PEMBROKE, N.C. – The University of North Carolina Pembroke swept a Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader from Flagler College, 3-1 and 8-4, Friday afternoon at LRA Field.
UNC Pembroke extended its winning streak to six games and improved to 24-21-1 overall and 10-8 in the Peach Belt. Flagler lost its fifth game in a row and dropped to 20-25 overall and 5-15 in conference play.
In the opener, Katie Saunders (13-11) tossed a complete game eight-hitter as she allowed only one run and struck out three. She retired nine-of-the-first-11 batters she faced.
Savannah Melvin socked a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning, part of a two-run frame for the Braves. They added another run in the fifth inning on a squeeze bunt.
The Saints scored their only run in the sixth inning when
Mallory Allen singled to left field which scored
Mackenzie Conley from third base.
Jamie Johnson went 2-for-3 with a triple and she scored two runs for UNCP. Taylor Gerhart collected a pair of singles.
Haleigh Corbally (9-9) took the loss in the circle for Flagler. She went the distance and surrendered eight hits and three runs, but fanned five.
Whitney Woodard led the Saints with three singles.
In game two, Gerhart hit a walk-off grand slam which broke up a 4-all tie in the bottom of the seventh.
The Saints trailed 3-1 going into the top of the fifth.
Tori Volz hit an RBI triple and
Malloree Escue followed with a two-run home run to left field to put Flagler ahead, 4-3.
But in the home half of the fifth, Melvin led off the inning with a single to right-center and was bunted over to second base. She took third on a wild pitch and then scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Gerhart to tie the game.
Gerhart went 3-for-3 with the grand slam and five runs batted in. Whitney Jackson went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored. Melvin had a pair of singles and scored three runs. Toni Nelson singled twice.
Abbey Walters (6-5) tossed four innings in relief and received the win. She allowed three hits and three runs. She walked two and struck out two. Taylor Strickland started and lasted three-plus innings. She scattered five hits and allowed one run.
Volz led the Saints with three hits, including the triple, and she scored a run and drove in another. Escue went 2-for-4 with the two-run home run. Conley went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
Tinsley Smith (3-4) went the distance for the Saints. She surrendered 10 hits and allowed seven earned runs. Smith walked three and struck out three.
Flagler returns home for its final two home doubleheaders starting with next Friday's (April 15) twinbill against Columbus State University at 5 p.m. at Flagler Field.
