PEMBROKE, N.C. – Flagler College trailed 9-3 through three innings, but rallied to force extra innings and scored twice in the ninth to win 13-11 over the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in the second game of a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader Sunday afternoon at the UNCP Softball Field. UNCP won the opener 4-2.
Flagler is now 25-18 overall and 8-4 in the Peach Belt. UNC Pembroke has a 15-21 overall record and a 4-8 conference record.
Garland Evans and
Genevieve Mangini started the ninth for Flagler with a pair of singles.
Tatum Morgan's sacrifice bunt moved both runners up a base.
Maria Kappos broke the tie with a single to left, which plated Evans, and then Mangini scored the insurance run on a sacrifice fly to left.
Alayna Savaglio (4-5), working in her seventh inning of relief, got out of a jam with runners at second and third with two outs. She got the last batter to foul out to first base.
She scattered eight hits and allowed three runs to earn the win. Savaglio struck out five and walked three. She retired 11 batters on fly outs and another five on ground outs.
Morgan tied a school record with four hits in the game and the Saints recorded a season-high 16 hits. She hit a double, a home run, scored three runs, and finished with four runs batted in.
Natalie Murphy went 2-for-4 with a double, four RBI, a run scored. She added two sacrifice flies.
Malerie Leviner (7-10) took the loss for the Braves. She tossed the last two innings and allowed two runs on three hits. Leviner was the fourth UNCP pitcher used in the game.
Cameron Davis went 3-for-5 with a grand slam in the first inning. Mary Sells went 3-for-6 with a double, two runs scored, and two RBI.
In the opener, Davis hit a solo home run in the fourth inning to give the Braves a 3-0 lead.
Morgan Murphy hit an RBI single in the sixth and a ground out scored another run to get Flagler to within two runs, 4-2.
In the seventh,
Natalie Murphy hit a one-out single to bring the tying run to the plate. Tatum Brummitt was able to retire the next two batters to record her fourth save of the season.
Leviner scattered six hits and allowed two runs in five-plus innings to pick up the win.
Davis went 2-for-3 with a double to go along with the home run.
Kyra Gipson (13-8) allowed four runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Katlyn McCue finished the game and allowed one hit.
Natalie Murphy went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
Flagler returns home for the first time since knocking then-No. 10 (NFCA Division II Top 25) Florida Tech on March 27. The Saints host No. 3 University of North Georgia on Friday at 3 p.m. at Flagler Field.
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