Jayden Berkin, Sports Reporter
The UNC Pembroke softball team came out swinging in the second game of a double header against Barton College, putting up a score of 11-2 in a 5-inning game to win on Friday afternoon. Earlier in the afternoon they defeated the Bulldogs 2-1 and completed a key series sweep in the Conference Carolinas
The Braves got things rolling in the bottom of the second where Summer Bullard would field a single to set up Chloe Locklear’s two-run homer over the left-center fence. Up 2-0, the Braves put runners on the corners with a fielder’s choice from Marijo Wilkes after Emma Eckhart singled to center field and Kynley Brewer hit an infield single. Jai Deese hit a single to bring Wilkes home before the end of the inning.
The bottom of the third saw MaKenna Sibbet homer to center field to make it 4-0 Braves. The Bulldogs managed to get on the scoreboard thanks to a Gracelyn Massey leadoff homer. The Braves were, however, not finished with their scoring party.
It all started with a trio of infield singles from Eckhart, Wilkes and Brewer before Deese would smack a grand slam over the left field fence to stretch UNCP’s lead to 8-1. With this homer, Deese would become the single season home run leader for the program.
Following this, Sibbet and Bullard would pick themselves up singles before Locklear sent one out of the park to stretch the Braves lead even further to 11-1. Barton would respond with a run of their own in the top of the fifth, but the Braves were just too much for the Bulldogs and closed things out for the win.
Kinsley Shepard got the win for the Braves surrendering five hits and two runs while striking out six and walking one in five innings of work.
After falling to Mount Olive twice the Braves will hit the road on Wednesday and will face the Bulldogs one last time before closing the regular season on Saturday when they host Mount Olive. The first pitch for Wednesday’s game is set for 2 p.m. with game two following at 4:30 p.m.