ELON, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team tackled a two game load where Ohio claimed a 14-10 offensive battle over the Spartans to kick off play on Saturday. The Blue & Gold then bounced back with a 15-6 victory over UConn.
 
The Spartans are now 2-2 this season. The win over the Huskies was the first win over a Big East school since March 4, 2022, when the Spartans won 6-2 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, during the Carolina Classic.
 
UNCG has now totaled 13 home runs in four games played.
 
Game 1: Ohio 14 – UNCG 10

• Jessie Shipley and Rylie Williams paced the Spartans with four RBI.
• Shipley went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, one walk and three home runs.
• Williams swung 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and two home runs.
• The Bobcats' Emma Hoffner had a game high six RBI after swinging 3-for-4 with two runs scored, a double and a home run.
• For the Spartans, Hadley Gardner (2-for-5) and Grace Loftin (2-for-5) also had a multi-hit game.
• UNCG took the initial lead, 1-0, before Ohio responded with its own run in the bottom of the first, 1-1.
• Shipley homered in the lead off spot to start the scoring in the top of the first, while Williams kicked off the top of the second with her own solo shot.
• The Bobcats broke open the game with nine runs between the second and third for a 10-2 advantage.
• In the top of the fourth, Williams blasted a two-run homer and Shipley hit her second solo shot of the day later that frame to cut the deficit to five, 10-5.
• Shipley's final long ball of the game came in the top of the sixth with no outs and Kaylyn Belfield on base. The Spartans scored three other runs in the inning to tie the game at 10-10.
• Ohio then scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take back the lead, 14-10, before UNCG stranded one runner in the top of the seventh.

 
PITCHING RECORDS
Reese Byrd: L, 0-2
Mikie Lieving: W, 2-0
 
Game 2: UNCG 15 – UConn 6 (6 innings)

• Meredith Harwood led the game with seven RBI, after swinging 2-for-3 with two runs scored, one walk and two home runs.
• Two other Spartans had multi-hit games, including Shipley (2-for-4) and Loftin (3-for-3).
• Loftin also had a multi-RBI game, tallying four along with one walk and one home run.
• Loftin blasted a two-run shot over the left field wall in the top of the first for a 2-0 advantage.
• UConn cut the deficit to one, 2-1, in the bottom of the first, before taking the lead in the bottom of the second off two runs on three hits and one error, 3-2.
• Th Spartans broke open the game with seven runs between the third and fourth innings, 9-3.
• Laney Deane hit her first-collegiate hit, a double in the top of the fourth.
• Two of the six runs in the fourth were from bases loaded walks and the other four tallies came from Harwood's grand slam over the center field wall.
• The Huskies scored a run in the bottom of the sixth and then two in the fifth for a three-run gap, 9-6.
• The Spartans prevailed and put up another six runs in the top of the sixth on five hits and one error for a 15-6 advantage.
• Harwood connected for a three-run homer with no outs and Williams followed with a solo shot. Shipley completed UNCG's scoring with a solo home run in the frame.
• UConn had runners on first and second with one out and the Spartans secured the win with a double play.

 
PITCHING RECORDS
Reese Byrd: W, 1-2
Sydnee Koosh: L, 1-1
 
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UP NEXT
The Spartans will conclude the Elon Softball Classic tomorrow against the host team at 2:30 p.m. at Hunt Softball Complex.