PEMBROKE – Senior right-hander Selena Ashley struck out five and scattered six hits across her third complete game of the season to lead the UNC Pembroke softball team to a 3-0 blanking of visiting St. Andrews in the front half of a Wednesday doubleheader at LRA Field.

The Braves (4-3) got lone base hits from five different players, with both Brea Hartley (1-for-2, 2B, 2 RBI) and Kaytee Wilson (1-for-2, R) driving in runs on their knocks. Whitney Jackson tripled and scored twice on a 1-for-2 day at the plate for the hosts as well.

Mary Cross registered a pair of hits on four trips to the plate to pace the Knights (1-4).

Ashley (3-1) faced four or less batters in four different frames and got out of a jam in the fourth by inducing two-straight infield outs by the visitors. Kim Cook (1-3) took the loss for St. Andrews after allowing three earned runs on five hits in six innings from the circle. She also struck out seven.

Jackson and Wilson both walked to lead off the bottom of the first, and Hartley hit a base-clearing double down the left field line for the quick 2-0 lead. The Black & Gold would add an insurance run in the fifth when Wilson's bunt single brought Jackson racing home from third.