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No. 1 UNCG rallies to earn spot in title game
No. 1 UNCG rallies back to earn spot in Title game
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – No. 1 seed UNCG fought back from 7-2 deficit to earn a 9-7 win over No. 4 Mercer at the 2019 Southern Conference Championship at Frost Stadium Friday afternoon. With the win, UNCG (31-22) claims a spot in the 2019 SoCon Championship game and the 2018 SoCon Champions will square off with No. 3 seed Chattanooga.
UNCG scored two in the bottom of the first inning. Marisa Sholtes reached on an error, Stephanie Bryden singled, and Gabi Howard grounded out to second base but Sholtes came around to score from third. Makenna Matthijs singled up the middle, scoring Bryden.
The Spartans struggled defensively in the bottom half of the inning. UNCG pitcher Kylie Bouplon allowed just three hits, but the Spartans committed five costly errors that led to seven runs for the Bears. Offensively, the inning was highlighted by an RBI double from Danielle Castleberry.
In the bottom half of the fourth, Katie Stettler doubled down the left field line and Melanie Dargas singled up the middle to score Stettler. Darges advanced to second on the throw before she made it to third on a Kayleigh Willis single. Delaney Cumbie singled to third to score Darges. After two quick outs, the Spartans got another run across to cut the lead to two.
The Spartans tacked on four more in the bottom of the fifth to take a 9-7 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Stettler and Darges began the inning with singles before a sac bunt advanced both. Hannah Kincer, who entered to pinch hit, was hit by a pitch and Cumbie followed with a sac fly to center, plating Stettler. Sholtes smacked a three-run home run to left center.
Darges (2-for-2) and Stettler (2-for-4) led UNCG at the plate, while Stoltes had three RBIs and scored twice. Five different Bears tallied a hit in the loss. Bryden entered in relief of Bouplon and earned the win after throwing 5.1 innings. Mercer’s Lynn Gardner was credited with the loss.
Scoring Summary
Bottom 1st – UNCG 2, Mercer 0: Marisa Sholtes reached on an error, Stephanie Bryden singled, and Gabi Howard grounded out to second base but Sholtes came around to score from third. Makenna Matthijs singled up the middle, scoring Bryden.
Top 2nd – Mercer 7, UNCG 2: Five costly errors plagued UNCG as the Spartans allowed seven runs on just three Mercer hits, capped off by an RBI double from Abby Walsh.
Bottom 4th - Mercer 7, UNCG 5: Katie Stettler doubled and Melanie Dargas singled up the middle to score Stettler. Darges advanced to second on the throw before she made it to third on a Kayleigh Willis single. Delaney Cumbie singled to third to score Darges. After two quick outs, the Spartans got another run across to cut the lead to two.
Bottom 5th – UNCG 9, Mercer 7: Stettler and Darges singled before a sac bunt advanced both. Hannah Kincer, who entered to pinch hit, was hit by a pitch and Cumbie followed with a sac fly to center, plating Stettler. Sholtes smacked a three-run home run to left center.
No. 4 Mercer advances to play No. 1 UNCG
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – No. 4 Mercer won its second game of the day with a 6-1 win over No. 5 ETSU at the Southern Conference Softball Championship at Jim Frost Stadium on Friday afternoon. Mercer got revenge after its tournament-opening loss to the Bucs on Wednesday and will play their third game of the day against No. 1 UNCG this evening.
Mercer plated two in the bottom half of the first inning to take a quick lead. Micayla Rood led things off with a single to shortstop and Allie Jones reached shortly after on a fielder’s choice. First-team all-conference pick Danielle Castleberry homered to center field and put the Bears ahead 2-0.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Bears scored four more to extend the lead to 6-0. Rood singled up the middle and Allie Jones doubled to left center, sending Rood to third. Castleberry added her second hit of the game on the first pitch of her at bat, sending Rood home and moving Jones to third. Castleberry stole second and forced a throw from catcher Kylie Toler, allowing Jones to score and make it 4-0.
Abby Walsh drew a walk and Lane reached on a fielder’s choice as the ETSU defense got Castleberry at third. Kelly Warren laid down a bunt and moved Lane to second, while Kate Buckland, pinch running for Walsh, moved to third. Tori Ash, a SoCon all-freshman selection, doubled to down the left field line and brought in Lane and Buckland to extend the lead to 6-0.
ETSU got a run in the top half of the fourth as Malloree Schurr reached on a fielder’s choice, advanced to second and scored on a pinch-hit RBI single by Kelsey Brown.
Castleberry (2-for-3), Rood (2-for-4) and Shaila Warren (2-for-3) led the Bears offense, while Lauren Lee was 2-for-3 to lead ETSU.
Stella Preston and Lynn Gardner tag-teamed in the circle as Preston, the starter, recorded the win and Gardner earned a save. Taylor Boling and MaKenzie Dyson did the same for the Bucs, with Boling taking the loss.
Mercer had eight hits to ETSU’s six, but the Bucs left nine on base.
Scoring Summary
Bottom 1st – Mercer 2, ETSU 0: Allie Jones reached shortly after on a fielder’s choice before Danielle Castleberry homered to center field.
Bottom 3rd – Mercer 6, ETSU 0: Rood singled up the middle and Allie Jones doubled to left center. Castleberry added her second hit of the game on the first pitch of her at bat, sending Rood home and moving Jones to third. Castleberry stole second and forced a throw from catcher Kylie Toler, allowing Jones to score.
Top 4th – Mercer 6, ETSU 1: Malloree Schurr reached on a fielder’s choice, advanced to second and scored on a pinch-hit RBI single by Kelsey Brown.