Five Homers Propel UNCG Softball Past ETSU in Doubleheader
JOHNSON CITY, TENN. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team defeated ETSU, 4-0, in game one and then 3-2 in eight innings on Saturday at Betty Basler Field in The Southern Conference (SoCon) opener.
The Spartans extend their streak to six wins and are now 21-12 overall and 2-0 in SoCon, while the Bucs are 12-10 overall and 0-2 in conference play.
The 4-0 victory is the 10th shutout this season for UNCG.
GAME 1: UNCG 4 – ETSU 0
In the top of the first with one out, Macy Michael picked the third pitch of her at bat and sent it over the center field fence for a 1-0 lead. This was her seventh home run of the season.
Brooklyn Shroyer retired 12-straight batters from the first to the fourth innings, which included six of her 10 strikeouts. Her 10 strikeouts this game match her season best, which also happened in a 9-0 victory over Canisius this season on Feb. 20 at UNCG Softball Stadium.
Michael led off the top of the third with a single through the infield and with one out, Laney Deane crushed a two-run blast to center field, extending the Spartans’ lead to 3-0. This was Deane’s eighth homer of the season.
Deane added one more run to the lead following a lead-off long ball to center field in the top of the fifth, giving UNCG a 4-0 advantage, tallying her ninth homer of the season.
ETSU saw its first base runner in the bottom of the fifth by way of a walk and then recorded its first hit of the game with two outs, but Shroyer retired the side with a strikeout.
Michael, Deane and Hadley Gardner each went 2-for-4 on the day, as Deane paced the game with three RBI.
Deane’s two homer game is the first in her career and is the second time a Spartan hit two home runs in a game this season, as Nya South accomplished the feat against Southern Mississippi on Wednesday.
PITCHING RECORD
Brooklyn Shroyer: W, 11-4
Taylor Suchy: L, 3-2
GAME 2: UNCG 3 – ETSU 2 (8 innings)
Both teams were scoreless in the first inning, before Deane’s third homer on the day put a tally on the board for the Spartans in the top of the second. Her solo shot sailed over the left field fence for her 10th blast of the season.
Following three scoreless innings, South drove the ball over the left field fence to give UNCG a 2-0 advantage in the top of the sixth. This was her ninth homer of the season.
In the bottom of the frame, Riley Croley led off with a single and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt.
Payton Moore then crushed a two-run homer to right center, tying the game, 2-2.
Neither team was able to push across a run in the seventh, forcing extra innings.
The Spartans’ Avery Bouquin led off with a double down the left field line and Kaylyn Belfield’s sacrifice bunt moved her over to third.
Michael then hit a sacrifice fly to left field, giving Bouquin time to score for the 3-2 edge. South reached on a single, but the inning came to a close on a foul out, stranding a runner on base for the Spartans.
Salem Ward, who came in to relieve Rhyann Jones in the bottom of the seventh, earned the win after retiring six straight batters.
PITCHING RECORD
Salem Ward: W, 5-5
Catlin Pennington: L, 3-2.
UP NEXT
UNCG and ETSU will complete the three-game series tomorrow at Betty Basler Field starting at 1:00 p.m.
Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro