoCon) play.
UNCG’s 6-0 victory in game one was the Spartans’ fifth shutout of the season.
UNCG is 33-14 overall and 10-4 in the SoCon and ETSU is 15-30 overall and 4-10 in the league.
GAME 1: UNCG 6 – ETSU 0
After a scoreless first inning, Hadley Gardner put UNCG on the board with a solo home run to right-center, smashing the scoreboard for a 1-0 lead. This was Gardner’s 10th homer of the season.
In the bottom of the fourth, Jessie Shipley led off the Spartans with a walk and moved over to second on a ground out.
With two outs, Macy Michael punched the ball out to left field, giving Shipley enough time to score to double the advantage, 2-0.
Following another scoreless inning in the fifth, UNCG added four runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth.
Shipley and Meredith Harwood each connected for a single to put runners on the corners with no outs.
Nya South pinch hit and drove the ball out to left field, extending UNCG’s lead to 3-0.
Michael’s fly out to right field advanced the runners to second and third and then Laney Deane, in a pinch-hit situation, crushed the ball out to left-center for a three-run home run, putting the score at 6-0 in favor of the Spartans. This was Deane’s fifth homer of the season.
Reese Byrd came in relief for the Spartans, stranding just one Buc on base to secure the win for Jorde Chartrand in the circle.
Chartrand pitched 6.0 scoreless innings, giving up just three hits and striking out nine batters to match her season-high.
PITCHING RECORD
Jorde Chartrand: W, 9-5
Marissa Barnes: L, 3-7
GAME 2: UNCG 1 – ETSU 3
The first three innings panned out to be a pitcher’s duel.
In the bottom of the fourth, Chartrand broke the silence with her eighth home run of the season, punching a solo shot over the left-field wall for a 1-0 lead.
UNCG held the advantage until ETSU rallied in the top of the sixth, scoring two runs on three hits, putting the Bucs up 2-1.
ETSU loaded the bases with no outs and Sarah Muir’s RBI walk tied the game at 1-1.
The Spartans got the first out at the plate to keep a run from scoring, but then Makayla Veglia singled to third base to score another run putting the Bucs on top, 2-1.
Reese Byrd retired the side with a strikeout and a fly out to right field to keep the deficit at one, 2-1.
With the bases loaded in the top of the seventh for ETSU, Muir grounded out to Shipley at shortstop, pushing an insurance run across for a 3-1 lead.
The Bucs held on for the win after stranding two Spartans on base.
PITCHING RECORD
Salem Ward: L, 12-5
Catlin Pennington: W, 1-0
Eden Muncy: S, 2
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UP NEXT
The Spartans and Buccaneers will conclude the three-game series with the final game tomorrow at UNCG Sotftball Stadium with a first pitch slated for 1:00 p.m.
Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro