Related: Big Innings Push Limestone Past Softball
WINSTON-SALEM – The UNC Pembroke softball team entered Friday's doubleheader in the midst of a nine-game losing streak, but snapped the skid with a pair of road victories over Winston-Salem State, 7-6 and 4-3.
The Braves (16-19-1) have now won eight of the nine all-time meetings with the Rams, the other ending in a draw, while Winston-Salem State (16-15) drops just its second and third home contests of the season.
Trailing 6-3 with one inning to play in game one, the Black & Gold used a three-run seventh to send the game to extras and plated a run in the eighth to secure the much-needed win. UNCP is now 3-0-1 in extra inning affairs this season.
The Braves put pressure on the Rams' defense early and often, plating the first run of the game when Taylor Gerhart swiped second and Abbey Walters scampered home on a throwing error by the catcher.
Winston-Salem State scored the next three runs to grab a 3-1 lead through three innings. UNCP regained the lead in the fourth on RBI singles from Savannah Melvin and Lexie Coxe.
Three more runs from the Rams put them in front 6-3 after six, but the Black & Gold did not throw in the towel, rallying for three runs in the seventh. Coxe lead off the frame with a single and moved to third on a single from Bailey Jones. Haleigh Epperson entered as a pinch runner and immediately stole second, allowing Coxe to score on a miscue from the Rams catcher. Jamie Johnson capped off the rally with a two-run home run to send the game to extras, her fifth long ball of the season.
With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, Toni Nelson was placed on second to begin the Braves' eighth and scored when Lexie Coxe grounded out to second.
Freshman Taylor Strickland (3-4) held the Rams scoreless in the seventh and eighth innings to snag the win in relief, allowing two hits. Katie Saunders tossed the first 4.2 innings, surrendering five runs (four earned) on seven hits. The senior struck out three and walked a trio of Rams. Walters allowed one run in an inning and a third, striking out three and walking one.
Gerhart and Coxe both tallied two hits and a run scored. Coxe and Johnson both drove in a pair of runs and seven different Braves crossed the plate.
UNCP held off a late-innings Winston-Salem State rally in game two to win consecutive games for the first time since March 7 and 9.
The Braves got the scoring started in the first, taking a 1-0 lead when Walters scored on an error. Savannah Melvin then singled home Gerhart for a 2-0 UNCP advantage. The lead expanded to 4-0 in the third when Walters sent a towering home run to left, plating Johnson. It was Walters' fifth balst of the season, tying for the team lead with Johnson and Gerhart.
The Rams scored twice in the fifth and once in the seventh, but could not complete the comeback.
Strickland (4-4) grabbed her second win of the day in a complete-game effort, her eighth such game of the season. She allowed eight hits, walked two and set down three Rams via strikeout.
Walters was a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish, her team-high ninth game this season with at least three hits. Gerhart went 2-for-2 with a run scored and a walk, while stealing two bases.
UNCP continues with non-conference action Tuesday, a road twinbill with Barton. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Jeffries Field in Wilson. The Braves have won 20 of the 31 all-time meetings with the Bulldogs, including a 14-5 victory in 2014.
