BRISTOL, Tenn. — The UNC Pembroke softball team recorded 18 hits and struck out just three times across two games on the way to a Conference Carolinas sweep over King on Friday at the King Softball Field.
Summer Bullard fanned 11 batters in the opening contest, as UNCP picked up four runs in the top of the fifth inning to highlight a 5-1 victory. The Braves allowed just four hits in game two but needed extra innings to secure the sweep with a 3-2 victory over the Tornado.
The Braves (20-21, 11-5 CC) will close out their road trip on Saturday in Banner Elk against Lees-McRae. First pitch of the twinbill is slated for 1 p.m. at Tate Field.
Game One
UNC Pembroke loaded the bases in the first inning after Kynley Brewer was hit by a pitch, Kaitlynn Hunt reached on an error and Katie Hogue reached on a fielder’s choice. Samantha Allred reached on a fielder’s choice as well, but drove in Brewer to give the Braves an early 1-0 lead.
Alena Demakas singled for King (22-18, 9-7 CC) to left field in the bottom of the first and would score on a single up the middle from Alyssa Suits, tying the game at 1-1.
The Braves loaded the bases in the fifth as Kylie Johnson reached on an error and both Alex Serbio and Brewer recorded singles. Hunt smacked a ball into center field and reached via an error and a trio of Braves scored on the play. Katie Hogue stood on first after drawing a walk, and would eventually score on a fielder’s choice from Chloe Locklear, making it 5-1.
Hunt had three RBIs for UNCP. Demakas had two hits for King and Savana Luper (8-6) took the loss.
Game Two
The game was tied 1-1 entering the eighth, and with the International Tiebreaker rule in play, Morgan Doyle started the inning on second base for UNCP. Doyle advanced to third on a groundout and would score on a single through the right side from Samantha Allred for a 2-1 lead.
Bradlie Warner started the bottom of the eighth inning on second and advanced to third on a groundout from Giana Winge. Alena Demakas plated Warner on a groundout to tie the game at 2-2.
The Braves’ Chloe Locklear started the ninth inning at second base and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Alona Hanna. Johnson knocked an RBI single to right field to score Locklear, which was ultimately the game-winner.
Allred had two hits for UNCP and Katie Neel (2-5) earned the win. After pitching seven innings in game one, Bullard got the save in game two, her first of the season.
Kaylee Meeks (2-4) pitched three innings with two strikeouts for King, but was the losing pitcher.
Braves baseball falls to Belmont Abbey in series opener
Jake Bradley’s solo homer tied the game in the bottom of the third, but a four-run eighth inning from Belmont Abbey was enough to give the Crusaders an 8-4 win over the UNC Pembroke baseball team in the series opener Friday afternoon at CarolinaBank Field.
Bradley turned in a 1-for-3 day, with two RBI to go along with his solo home run.
The Braves (21-14, 9-10 CC) fell to 22-20 in the all-time series with the Crusaders (25-12, 15-7 CC).
The Crusaders struck firstin the first inning, scoring two runs on two walks, two hit by pitches, and a sac fly to take an early 2-0 lead.
The Braves answered right back in the bottom half, as Blake Hinson led off the frame with a hustle double, while Will Hood walked and Hayden Davis singled to load the bases. Bradley worked an RBI walk and Landon Lucas delivered a sacrifice fly to make it 2-2.
After Belmont Abbey jumped back ahead 3-2 in the second inning, Bradley deposited a full-count offering over the left-field fence to knot the score back up at 3-3 in the third.
A Caleb Burr solo homer in the seventh inning gave the Crusaders a 4-3 lead, before Belmont Abbey tacked on four more runs on four hits in its half of the eighth to make it 8-3.
Moses Brown (1-2) took the loss for UNCP.
Joe Whitaker and Connor Tucker each had a hit and two RBIs for the Crusaders. Drew Stegura (6-2) earned the win after pitching eight innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs with seven strikeouts.
UNCP will be back in action Saturday as the two squads wrap up the series with a doubleheader. First pitch is set for noon.
Braves distance runners compete at 59th annual Colonial Relays
Sharon Ngetich brought home an event title in the women’s 5000-meter unseeded finals, while Norman Junker finished runner-up in the men’s 10,000-meters invite to highlight action at the 59th Annual Colonial Relays on Friday.
Ngetich crossed in 18:24.64 to take first place, while Junker took nearly 20 seconds off his 10,000-meters personal best to take second place with a time of 30:47.38. Malea Bennewitz also posted a new personal best and finished third in the 5000-meter unseeded finals with a time of 18:45.86, taking nearly 54 seconds off her previous personal best.
The distance runners will wrap up the event tomorrow with the men’s and women’s 6000-meter relay, while the rest of the squad will be in action as the programs host the Braves Classic at Dick & Lenore Taylor Track.
