UNCP And St. Thomas Split Doubleheader
PEMBROKE – With inclement weather likely on Sunday UNCP pushed its doubleheader with St. Thomas University up to Saturday night as the two teams split a two-game set. St. Thomas took advantage of three Pembroke errors to win game one 3-1 while the Braves exploded for 10 runs in game two to earn the 10-0 victory in five innings.
UNCP (6-12) could not get its offense going in game one while giving up runs on a double steal and a pair of errors by the Braves to take the game. Whitney Landwermeyer (3-6) took the loss in game one giving up only one earned run on three hits with five walks and a career-high 10 strikeouts. Candace Evans (2-4) pitched a two-hitter in game two, striking out four while also driving in three runs and scoring another.
The Bobcats (3-5) snapped a three-game losing skid with the game-one victory with Amanda Heyl (1-3) earning her first victory of the season. Nikki Sanchez was credited with the loss in game two giving up five runs (four earned) on three hits in one inning of work.
Tonight marked the first matchup between the two schools, while also marking the first time that UNCP head coach Lacinda Melanson and her father, STU skipper Jeff Norman, have squared off against each other.
The Braves will return to Peach Belt Conference action on Monday when UNCP travels to Americus, Ga., to take on Georgia Southwestern in a doubleheader set to begin at 4 p.m. Pembroke will then take on Columbus State on Wednesday afternoon in a PBC two-game set, also beginning at 4 p.m.
St. Thomas will play St. Andrews in Laurinburg, N.C., on Monday in their next contest, before taking part in the Patriot Invitational March 6-8.
Pembroke got on the board in the bottom of the first when Morgan Patrick scored from third on a throwing error by STU's catcher to give UNCP a 1-0 advantage. The Bobcats tied the game in the top of the second on a double steal with runners at the corners.
St. Thomas broke the 1-1 tie in the top of the third when Tina Diaz scored on a throwing error by Pembroke's catcher to give the Bobcats a 2-1 advantage. Another UNCP error would allow Koely Kempisty to score and give STU a 3-1 lead. The Braves were not able to plate any more runs in the game, losing by a final of 3-1.
Game two saw the Braves score in the first inning once again, with Evans driving in one of her three RBI in the game. UNCP would add four more runs in the bottom of the second on three hits, while adding two more runs in the third to take a 7-0 lead into the fourth.
UNCP would score three more runs in the fourth highlighted by a Patrick double to left that plated two Braves to take a 10-0 advantage. St. Thomas failed to score any runs in the top of the fifth giving Pembroke the victory in five innings.
