DUNCAN, S.C. – The UNC Pembroke softball team recorded 14 hits in the play-in-game against Belmont Abbey, but struggled to get into an offensive rhythm and tallied just three hits in the first round of the Conference Carolinas Tournament against King on Friday evening at Tyger River Park. 
 
The Braves established an early 5-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Crusaders scored two runs in each of the next two innings to tie the score up. A five-run ninth fueled by an Emily Rose homer helped propel UNCP to a 14-9 victory in nine innings to advance to the first round of the tournament. Top-seeded King multiple runs in the first three innings and never looked back on the way to a 10-0 victory over UNCP.
 
The Braves will now face North Greenville in an elimination game on Saturday at 2 p.m. UNCP won both contests against NGU on March 31 and are 4-2 all-time against the Crusaders. 




 

DOUBLEHEADER SUMMARY
GAME 1 FINAL	UNC Pembroke 14, Belmont Abbey 9 (9 Innings)
PITCHERS	WP: Madison Dyson (8-15)   LP: Alannah Browne (3-13)
GAME 2 FINAL	King 10, UNC Pembroke 0 (5 Innings)
PITCHERS	WP: Madison Walter (12-5) LP: Summer Bullard (7-9)
RECORDS	UNC Pembroke (19-30), Belmont Abbey (18-25) King (32-20)

KEY INNINGS (GAME 1)
TOP 5	Kaci Roberson smacked a single to the left field game and advanced to second after a five-pitch walk from Cirstin Calloway. Samantha Allred knocked a double to the outfield grass to score a pair of runs and give UNCP a 3-1 lead. Lauren Hilbourn singled to center field and advanced to second after an RBI single from Olivia Hall. Marijo Wilkes loaded the bases via a walk, followed by a walk from Emily Rose to walk in a run and give the Braves a 5-1 lead.
BOT 6	Adison Yoder drew a walk and advanced to second after a fielder's choice from Alannah Browne. Marlie Stilwell singled up the middle to score Yoder, followed by a single through the middle to plate Browne to knot the score at 5-5.
TOP 9	Olivia Hall started the inning on second base with the International tiebreaker rule in play. Hall advanced to third on a wild pitch, but Emily Rose sent one out of the park to put UNCP back out in front. Kadence Sheppard singled to the outfield grass and advanced to second via a walk by Kaci Roberson. Cirstin Calloway's three-run blast over the left field fence pushed the UNC Pembroke lead out to 14-9.
KEY INNINGS (GAME 2)
TOP 1	King loaded the bases after Jessica Campbell doubled down the left field line, Lauren Lawson was hit by a pitch and Erin Foster beat out an infield single. Carly Turner found the outfield grass to drive in a run, followed by a two-run RBI single down the right field line from Tinsley Thompson to give the Tornado an early 3-0 lead.

UNCP LEADERS (GAME 1)	BAC LEADERS (GAME 1)
Cirstin Calloway 3-5, 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI Emily Rose 1-3, HR, 3 RBI Lauren Hilbourn 3-5, HR, 2 RBI Samantha Allred 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI	Bailey Presley 3-5, HR, 4 RBI Sydney Pon 2-5, HR, RBI Alannah Browne 4.1 IP, 7K
UNCP LEADERS (GAME 2)	KING LEADERS (GAME 2)
Cirstin Calloway 1-2 Samantha Allred 1-2, 2B Olivia Hall 1-2	Haylee Dye 2-3, 2 2B, 3 RBI Lauren Lawson 1-1, 2B, RBI Tinsley Thompson 2-3, 2 RBI

 

UP NEXT

The Braves will now face North Greenville in an elimination game on Saturday at Tyger River Park. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.

 

STAY CONNECTED

Follow UNCP Softball on Twitter and Instagram at @UNCP_Softball and "Like" UNC Pembroke Softball on Facebook.

 

BACK THE BRAVES

Fans can help support the UNC Pembroke Baseball program by joining the Braves Club, or by making a gift directly to the program. To find out more information about the Braves Club, visit UNCPBraves.com/BravesClub or email braves.club@uncp.edu. To make a monetary gift, visit UNCPBraves.com/Give and indicate "baseball team" in notes section.