UNCG softball splits with Elon; Greenway sets single-season stolen bases record

ELON, NC – UNC Greensboro used a five-run fifth inning to take game one by a score of 7-1 against backyard rival, Elon. Elon rallied in the late game to take the 8-0 win. Right fielder Mary Greenway, who had two stolen bases on the afternoon, broke Leigh Irwin’s UNCG’s single-season stolen bases record and now has 40 on the season.

UNCG (27-34, 7-13 SoCon) and Elon battled through four scoreless innings in game one but the Spartans exploded for five runs in the top of the fifth to take a 5-0 lead. UNCG was able to put a runner on base when Laura Olenderski was hit by a pitch from Elon’s Melanie Helterbran. Mary Greenway hit a double which advanced Olenderski to third base and came home when Brittany Ausley grounded out to third base to give UNCG the 1-0 advantage.

Greenway was plated on the next play on an error from Elon’s shortstop. The Spartans tallied three consecutive hits from Leslie Furness, Lyndsay Mouse and Kara Clouser which led to scores from Bonilla and Furness. Mouse also crossed home plate on a wild pitch extending the Spartan lead to 5-0.

Greenway was able to get on base in the top of the sixth with a single through the left side. The Roanoke, VA native tied UNCG’s single-season stolen base record by picking up her 39th stolen base of the season after stealing second base.  She came home on a home run from Bonilla which pushed the lead to 7-0.

Elon (26-30, 8-11 SoCon) was able to cut into the Spartan lead in the bottom of the inning with a run scored by Laura Weber. Weber was walked to start the inning and Debbie Zeigler followed with her 18th career double to left center. Laurin Smith grounded out to the shortstop which plated Weber and cut the UNCG led to 7-1.

Vanessa Oakes (12-10) went the distance and allowed one run on eight hits. She had nine strikeouts and issued one walk. The UNCG offense was paced by Greenway who was 2-for-3 from the plate with two runs scored and Mouse who was 3-for-4 with one run scored.

UNCG started game two with a single through right field from Greenway. She then broke Leigh Irwin’s single-season record for stolen bases by stealing second. The next play was a groundout to the shortstop, which advanced Greenway to third base but she was left stranded as Leslie Furness popped up the shortstop to end the inning. 

Elon got on the board first in game two with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Paige Goss started the inning with a single and advanced to second base when Tracey Dahlen grounded out to the shortstop. An error by the Spartans put Debbie Zeigler on base and advanced Goss to third base. Goss came home when Helterbran grounded out to shortstop.

The Phoenix added to their tally in the bottom of the second inning behind a home run from Jaimie Rao, extending their lead to 2-0. Elon added three more runs to their tally in the bottom of the fourth. Tracey Dahlen hit a two-out grand slam to push the lead to 6-0. The Phoenix added another two-run home run from Helterbran to pick up their seventh win of the season.

Amber Harrell (10-14) suffered the loss after allowing four runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings pitched. Oakes pitched 0.1 innings in relief after allowing four runs on three hits. Clouser led the Spartans from the plate by going 1-for-1.

The teams will play for the series finale tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm at Elon’s East Field.

AGATE
GAME ONE
UNCG................ 000 052 0 -  7 10  0
Elon................ 000 001 0 -  1  8  1

E - DAHLEN. DP - Elon 1. LOB - UNCG 7; Elon 8. 2B - Greenway; ZEIGLER. HR - Bonilla. HBP - Olenderski. SB - Greenway.
Win - Oakes (12-10).  Loss - HELTERBRAN (12-9).  Save - None. WP - HELTERBRAN 2; SCHROEDER. HBP - by HELTERBRAN (Olenderski). PB - Furness. Umpires - HP: Raymond MacDowell  1B: Arthur Faust  3B: Phil Best  Start: 1:15 pm   Time: 1:55

GAME TWO
UNCG................ 000 00 -  0  2  1
Elon................ 110 6X -  8 10  1

E - Branche; DAHLEN. LOB - UNCG 4; Elon 3. HR - DAHLEN; HELTERBRAN; RAO. SH - Furness; DAHLEN. SB - Greenway. CS - JONES.
Win - LILLEY (12-11).  Loss - Harrell (10-14).  Save - None. Umpires - HP: Arthur Faust  1B: Phil Best  3B: Raymond MacDowell Start: 3:45 pm   Time: 0:55   Attendance: 152

- UNCG -