Box Scores (Game 1 | Game 2)

PEMBROKE – Visiting Newberry racked up 24 hits in a pair of Thursday games at LRA Field, including 17 base knocks in the nightcap, to power past the UNC Pembroke softball squad 2-0 and 10-4 in the non-conference sweep of the Braves.
 
The results run the current losing skid to four for the Braves (17-8), who fall to 9-6 at home this season and 0-2 in night games with the game two setback. The Wolves (15-6) have now won five of their last six overall and improve to 13-7 all-time against the Black & Gold, including wins in the last four meetings.
 
Senior Abbey Walters (9-3) pitched a gem in the opener for UNCP, but suffered her third loss of the season despite giving up just one earned run. The righty matched a season-high with seven strikeouts and walked two Wolves on 127 pitches.
 
Newberry opened the scoring with an unearned run in the top of the first and tacked on its second run on a 2-out single in the fifth with runners on the corners.
 
The Braves' offense left a runner aboard in innings two, five and seven, including Walters who led off the final frame with a double to left. Walters, Taylor Gerhart and Alex Watkins each went 1-for-3 at the dish to account for UNCP's three hits.
 
The nightcap turned into a slugfest, as 11 runs were scored in the first three innings. The Wolves once again jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the first and added five more in the third to chase UNCP starter Malerie Leviner.
 
The Black & Gold responded with four runs on four hits in its half of the third, highlighted by Jessica Auld's third home run of the season on a two-run shot to left. Jamie Johnson and Rendi Wetherington each picked up an RBI single in the inning to cut the deficit to 7-4.
 
Newberry plated three more runs in the fourth to extend the advantage to 10-4 and cap off the scoring for either team.
 
Seven different Braves produced a single hit in game two, while Auld's long ball and Lexie Coxe's double in the third were the lone extra-base hits.
 
Leviner (5-5) surrendered seven runs in 2.1 innings of work before being replaced by classmate Maddie Armfield, who tossed the final 4.2 innings and allowed three runs on her watch.
 
A quick turnaround for UNCP sees the Braves back on the diamond Saturday in Augusta, Georgia for a twinbill with Peach Belt Conference (PBC) foe Augusta. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. at Jaguar Field. The Jaguars (5-23, 0-2 PBC) have lost three straight and 10 of their last 11, but hold a 39-17 advantage over the Black & Gold in 56 all-time meetings.