February 29, 2012
Lady Braves Capture 7-6 Victory In Extra Innings
PEMBROKE - The UNCP softball team fought for five innings to regain the lead after St. Andrews posted five runs in the third, and due to two eighth inning runs, the Lady Braves were able to seize the 7-6 victory on Wednesday afternoon in game one of the doubleheader.
Senior pitcher Jamie Burwell entered into the batting order in the third inning for UNCP (7-9) and went 3-for-3 with three singles and three runs, while freshman catcher Brea Hartley was 3-for-5 with two RBI and three singles. Holly Berry registered two doubles and one RBI, while Hobbs singled and doubled to collect one RBI. Ashley Harrell posted two hits and two runs along with an RBI, while two others had one run.
St. Andrews (5-14) was led by Jen George with three hits, one run and one RBI, while two others had two hits and five tallied one hit apiece. Four athletes totaled one RBI and were led by Whitney Hill with two RBI.
Burwell (2-4) pitched a majority of the game as she spent 5-1/3 innings in the middle for the Lady Braves after relieving Starr Gilley. Gilley spent the first 2-2/3 innings in the circle as she allowed six hits and five earned runs. Burwell clipped a season-best 10 strike outs and gave up one unearned run on six hits.
St. Andrews retired three batters in the first inning before four singles were allowed in the second inning. Kaytee Wilson scored the second inning run for UNCP on a bunt single and was brought home by Harrell to put the squad up by one. In the third inning, Hillard reached on a fielder's choice moved and was moved around the bases to score on Berry's and Hobbs' consecutive doubles.
Strong hitting in the third inning allowed the Knights to post seven singles as the entire lineup saw an at-bat in the inning to bring in five runs giving St. Andrews a 5-2 lead. UNCP inched closer in the fourth inning with two runs by Harrell and Burwell as each reached on a single and were brought home on Hartely's single up the middle.
Again in the sixth, Burwell scored after reaching on a single to center field and rounded the bases on Berry's double to right field. With the score tied at the end of the seventh inning, the Knights led off the eighth inning as Lex Cowger was positioned on second base due to the tiebreaker rule and scored on a single up the middle to bring the Knights ahead of the Black and Gold for a second time.
Harrell started the bottom of the eighth inning on second base, was moved to third as Burwell singled to the left side and scored to tie up the game. Hillard granted the opportunity for Burwell to score on a fielder's choice which ended the first game that lasted longer than two and a half hours.
The victory marked the fifth-consecutive game won this season and the most won in a row since 2010.
To watch the full game click Part 1 or Part 2.
