PEMBROKE – Junior Ashley Harrell singled home the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the UNCP softball squad a much needed 3-2 victory over Flagler in the second game of Sunday's Peach Belt Conference doubleheader at LRA Field in Pembroke.

The Lady Braves (21-22, 8-12 PBC) are now seventh in the PBC standings with their 8-12 record, and must await the results from Monday's action to see if they will qualify for the PBC Tournament. UNCP will find itself in the tournament should either USC Aiken lose both games against Columbus State or Francis Marion lose both games against North Georgia. If USC Aiken were to split with Columbus State, the Lady Braves would still make their way into the tournament regardless of the Francis Marion/North Georgia results. Should both teams sweep their opponents, UNCP would be the ninth team out of the eight-team tournament. Should USC Aiken win both games and Francis Marion split with North Georgia, UNCP will again find itself on the outside looking in due to a tiebreaker.

UNCP starter Natalie Klemann scattered nine hits over seven innings to capture the complete-game victory. The freshman from Apex allowed just two earned runs with three strikeouts.

The Lady Braves took the first lead of the game in the bottom of the third inning when consecutive walks to Taylor Cloninger and senior Courtney Hill put runners at first and second, and an RBI-single by sophomore Holly Berry to left field brought Cloninger around to score.

UNCP added another run in the bottom of the sixth when an RBI-single by junior Jamie Burwell up the middle scored Harrell from third.

The Saints would finally get on the board in the top of the seventh inning with two runs to tie up the score at 2-2, but UNCP decided to send their seniors off in a fond way in the bottom of the seventh.

Cloninger singled up the middle to lead off the inning, and was moved over in the next at-bat by Hill's groundout to second base. Berry then walked to put runners at first and second. Senior Morgan Patrick then singled to left to move both runners up and load the bases. Harrell then dropped a single over the infield to score Cloninger from third, giving UNCP the 3-2 victory.

Hill led the team with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate with a walk, and fellow senior Loren Bartz also added two hits in three at-bats.

The game served as the final home game for seniors Hill, Patrick, Bartz, Lynn Grantham, Kristen Hobbs, and Caroline Newman. 

UNCP must now await the results from Monday's games to see if they will qualify for the PBC Tournament and extend their season.