Zack Ciboth, Sports Editor
Braves Come Up Short Against Kutztown
The UNC Pembroke softball team fell in their opening game in day 1 of the UNCP Softball Invitational against the Kutztown Golden Bears. After going down early the Braves managed to climb their way back in the game but the Golden Bears sealed things with a late Grand slam to take the 8-3 win over UNCP.
The Golden Bears struck first in the top of the second inning when Sarah Harvat brought home a runner on a fielder’s choice to make it 1-0 Kutztown early. The early scoring for Kutztown did not stop there in the top of the third when Morgan Slomkowski hit a three-run homer over the center field wall making it 4-0 Golden Bears.
The Braves managed to get on the board in the bottom of the third with an RBI single to center by Marijo Wilkes bringing home a runner to make it 4-1. After a quite next two innings for both teams, the Braves made some noise again in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI double by Kynley Brewer bringing two runs home to make it 4-3 heading into a crucial seventh inning for the Braves.
The Golden Bears however put the game out of reach with the Grand Slam by Slomkowski to make it 8-3. The Braves couldn’t get anything going in the bottom of the seventh as the Golden Bears came away with the win.
Haley Gravish earned the win on the mound for the Bears. She gave up seven hits and three runs over seven innings pitched while striking out seven batters and walking one. Summer Bullard took the loss for the Braves going six innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, struck out seven batters and walked two.
Wilkes led the Braves in hits with two hits in four at bats. Brewer had two runs batted in for UNCP. Both players went 1-for-3 on the day.
Other Day 1 scores: Kutztown defeated Felician. 9-0, Felician defeated West Virginia State 7-4, Davis & Elkins defeated UNCP 8-5.
Braves Shutout Felician
The UNC Pembroke softball team picked up their first win of the season this past Saturday as part of the UNCP Softball Invitational. They took on the Felician Golden Falcons. A quick start to the inning helped play a key part in a shutout victory over the Golden Falcons. The Braves picked up the 7-0 shutout win in their third game of the Invitational.
The Braves got things going in the bottom of the second inning when Chloe Hunsinger hit a three-run homer to right center field to quickly make it 3-0 Braves. UNCP picked the scoring right back up in the bottom of the third inning when Makenna Sibbet brought home a runner with an RBI single to the shortstop and Emma Eckhart brought home Sibbet on an RBI single down the left field line to make it 5-0 Braves heading into the fourth.
After the Golden Falcons couldn’t get anything going and remained scoreless, we headed to the fifth after the Braves went quiet in the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the fifth Jai Deese got herself a homerun with a shot to left field making it 6-0 UNCP. The Braves capped things off in the bottom of the sixth when Marijo Wilkes took advantage of a wild pitch and scored to make it 7-0. The Braves finished the Golden Falcons off in the seventh for the win.
Kinsley Shepard got the win for the Braves pitching seven innings, giving up six hits and zero runs while striking out nine batters and walking three. For the Golden Falcons Mikayla Brown took the loss pitching 2 ½ innings giving up five hits and five runs while striking out two and walking none.
Other Day 2 scores: Kutztown defeated West Virginia State 8-0, Davis & Elkins defeated UNCP 13-6, Davis & Elkins defeated Felician 15-7.
Braves Fend off West Virginia State Late
The UNCP Softball team rallied late to take down the West Virginia State Yellow Jackets in the final day of the UNCP Softball Invitational Sunday night. After both sides went scoreless as the game went until the Braves broke the scoring drought in the late innings for the 4-0 win.
The Braves got things rolling in the bottom of the fifth inning with a single from Chloe Hunsinger that brought home a runner to make it 1-0 Braves. The Braves continued things in the bottom of the sixth when a bases clearing triple by Mackenzie Collins to make it 3-0 and then 4-0 when Collins stole home moments later. Braves closed things out in the seventh picking up their second win of the season.
Shepard got the start for the Braves and pitched three innings giving up three hits while striking out four and walking one. Katie Neal came in to relief Shepard and helped pick up the win pitching four innings and striking out four batters and walking two while giving up zero hits and runs.
Other Day 3 scores: Kutztown defeated Felician 15-1, West Virginia State defeated Felician 9-5, Davis & Elkins defeated UNCP 3-2.