RELATED: Softball Swept By Armstrong State

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The visiting UNC Pembroke softball team attempted a late rally in the seventh inning to score two runs, but was unable to overcome Armstrong State's lead as Autumn Parrish dropped a three-run homer over left centerfield in the third inning deliever the Pirates the 3-2 victory in Peach Belt Conference action on Saturday in the first game of the doubleheader in Savannah, Ga.

Megan Hillard, Lexie Coxe and Karlee Wilson each logged one hit for UNCP (21-19, 5-14 PBC) as Brea Hartley and Haleigh Epperson were sent across home plate in the seventh. Armstrong (23-10, 12-3) recorded just one more hit than the Braves as four different Pirates tallied a hit with Parrish earing a game-high three RBI.

Junior Katie Saunders (12-11) suffered the loss in the middle following her complete game as she struck out three, walked a trio and gave up three earned runs on four hits. Following the third inning, Saunders faced just four batters in the fourth and three in both the fifth and sixth.

Olivia McLemore (13-3) clinched her 13th win in the circle for Armstrong as she allowed two earned runs on three hits and faced only three batters in the first, second, fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

Armstrong opened up the scoring campaign as Alexis Cercer and Jane Trazaska made it to first on a base hit and fielder's choice, respectively, before Parrish rocketed her home run over the fence for the three-run lead. 

Wilson tagged first in the third on a single through the leftside, but was left stranded at the end of the inning. Again in the seventh, Hartley reached first as she was walked prior to Hillard's single which sent Hartley home to score UNCP's first run. Another base hit from Coxe drove pinch runner Epperson across home plate with two outs on the board, but the effort was cut short as the Pirates captured the victory.