March 2, 2013
Softball Hosts Home Doubleheader Against Virginia and Monmouth
GREENSBORO, N.C. – After losing two games due to winter weather in Rock Hill, S.C., the UNCG softball will host a home doubleheader against Monmouth (11 a.m.) and Virginia (1:30 p.m.) on Sunday, March 3 at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
The Spartans come into the contest on the heels of another sweep on Day One at the Combat Invitational after earning a comeback victory against Dayton, 6-4, and a 3-1 win against Hartford in the nightcap. UNCG has won three-straight games to improve to a season-best 13-2.
UNCG has two hitters hitting over .400 in junior Katelyn Bedwell (Surrey, B.C./Elgin Park) and senior Eileen Horsmon (Dunkirk, Md./Northern). Bedwell leads the team with a .409 average on 18 hits, three doubles, three home runs and a team-best 15 RBI. Horsmon sits at .404 with 19 hits, eight doubles, a triple and seven RBI. Freshman Lindsay Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) leads the team in home runs with five, including a walk-off three-run shot to knock off Dayton Friday afternoon.
The pitching staff is led by redshirt junior Raeanne Hanks (Rainier, Ore./Rainier Senior) who holds a 6-1 record with a 1.47 ERA and a career-high 62 strikeouts. Freshman Nicole Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) has been stellar in relief holding a 3-0 record with a tiny 0.78 ERA and 12 strikeouts.
Monmouth (4-1) earned a split on Day One after defeating SoCon member Furman, 4-2, before dropping a tough 8-7 contest in extra innings against Winthrop. The Hawks have used the long ball early with seven home runs in just five games. Kate Kuzma has four home runs and 11 RBI, including two homers against the Paladins Friday afternoon. The pitching staff has been solid early allowing just seven earned runs in 31.2 innings of work.
Virginia enters the game with a 8-7 record after opening 2-0 on Day One at the Combat Invitational picking up wins against Rhode Island (W, 4-2) and Winthrop (W, 5-0). The Cavaliers are led by Marcy Bowdren who is hitting .286 with 12 hits, two home runs and five RBI. In the circle, senior Melanie Mitchell has started nine games already with eight complete games that include three shutouts and a team-high 80 strikeouts in 64 innings of work. Mitchell was a second team All-ACC selection last season and holds a 6-3 record this season.
Be sure to follow all updates about the UNCG softball season on www.uncgspartans.com or on twitter @UNCGsports/@UNCGsoftball.
