Box Scores (Game 1 | Game 2)

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Up 2-0 in the opener and then 5-0 in game two, the UNC Pembroke softball squad was unable to prevent the big innings from host and league-leading Armstrong State, as the Pirates scored 12 of their 13 runs in just two innings to overcome both deficits and sweep the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) doubleheader 6-2 and 7-5 Saturday afternoon at the Armstrong Softball Field.

After notching just a single hit in game one, the Braves (17-20, 2-12 PBC) tacked up 11 hits in the nightcap to outhit the Pirates (21-7, 11-1 PBC) by two, 11-9. The losses run the UNCP losing skid to 16 to match the longest streak in program history (1998). Armstrong State has now won eight straight overall and 21 of the last 22 meetings with the Black & Gold.

UNCP struck first in the second inning of the opener when Jessica Auld drive home Taylor Gerhart with a double. The lead was pushed to 2-0 in the fifth when Bailey Hoch scampered home on a Pirate error.

Righty Abbey Walters (9-7), who had allowed just two hits in four scoreless innings, surrendered five runs on five base knocks in the fifth to see the hosts jump out to a lead they did not relinquish. Armstrong State added an insurance run in the sixth to complete the 6-2 comeback victory.

Auld's second inning double was the only UNCP hit in game one, but the guests had seven total baserunners and left five stranded. The Black & Gold did not commit an error in game one, the first time without a defense miscue since March 5 vs. Lander.

The Braves were quick to grab another lead in the second affair with four runs on a trio of hits in their first at-bat. Jamie Johnson led off the game with third home run of the season, as the junior went 3-for-3 at the dish to raise her batting average to .390. Gerhart and Eden Brown each had an RBI single in the first and Toni Nelson drove home a run with a sacrifice fly.

The UNCP lead was extended to 5-0 an inning later when Johnson ripped a double to center that plated Haleigh Epperson. The Black & Gold put racked up six hits in their final five at-bats, but could not add to the run column.

After starter Maddie Armfield had tossed a pair of scoreless inning in the first and second, the Pirate bats exploded for seven runs on six hits in the third to erase the five-run UNCP lead and go out front 7-5. Malerie Leviner (5-10) took over in relief in the third and allowed just two runs in 3.2 innings of work to get caught with the loss.

Gerhart put together a 2-for-4 performance with a run scored and an RBI, as eight different Braves recorded at least one hit, but the guests left eight on base in the defeat.

The Braves will now head south on I-95 for a Sunday twinbill with Flagler. First pitch is scheduled for noon at Flagler Field in St. Augustine, Florida. The Saints (24-17, 7-5 PBC) lead the all-time series 8-6, but UNCP swept both games last season in Pembroke.