PEMBROKE – The UNC Pembroke softball team scored three runs in the first inning of the day, but was held scoreless for the final 11 innings by a trio of Queens pitchers that limited the Braves to just six hits after the opening frame of game one to fuel a 5-3, 9-0 twinbill sweep on Tuesday afternoon at the UNCP Softball Field.
All-American
Jamie Johnson scorched a two-run double to put the Black & Gold up 2-0 in the bottom of the first and freshman
Tatum Brummitt followed with an RBI groundout to complete the scoring for UNCP.
Queens scored one run each in innings two, three and five to knot the game at 3-3 and put together a two-out rally in the top of the seventh to plate the go-ahead run and an insurance run on back-to-back doubles.
Mary Sells drew a leadoff walk in the latter half of the inning, but two strikeouts and an infield pop out ended the threat.
Johnson and newcomer
Alyssa Price each logged a pair of hits, while
Taylor Gerhart and
Haleigh Epperson each picked up one base knock.
Malerie Leviner got the start in the circle left with a 3-2 lead after four innings of work. Leviner struck out five Royals and surrendered just four hits.
The Royals jumped on the Braves with a four-run second inning and added a pair of runs in the third and fifth and a single run in the fourth on just seven total hits. Three of the seven hits left the park and accounted for four of the first six runs.
Queens starter Ali Celiberti limited the UNCP offense to just two hits in a five-inning complete game and needed just 49 pitches to pick up her first win of the season.
Alex Watkins and
Cara Davis were the only two Braves to reach base in the loss.
The Braves are back in action Saturday at home against Catawba. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for noon at the UNCP Softball Field. The Indians (1-1) split a twinbill with Augusta on Saturday in their only action of the season. UNCP is 10-11 all-time against Catawba, including wins in the last two meetings. The teams haven't met in Pembroke since a 2015 doubleheader.
