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February 25, 2013
Softball Splits Final Day of Spartan Classic
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG softball team lost a tough 4-3 game against Marshall but bounced back to defeat Drexel, 9-4, in eight innings on the final day of the Spartan Classic Monday night at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
The Spartans improve to 11-2 on the season with the split and win the Spartan Classic with a 4-1 record.
Marshall 4, UNCG 3
In game one, with two outs and a runner on third junior Katelyn Bedwell (Surrey, B.C./Elgin Park) lined a shot to second base but Marshall's Bri Anna Hope made a diving catch to win the game for the Thundering Herd. In the bottom of the seventh, junior Aisha Figueroa (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) started the frame with a base hit to the pitcher. A sacrifice bunt and a groundout moved Figueroa to third with two outs. Bedwell's attempt to tie the game came up just short after Hope made the game-saving play.
Marshall took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning after a sacrifice bunt from Katalin Lucas allowed Ashley Gue to score from third. Gue walked to begin the inning, followed by Hope reaching base on an error. Gue moved to third on a wild pitch and came home on the bunt.
The Thundering Herd added two more runs in the second inning after Shaelynn Braxton tripled off the right field wall and came home after an error on the play. Alysia Hively followed with a solo home run to left field to give Marshall a 3-0 advantage.
In the top of the third, Hope led off frame with a solo home run to right center to put the Spartans in a 4-0 hole.
UNCG started the rally with a three-run bottom of the third inning thanks to a bases clearing double by senior Heather Robb (Apex, N.C./Middle Creek). After one out, freshmen Allison Geiner (Raleigh, N.C./Middle Creek) and Lindsay Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) earned back-to-back walks. Bedwell struck out swinging when senior Eileen Horsmon (Dunkirk, Md./Northern) reached on an error to load the bases. Robb roped a double to deep center to clear the bases and cut Marshall's lead to 4-3.
Figueroa finished the game with a 2-for-4 effort to pace the Spartans. Sophomore Erica Navarette (San Marcos, Calif./Mission Hills) picked up the loss after last just one inning, allowing two hits and two earned runs. Marshall's Andi Williamson (6-8) picked up the victory after tossing 4.1 innings in relief with five strikeouts.
UNCG 9, Drexel 4
In game two, freshman Nicole Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) earned her second victory of the season after throwing two scoreless innings of relief. Thomas allowed no hits with two strikeouts to claim the win.
UNCG went to extra innings tied at 4-4 against Drexel and started the top of the eighth with a clutch RBI triple from Robb. The international tiebreaker puts a runner on second and the Spartans wasted no time in driving in the go-ahead run. Sophomore Tatiana Alcala (Oxnard, Calif./Pacifica) reached on a fielder's choice and Robb scored on a throwing error by the shortstop to give UNCG a 6-4 lead. Alcala scored on another error to plate a third run of inning. With two outs and runners at the corners, Thomas delivered a back breaking two-run double off the wall in left center to give the Spartans a 9-4 advantage.
Freshman Kelly Lupton (Galloway, N.J./Absegami) finished the game in style by striking out the side to give UNCG the victory.
Bedwell blasted her third home run of the season to give UNCG a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.
In the third inning, Geiner singled to start the inning for the Spartans. After an out, Geiner stole second and moved to third on a throwing error. Geiner came home on a wild pitch to give UNCG a 3-0 advantage.
The Spartans loaded the bases in the fourth inning after Bedwell walked, Horsmon doubled and Robb reached on a hit by pitch. Pinch-hitter junior Toni MacReynolds (Vienna, Va./James Madison) lined out to third for the first out. Freshman Chelsea Strandlund (Victoria, B.C./Lambrick Park) reached on a fielder's choice as Bedwell scored on a throwing error.
Drexel cut the lead to 4-2 after a two-run fourth inning on four hits. Sylvia Ilamas doubled down the right field line with one out. Jenn Reading walked and Jessica O'Hara singled to shortstop to load the bases. Comfort Ahonkhai tapped one just in front of the plate for an RBI. After a strikeout, Maddison Timoteo lined an RBI single to centerfield to make it 4-2.
The Dragons tied the game at 4-4 in the fifth inning on two hits.
The Spartans return to action this weekend to take part in the Winthrop Invitational.
Be sure to follow all updates about the UNCG softball season on www.uncgspartans.com or on twitter @UNCGsports/@UNCGsoftball.
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