PEMBROKE – The UNCP softball squad lifted the lid off its 2011 campaign on a cold, wet Sunday morning and emerged with a 6-4 victory over Tusculum College during the first game of the UNCP Invitational softball tournament at LRA Field in Pembroke.

The Lady Braves (1-0, 0-0 PBC) will conclude their participation in the tournament as hosts at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow when they battle Kutztown University.

Reigning PBC Freshman of the Year Holly Berry picked up right where she left off a season ago with a 3-for-3 effort at the plate, including three RBI. Senior Lynn Grantham went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI-double in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the game up at 4-4.

Sophomore Starr Gilley picked up her first win in a UNCP uniform after throwing 2-1/3 innings of scoreless relief with two strikeouts.

Freshman Natalie Klemann picked up the first save of her collegiate career after throwing a scoreless 1-2-3 ninth inning.