GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Western Carolina softball team was defeated by UNCG in a doubleheader on Saturday at the UNCG Softball Complex, falling 6-2 in the first game and 8-0 in the second.
UNCG improves to 33-20 overall and 12-4 in Southern Conference play. WCU drops to 20-23 and 8-9.
The teams close out the 2023 regular season on Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with free live stats available via a link on catamountsports.com.
Game 1: UNCG 6, Western Carolina 2
The Spartans used a four-run second inning en route to winning the first game of the twinbill.
Brooklynn Brewington led off the game with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and stole third before scoring a fielder's choice to give the Catamounts a 1-0 lead after the first inning.
In the UNCG second inning, a trio of walks to start the inning loaded the bases with the Spartans getting runs on a groundout and sacrifice fly. Jorde Chartrand brought home a pair of runs with a two-out single to give the hosts a 4-1 lead.
Chartrand brought home a pair of runs thanks to a two-out double in the fourth for a 6-1 Spartan lead.
Bailey Huneycutt led off the seventh inning with her ninth home run of the season for the game's final run. Huneycutt's solo home run tied her for the team lead with nine.
Huneycutt went 1-for-2 with a home run and RBI while Brewington finished 1-for-3 with a single.
Myra Twitty also tallied an RBI.
Tessa Juett (8-10) took the loss, allowing six runs on four hits with five walks and two strikeouts in 4.0 innings.
Makenzie Martin walked one batter and struck out two in 2.0 hitless innings of relief.
Chartrand finished 2-for-3 with a single, double, and four RBI. Brooklynn Maxwell and Jaden Cheek also finished with one hit each. Maddie Spell (10-5) recorded the win, allowing two runs on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts in 7.0 innings.
Game 2: UNCG 8, Western Carolina 0 (6 innings)
UNCG grabbed an early lead after the first inning and seized control of the game with a four-run fifth inning.
Brooklynn Brewington ripped the second pitch of the game down the left field line for a leadoff double. Brewington advanced to third on a groundout but was thrown out trying to score on a fielder's choice.
Delaney Cumbie reached on a one-out walk in the bottom of the frame and scored on a Jorde Chartrand double for a 1-0 Spartan lead after an inning.
Kennedy Stewman led off the WCU third inning with a single and reached second base on a sacrifice bunt. Brewington singled to give the Catamounts runners on the corners with one out, but a double play ended the frame.
UNCG added four runs in the home half of the inning, three of which scored on a Grace Loftin home run for a 5-0 advantage.
Chartrand led off the fifth inning with a solo home run with the Spartans adding another run on an error.
A single by Chartrand in the sixth brought home the final run of the game.
Brewington paced the Catamount offense as she went 2-for-3 with a single and double. Stewman,
Bailey Huneycutt, and
Myra Twitty each singled.
Jayme Eilers (6-6) took the loss after she allowed seven runs, six earned, on five hits with five walks and seven strikeouts in 5.0 innings.
Chartrand led the Spartan offense as she finished a triple short of the cycle, going 3-for-3 with a single, double, home run, and three RBI. Loftin was 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. Rhyann Jones (11-2) was the winning pitcher, allowing five hits with a strikeout in six innings.
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