Lady Pirates Fall To UNCG
March 20, 2003 | Softball
Greensboro, NC ? Penny Thompson went 2-for-3 with a home run and Melissa Johnson pitched a complete game to lead UNCG past East Carolina, 8-6, in game one of a doubleheader, Tuesday, at Campus Field. Game two of the doubleheader was halted in the bottom of the fifth inning, with the Spartans holding a 5-4 lead, due to darkness.
UNCG opened the scoring in game one in the first inning. Kim Benningfield reached on a fielder's choice, and then advanced to second on a passed ball. Joni Gomez drove home Benningfield win an RBI single. Amber Watson followed Gomez with another RBI single.
The Spartans exploded for five runs in the fourth inning. Watson opened the inning with a walk, and then scored on a home run by Jennifer Moran. After UNCG loaded the bases, Thompson walked, Kim Benningfield singled up the middle and Gomez walked to put the Spartans ahead, 7-0.
East Carolina answered with three runs in the fifth inning. Lacassa Hill singled up the middle, and then scored on a home run by Christine Sheridan. Kate Manuse followed Sheridan with a solo home run. The Spartans tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth inning on a solo home run to left field by Thompson. The homerun by Thompson was her team leading sixth of the year.
The Pirates then rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh. Katie Jessup hit a three-run home run to close the gap to 8-6, but Johson induced a pop out by Kristin Johnson to end the game. Thompson went 2-for-3 with two runs batted in to lead UNCG. Moran and Gomez each went 1-for-3 with two RBI.
In game two, Christine Sweeney blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the second to put UNCG ahead, 2-0. The Spartans loaded the bases once again in the third inning. Sweeney drew a walk to score a run, and then Jennifer Aguilar pounded a double off the left field fence to score two more runs.
East Carolina scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning on a grand slam by Mandi Nichols, but Amy Poole retired pinch hitter Crystal Carter to get out of the inning.
The game was then suspended due to darkness in the bottom of the fifth inning.
