Box Scores (Game 1 | Game 2)
AMERICUS, Ga. – Riding on the wings of a five-game winning streak, the UNC Pembroke softball team suffered a pair of setbacks at Georgia Southwestern Monday afternoon, as the host Hurricanes swept the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) doubleheader 10-2 and 4-1 at Lady 'Canes Softball Field in Americus.
The Braves (24-25, 5-17 PBC), who had won seven of their last eight prior to Monday, are officially eliminated from the PBC Tournament race with the losses. Georgia Southwestern (22-28, 7-13 PBC) picks up its first sweep of UNCP since 2011 and improves to 12-4 at home against the Braves.
After surrendering three runs in the first in game one, the Braves bounced back with a pair of tallies in the second to pull within one, but Georgia Southwestern tacked on an unearned run in the fourth and exploded for six more in the sixth to put the run-rule into effect at 10-2.
Five different Braves were responsible for UNCP's five hits, while freshman
Eden Brown delivered the lone RBI hit with a single that plated
Taylor Gerhart and
Jessica Auld. Six Hurricanes each had two base knocks apiece and spots 4-5-6 combined for six hits, six RBIs and three runs scored.
Abbey Walters (12-9) went the distance in the circle for the Black & Gold, but allowed a season-high 10 total and nine earned runs, while fanning five Hurricanes.
The hosts struck first again in game two, this time with single runs in the second and third frames. UNCP answered with a run in the fourth to cut the deficit to 2-1, but did not plate another run in the setback despite outhitting Georgia Southwestern 8-7. The Hurricanes added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth to wrap up the sweep.
Jamie Johnson turned in a 3-for-3 performance in the nightcap to raise her league-leading average in conference play to .453.
Bailey Hoch drove home the UNCP run on a single that pushed Auld home after she singled.
Maddie Armfield (3-5) fired her fourth complete game of the season on just 67 pitches and surrendered four runs on seven hits.
The Braves return home for the final time Wednesday when they host CIAA-member Chowan in a 2 p.m. twinbill at LRA Field. The Hawks (28-16) are winners of nine-straight overall, but UNCP leads the all-time series 16-4, including a perfect 10-0 mark in Pembroke.
