RELATED: Softball Runs Away With Series Sweep Of Winston-Salem State, 12-5

WINSTON-SALEM – Junior Katie Saunders struck out a season-best 10 batters and worked through five innings in the middle for the UNC Pembroke softball team to halt regional opponent Winston-Salem State, 9-1, in order capture the first game of the doubleheader at Twin City Park on Wednesday afternoon.

The Braves (17-13) totaled nine hits including four taters from Whitney Jackson, Brea Hartley, Megan Hillard and Toni Nelson. Both Hillard and Morgan Davis led UNCP as they went 2-for-3, while Hillard totaled four RBI and a trio of runs. Winston-Salem State (9-13) posted just three hits and one run from Katrina Bartlett.

Saunders (9-8) faced just 18 batters and held the Rams to only one run with the only hits of the game were a pair of singles and a double to claim the win in the middle. Mercedes Hargett (5-8) saw 23 batters at the plate and threw more than 100 pitches, while giving up nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits and four walks.

Jackson opened up the contest with a lead-off homer to quickly put the Braves on the board, while Hartley drilled another home run in the same inning to push UNCP ahead 2-0. Hillard was the only Brave to cross home plate in the second inning as she reached on the only error of the game, before the Black and Gold put up four runs in the third as Hillard tripled with bases loaded and then was sent home on Davis's single.

Another two homers from Hillard and Nelson in back-to-back at-bats in the fifth inning extended the lead to nine runs  to finish off the first game in five innings.