Box Scores (Game 1 | Game 2)
AUGUSTA, Ga. – The UNC Pembroke softball team racked up nine hits in game one and another 13 in game two but were haunted by seven errors and seven unearned runs in a doubleheader sweep at the hands of Augusta Saturday afternoon at Jaguar Field.
The Jaguars (7-23, 2-2 PBC) scored six unearned runs in a 6-3 victory in the opener before using a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to cap off the sweep 5-3. The losses extend the Braves' (17-10, 2-4 PBC) current losing streak to six. UNCP's 13 hits in game two are the most in a setback this season.
The Black & Gold struck first in the day's first affair on a
Haleigh Epperson RBI single in the third that pushed
Ashleigh Mason across the dish.
Augusta scored the next six runs, two in the third and four in the sixth, to force the Braves into needed five runs in their last at-bat. A pair of RBI base knocks from Epperson and
Abbey Walters cut the deficit to three and brought the tying run to the plate, but a groundout ended the UNCP threat.
Walters (9-4) caught the definition of a tough-luck loss in the circle, as the senior did not allow an earned run in her ninth complete game of the season. She allowed just three hits, but saw six runs cross due to a season-high five errors from the defense. Walters lowered her season ERA to 1.51, a mark that's sixth best in the league.
Epperson was the lone Brave to record multiple hits in a 3-for-4 effort, while
Jamie Johnson and
Taylor Gerhart each tacked on a double.
Down 1-0 after three innings of the nightcap, the Black & Gold erupted for three runs on four hits in the fourth to grab a 3-1 lead.
Rendi Wetherington and
Toni Nelson led off the frame with back-to-back doubles before
Lexie Coxe executed a perfect squeeze bunt and Epperson drew a walk to cap off the scoring.
Unfortunately for the guests, the fourth inning would be the only stanza they pushed a run across and Augusta scored once in the fourth and again in the seventh to force extra innings. After a scoreless eighth from both sides, the hosts walked off in the ninth with one out.
The Braves left the bases loaded in both the third and fourth innings and had runners on base in each of the extra frames. Johnson went 3-for-5 with a pair of two baggers, while Wetherington, Nelson and Coxe each had two hits.
Freshman
Malerie Leviner (5-6) went the distance for UNCP in game two for her seventh complete game of the season. Her 8.1 innings pitched are the most in her short career, while she surrendered four earned runs and fanned four Jaguars.
The Black & Gold will now travel to Milledgeville for a Sunday twinbill against Georgia College. First pitch, originally set for noon at the Peeler Complex, has been pushed back to 2 p.m. due to forecasted rain in the morning/early afternoon hours. The Bobcats (16-10, 3-1 PBC) were winners of 10-striaght overall before falling to Francis Marion on the backend of Saturday's doubleheader.
