Related: 21 Hits Propel Softball To Sweep Of St. Andrews
GREENWOOD, S.C. – Behind three home runs and seven extra-base hits, the UNC Pembroke softball team opened Peach Belt Conference play with two victories over Lander, 5-2 and 8-6, Friday afternoon at Doug Spears Field.
The Braves improve to 10-7-1 this season, including a 2-0 mark in the conference, and have now won a season-high four-consecutive games. Lander falls to 9-9 overall and 0-2 in the PBC with the setbacks.
UNCP hurler Katie Saunders (6-4) muffled the Bearcats offense in game one, allowing single runs in the first and fourth en route to her sixth complete game of the season. The senior scattered nine hits, while striking out two and walking three. Saunders' season ERA fell to 3.15 in the process.
The Black & Gold got on the board in the second, when Jamie Johnson ripped a two-RBI single up the middle, extending her team-high hitting streak to 13 games. UNCP added a single run in the third on an Abbey Walters solo home run, her first long ball of the season. Another UNCP run crossed in the fifth, when Taylor Gerhart singled home Walters after she had singled and stole second. The final Brave tally came in the seventh on a Toni Nelson sacrifice fly to left, plating Walters.
Walters was a perfect 3-for-3 in the opening contest, scoring three runs and driving in one. She walked once and swiped two bases. Gerhart was the only other Brave to notch multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a walk.
The Braves' bats caught fire in the opening innings of game two, scoring runs in the first four frames. The first three tallies came in the first after the rally was started by a Whitney Jackson double and a Walters single and stolen base. With two runners in scoring position, Gerhart reached on a fielder's choice to score Jackson, before Nelson doubled to right, plating Walters. Savannah Melvin then executed a perfect squeeze play to push Gerhart home.
Three more Braves crossed the plate in the second, this time all on one swing, when Walters deposited her second home run of the day over the left-field fence to extend the lead to 6-0. Morgan Davis had previously reached on a single and Johnson was hit by a pitch.
Lander did not go quietly, scoring five runs of their own in the second to cut the UNCP advantage to one at 6-5.
After a groundout to leadoff the Braves' third, Melvin hit the third UNCP home run of the day, this one to left center, her first of the season. The visitors scored their eighth and final run in the fourth when Gerhart doubled to score Jackson, who reached on a bunt single.
The home squad scored one run in the sixth, but could muster no more, allowing the Braves to exit town with the sweep.
Walters (2-1) garnered the win in relief, tossing the final six innings in the circle. She did not allow an earned run, while surrendering four hits and two walks. Her 3.00 ERA is a team-low.
The duo of Jackson and Walters both went 2-for-4 at the dish and scored two runs apiece. Walters added three RBIs to bring her season total to 17 and stole her 11th base of the year. She is now hitting .470 this season, tops on the team and seventh in the PBC. Gerhart drove in two runs, moving her team-best RBI total to 20, good for a tie for eighth in the conference.
The Braves have the weekend off before a Monday doubleheader at No. 17 Catawba. UNCP took down the then-No. 7 Indians 6-2 Feb. 26 at the Mid-South Classic. First pitch Monday is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Whitley Softball Field in Salisbury.
