FARMVILLE, VA. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team earned its sixth shutout of the season with a 4-0 victory over non-conference foe Longwood on Wednesday at Bank of the James Park.
 
UNCG is 35-14 overall and Longwood is now 17-28.
 

• Both teams put runners on base in the first and second innings but were unable to push a run across.
• In the bottom of the second with runners on the corners, Longwood's Naleya Bridges' attempted to score on a passed ball from third. Madelyn McKinnon recovered the ball and tossed it to Macy Michael for the tag play at home to keep the game scoreless.
• With a runner on third with one out in the bottom of the third, Longwood tried to push another run across, but the Spartans defense stayed strong. Avery Jefferson reached on a fielder's choice to Jessie Shipley at shortstop and Avery Drake was tagged out at home for the second out.
• Salem Ward retired the side with a fly out to keep the game scoreless.
• In the top of the fifth, Samantha Beck led off the inning with one of UNCG's six walks in the game.
• Kaylyn Belfield then singled through the left side before Rylie Williams dropped a sacrifice bunt to put both runners in scoring position.
• On a 1-0 count to Grace Loftin, she smashed the ball over the center-field wall for her 13^th home run of the season, putting UNCG up 3-0.
• Ward continued to be effective in the circle against the Lancers, as she retired three batters in the bottom of the fifth to hold on to the 3-0 lead.
• Michael reached base in the top of the sixth by way of a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
• With two outs, Laney Deane drove her in on an RBI single up the middle extending the Spartans' lead to 4-0.
• The Lancers threatened in the bottom of the sixth with runners on first and second, but Ward struck out the next two batters to get out of the jam.
• UNCG left a runner on in the top of the seventh and Ward earned the win after retiring three-straight batters by way of a strikeout, ground out and line out.

 
PITCHING RECORD
Salem Ward: W, 13-5
Maggie Chapin: L, 7-12
 
NOTES

• Loftin swung 1-for-3 with one run scored, three RBI, a walk and a home run.
• With Loftin's 13^th homer of the season, she is now tied for fifth with Delaney Cumbie in the UNCG record book with 42 career home runs.
• Belfield went 2-for-3 with one run scored.
• Deane went 1-for-1 with an RBI.
• Michael went 1-for-2 with one run scored and a walk.
• Ward tossed her sixth complete game of the season and ninth of her career, giving up five hits and striking out three batters.
• This was her third shutout of her career and season, bringing her career win total to 27.

 
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The Spartans will travel to Macon, Georgia to face The Southern Conference (SoCon) foe Mercer on Saturday for a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m. and then a single game on Sunday also beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Sikes Field.