PEMBROKE – Freshman Breezy Yelton picked up the UNC Pembroke softball team's first shutout of the season in an 8-0, run-rule victory for the Braves over Catawba Friday afternoon at the UNCP Softball Field. The visiting Indians scored six runs in the seventh inning of game one to win the opener by a 6-4 score.

Yelton (1-0) tossed all six innings in just her second start of the season and surrendered just four hits, while striking out five and walking two to log her first career win in the circle. The freshman stranded eight Indians on base, including at least one in scoring position in the first five innings.

Senior Jamie Johnson went 2-for-4 at the dish with a season-high 4 RBIs, including a first-inning, three-run home run to put UNCP up 3-0. The Braves exploded for five more runs in the sixth to invoke the run-rule and snap a five-game losing skid.

Rendi Wetherington drew her third walk of the game with the bases loaded to put the Black & Gold up 4-0 before Alyssa Price ripped a two-RBI single up the middle to extend the lead to 6-0. Johnson followed with an RBI single of her own before pinch hitter Mary Sells beat out an infield single that plated the game-winning run in Price.

Eight different Braves recorded a hit in game two, including pinch hitters Sells, Shelby Thomas and Jordan Adcox, who each logged their first hit of the season.

In game one, Cara Davis singled to center in the third to put UNCP up 1-0 and two runs scored in the fifth on an Indian error to give the hosts a 3-0 lead after six complete. After having just three singles through six innings, Catawba uncorked two doubles, a triple and a home run in a six-run seventh inning to complete the comeback and win 6-4.

UNCP righty Malerie Leviner was relieved after 6.1 innings of work, but reentered to record the final two outs of the seventh inning six batters later. The sophomore allowed just two runs and for hits in seven innings of work and matched a career high with six strikeouts.

At the dish, senior Toni Nelson and Davis each logged a pair of hits, while Taylor Gerhart was 1-for-4 with a double and a RBI.

With Sunday's originally scheduled doubleheader at Wingate being postponed to Feb. 21, the Braves will enjoy seven days off before returning to action Feb. 17 at home against Limestone. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. at the UNCP Softball Field. The Saints (4-0) swept USC Aiken on Friday by 5-4 and 5-0 scores to remain unbeaten in 2018. Last season, Limestone swept the Black & Gold at home by scores of 4-3 and 10-4 on Feb. 12.