UNC Pembroke Sweeps Softball Doubleheader from JCSU

Charlotte, N.C. (March 28, 2018) – Visiting UNC Pembroke swept a nonconference softball header from Johnson C. Smith University by 16-1 and 12-4 scores on Wednesday afternoon at Biddleville Park.

Game one saw the Braves score four runs in the first and six in the second inning to take a 10-1 lead.  The lone JCSU run came in the bottom of the first when junior Sanae Nakoa (Maui, Hawai'i) singled, drving in senior Tia Mahoney (Hartwell, Ga.) from second.  Mahoney reached on a single and advanced to second on a Kaitin Santos (Honolulu, Hawai'i) sacrifice bunt before Nakoa's RBI hit.

UNC Pembroke then scored six more in the fourth inning to provide the eventual 16-1 final.  In the fourth, the Braves got a two-run home run from Jordan Adcox, her second of the game. 

UNCP then retired the Golden Bulls in the fourth and fifth innings to take the win.

In game two, UNCP jumped on the Golden Bulls early, going up 3-0 in the first inning. Haleigh Epperson launched a two-run shot, her first of the year, to put the Braves up 2-0.  An RBI single from Lexie Coxe made it 3-0 after one inning.

After the Braves added one in the fourth, making it 4-0, JCSU responded.  The Golden Bulls were able to string together back-to-back singles from
Shenice Harrison (Leland, N.C.) and Randaisa Daniels (Shallotte, N.C.), putting runners on first and second.  After a Santos sacrifice bunt moved the runners over, Mahoney drew a walk, bringing up Sanoa, who took a 3-2 offering from Braves pitcher Raygan Larson, and deposited it over the left field fence for the grand slam, her third home run of the year, tying the game at 4-4.

UNCP responded with six runs in the fourth inning and two in the fifth while holding the Golden Bulls scoreless the rest of the way en route to the 12-4 win.

The losses drop the Golden Bulls to 5-11 on the year while UNC Pembroke improves to 18-12.

JCSU will look to regroup on Saturday, April 7 when they open CIAA Southern Division play against St. Augustine's.  First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Biddleville Park.