The Pine Needle

Following a 4-2 showing at the USC Upstate South Carolina Fastpitch Classic March 18 through 20, the UNCP Lady Braves softball team is 24-7. Pembroke defeated Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 3-0 and North Greenville College 5-0 on March 18. The Lady Braves lost to West Virginia Wesleyan 3-2 and beat Bluefield State University 12-6 on March 19. UNCP was then victorious over Queens University of Charlotte 3-1 before faltering to Peach Belt Conference nemesis Lander University 8-0 on March 20. UNCP lost both home games (2-1, 9-1) on March 22 against Peach Belt rival North Florida.

Jeremy Holman and Jessica Autry combined to grab four first place finishes at the 22nd annual Braves Track Classic on March 19 hosted by UNCP. Six different squads gathered for the event at Taylor Track, including Francis Marion, USC Aiken, St. Andrews, Belmont Abbey and Shaw. The Braves came away with over 30 first, second or third place finishes on the day. The Braves track and field team will compete in the UNC-Wilmington Cape Fear Classic March 25 and 26 in Wilmington.

The UNCP tennis team has rebounded from a 3-3 start to go 8-6 overall and 1-5 in the Peach Belt Conference through March 20. The Braves won three of four over Spring Break, March 7-11, but lost to conference foe and 25th ranked USC Aiken 7-2 on March 20. Despite the loss to the Pacers, the Braves are 5-3 since losing 6-3 at Kennesaw State on Feb. 26. Columbus State defeated UNCP on March 22 with a 0-9 victory.

The UNCP men’s soccer team signed two in-state players to national letters of intent, the university sports information office announced Friday. Stephen Locker, an all-state defender from Weddington High School, and Michael Barnhorst, who lead South Mecklenburg High School to a top 10 state finish playing several positions as the team captain, will don the gold and black for the Braves next season. Both freshman, Locker and Barnhorst competed together on the Charlotte Soccer Club U18 Blue. Barnhorst is a former teammate of current Brave Andrew Brown. Locker tallied 10 goals and 19 assists over his four-year high school career. The Braves are coming off a 16-3 season that included the program and university’s first run to the NCAA Division II Final Four.