Lady Braves sweeps two games at Lander

By Kelly Mayo
Assistant News Editor

Photo by Nick Faulkner

Lady Braves senior Loren Bartz connects with for a pitch earlier this season. Bartz connected for a home run in the first game of a doubleheader on March 28.

The UNCP softball team used speed and good defense to beat Lander 4-0 in both game one and two of a doubleheader at Doug Spears Field March 28.

The wins improved the Lady Braves to 17-15 overall and 5-5 in Peach Belt Conference. Lander now sits at 19-14 overall.

In game one, senior Loren Bartz got the Lady Braves on the board with a home run to left field in the second inning.

The Lady Braves sealed the win in the sixth inning. Senior Courtney Hill singled to left field and reached second base while freshman Taylor Cloninger reached third.

The Lady Bearcats intentionally walked sophomore Holly Berry, then a wild pitch sent Berry to second, Hill to third and Cloninger home for an unearned run.

UNCP's scoring streak continued when senior Morgan Patrick doubled to left field and sent Hill and Berry home for two more runs.

Junior Jamie Burwell finished the game by striking out four Lander players in the sixth and seventh innings.

UNCP outfielder Kellie Van Dyke struck first in the second game, scoring when Cloninger singled to center field.

Berry singled to third base in the sixth inning, which sent freshman pinch runner Amanda Anderson to second. Patrick then walked, sending Anderson to third and Berry to second.

Senior Lynn Grantham took advantage of another fielder's choice to gain an RBI and send Bartz and Patrick to third.

Patrick scored on a throwing error and Berry followed her home to put the score at 3- 0.

Burwell scored unearned on a passed ball in the seventh inning to finish off the win.