BOONE, N.C. – Senior Amber Harrell struck out 11 and allowed just an unearned run and freshman Heather Robb was 2-for-2 with a home run as UNC Greensboro downed Appalachian State on Sunday, 3-1, to secure the series win.
Alex Emeterio was 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Spartans (17-21, 6-5 Southern Conference).
UNCG got off to a 2-0 lead after three innings. Robb got things going in the second, hitting a two-out single, and after Whitney Sirois reached on an error, Laura Olenderski brought Robb in with a single to right.
The Spartans added another run in the third, with Jordan Jewett reaching on an error and then stealing second. Emeterio then singled to right to drive in Jewett with UNCG's second run of the day.
UNCG missed a chance to add more, leaving the bases loaded in the inning. Kaitlin Merkt walked after Emterio's hit to knock starter Hannah Dow from the game, but reliever Frannie Seader got two quick outs – one of them a sacrifice bunt from Emily Akiyama – before walking Robb to load the bases. Seader coaxed a fielder's choice to avoid further damage.
The Mountaineers (19-17, 6-8 SoCon) got a run back in the fourth to cut their deficit to a single run, as McKenzie Phillips reached on a wild pitch on a strikeout and eventually scored on a UNCG error.
Robb gave UNCG an insurance run with her solo shot in the sixth inning, a one-out blast that was her third of the season.
Harrell, meanwhile, was cruising, scattering six hits and two walks over seven innings after an ominous start to the game. App's first three batters reached on a double, single and walk, but Harrell settled down, getting a strikeout and two flyouts to escape early trouble.
Aside from Phillips in the fourth, Harrell (6-10) allowed just one runner as far as second base the rest of the way. She struck out at least one batter in each inning, falling just one strikeout short of her career high.
Harrrell's career strikeout total moved to 562, just three shy of the school record held by UNCG pitching coach Vanessa (Oakes) Williams.
Michelle Gorzell had three of App's six hits, while Megan Rembielak was 2-for-4.
Dow (4-7) took the loss for the Mountaineers, allowing two unearned runs on three hits and two walks in two-plus innings. Seader worked five innings, allowing a run on three hits and three walks.
The Spartans won the regular-season series 2-1, as the teams
split Saturday's doubleheader. The series win is UNCG's
first over App since the 2003 season.
Sunday's win, coupled with Georgia Southern's 5-4 loss
to Chattanooga, moves UNCG into a tie with the Lady Eagles for
fourth place in the league standings. The top four teams at the end
of the regular season advance to the SoCon tournament.
UNCG returns to action next weekend when it will host Western Carolina – coached by former Spartan Christine Hornak – for a three-game set. The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. followed by a single game Sunday at 1 p.m.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro 3, Appalachian State 1 (Apr 11, 2010 at
Boone, N.C.)
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UNC Greensboro...... 011 001 0 - 3 6
1 (17-21, 6-5 SoCon)
Appalachian State... 000 100 0 - 1 6
2 (19-17, 6-8 SoCon)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Amber Harrell and Whitney Sirois.
Appalachian State - Hannah Dow;
Frannie Seader(3) and Michelle Lighton.
Win-Amber Harrell(6-10) Loss-Hannah Dow(4-7)
T-1:55 A-103
HR UNCG - Heather Robb (3).
Weather: 68 Degrees
Dow faced 3 batters in the 3rd.
- UNCG -