Zack Ciboth, Sports Editor
The #5 ranked UNC Pembroke baseball team dropped the first two games and took the last one against the Francis Marion Patriots this past weekend on the road to kickoff Conference Carolinas action. The Patriots took the first game by a score of 10-6, the second game 4-3, and the Braves took the final game of the three-game series 2-1.
With the loss the Braves fall to 12-2 on the season and 1-2 in the conference. For the Patriots they improve to 9-4 on the season and 2-1 ion the conference.
In the first game the Patriots used a six run third inning to quickly take a 6-0 lead. The Braves scoring woke up and cut the lead down to 6-4 in the fourth inning. The Patriots added some insurance runs in the late innings to seal the win. Connor Kirkley took the win for the Patriots going two and a half innings giving up one hit while striking out one batter and walking three. Jack Hagen was awarded the save for the Patriots. Spencer Ledford took the loss for the Braves going two innings giving up one hit and two runs while striking out three and walking two.
In the second game the Patriots took a 3-0 early and held the Braves scoreless through the first five innings before a three-run inning in the sixth tied things up at 3-3. The Patriots took the lead in the eighth 4-3 and held the Braves off for the win. Tyson Hall got the win for the Patriots going two and two-thirds innings giving up one hit while striking out one and walking one batter. Chase Jernigan took the loss for the Braves going two and one-third innings giving up one hit and one run while striking out five and walking three.
In the final game of the series both sides were scoreless through the first five innings before the Braves broke the drought by scoring one run in the sixth. The Patriots tied the game up in the eighth at 1-1. The game headed to extra innings where the Braves scored a run in the tenth to secure the win. Rhett Burley got the win for the Braves going one and two-thirds innings giving up zero hits and zero runs while striking out one batter and walking two. Jacob Smith was awarded the save for the Braves. Elmes Braxton IV took the loss for the Patriots going one and two-thirds innings giving up two hits and one run while striking out one and walking two.
The Braves will hit the road again on Tuesday when they travel to Coker for non-conference action. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
Softball
The UNC Pembroke softball team fell to the #14 ranked Wingate Bulldogs in sweep fashion this past weekend. The Bulldogs rallied late and used extra innings to walk off the Braves in game one 4-3. In the second game the Bulldogs scored fast and early en route to a 12-0 win.
With the loss the Braves fell to 6-13 on the season and the Bulldogs improved to 15-4 on the year.
In the first game the Braves got on the board first thanks to a solo homerun by Summer Bullard. The Bulldog tied it up at 1-1 in the bottom half of the second. The Braves regained the lead in the eighth before the Bulldogs tied it again at 2-2. This was the same case in the ninth as we headed into extras knotted at 3-3. In the tenth an RBI single by Ragen Liles walked it off for the Bulldogs securing the win for Wingate.
Hali Scott took the win for the Bulldogs in the first game pitching two and one-third innings giving up one run and striking out one. Summer Bullard took the loss for the Braves going nine and one-third innings giving up seven hits and four runs whiling striking out 12 batters and walking two.
It was a different story and ball game in the second game with the Bulldogs scoring five runs in the first and second innings to take a 10-0 lead early over the Braves. The Bulldogs added some insurance runs in the third to secure the run-rule win over UNCP. Scott took the win again for the Braves going two innings giving up one hit while striking out five and walking one. Madison Davis took the loss for the Braves going one inning while surrendering five hits and seven runs while striking out two and walking three.
The Braves will be back in action at home on Tuesday when they welcome Newberry to town for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.