WINGATE, N.C. – The UNC Pembroke softball team stretched a one-run lead into five with a four-run seventh inning in the opener before using a three-run seventh inning to grab victory from the jaws of defeat in game two to fuel an 11-6, 3-2 sweep of host Wingate on Wednesday afternoon at the Wingate Softball Complex.
The Braves (8-6) have now won three-straight games and logged at least 10 hits in all three victories after failing to reach double-digit hits in the first 11 games of the season. Wingate (6-10), who is averaging 2.6 runs in its last eight games, has now lost two of its last three and falls to four games under .500 for the first time this season.
Freshman
Cara Davis put together a 3-for-4 performance at the dish in game one, while scoring four runs and driving in three.
Mary Sells,
Alex Watkins and
Lexie Coxe each tacked on a pair of hits for UNCP, who registered a season-high 13 in the victory. Watkins also drove in three runs, while a quintuple of Braves logged one RBI each.
Malerie Leviner (2-2) went six innings in the circle to pick up her second win of the season, as the freshman allowed six runs on seven hits and struck out two Bulldogs.
Breezy Yelton closed the door for the Braves with a 1-2-3 seventh inning on 12 pitches.
Davis opened the scoring with a two-run home run in the top of the first and the UNCP lead swelled to 3-0 on a bases-loaded walk six batters later. The Black & Gold scored twice more in the second on a two-run single by Watkins, but Wingate scored four times in the first three innings to stay within 5-4.
Each team plated a single run in the fifth and sixth frames, before the Braves exploded for four runs in the seventh without a hit. Three bases-loaded walks and a sacrifice fly put UNCP up 11-6 and allowed Yelton to ease through the bottom of the seventh.
The teams combined for 20 hits and 17 runs in game one, but just five runs despite 21 hits in the nightcap.
Jamie Johnson led all Braves with a trio of hits in game two, while Sells, Davis and
Bailey Hoch each notched a single hit. Davis' seventh-inning home run was the only extra-base hit for either team.
Yelton (5-1) went the distance in game two to record her fifth win and fourth complete game of the campaign. The freshman surrendered two runs (one earned) on nine singles and three walks.
Aubrey Reep put the hosts up 1-0 with a solo shot to center in the bottom of the first and neither side scored for the five frames. Needing one run to tie, the Braves plated three in the top of the seventh on three hits and a walk.
Davis led off the inning with her third home run of the day and fourth of the season to bring the game even and
Toni Nelson drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to center to put UNCP up 2-1. Hoch followed with a two-out single to plate Gerhart and extend the lead to 3-1. Wingate scored an unearned run on two hits in the seventh, but Yelton induced a fly out with runners on first and second and two outs to secure the sweep.
The Braves are back in action Saturday and Sunday at the Mid-South Classic in Duncan, South Carolina. UNCP will do battle with No. 25 Carson-Newman on Saturday at noon at Tyger River Park before a 4 p.m. duel with Barton. Sunday will pit the Black & Gold against Converse at 10 a.m. and Barton again at noon.
