Lady Paladins overtake UNCG for third place in conference standings

GREENSBORO, NC — Freshman Meagen Johnson pitched Furman to a complete game victory in the first game and hit the game-winning two-run homer in the second to lead the Lady Paladins to a sweep over UNC Greensboro in Southern Conference softball action this afternoon in Greensboro. Furman won the first game 4-3 and the second 2-0 to move past UNCG in the conference standings at 10-10 (19-22 overall), while the Spartans fell to 8-11 in the league (33-26-1 overall).

Furman got on the scoreboard first in the first game, as Ali McNulty doubled to right field to score La Kerah Barr, who led off the game with a single. UNCG answered back in the bottom of the inning, as Kim Benningfield (Jr./Levittown, PA) was walked, and Tabitha Lewis (Fr./Winnabow, NC) hit a single. After a pop-up for the first out, Penny Thompson (Jr./Franklin, NC) hit a single down the left field line to score Benningfield, and Lewis scored on Jennifer Aguilar¹s (Jr./San Jose, CA) groundout to the shortstop.

UNCG loaded the bases in the bottom of the third with one out, but couldn¹t manage to add a run to the scoreboard. The Spartans attempted a squeeze play but Lewis was tagged out at home plate, and Christine Sweeney (Fr./West Palm Beach, FL) struck out to end the inning.

Furman loaded the bases with one out in fourth inning, and the Lady Paladins took advantage of the opportunity. Caroline Evans doubled to right field to bring in Jessica Griffin and Johnson. After a groundout for the second out, Kristen White singled to plate Sarah Scott for the eventual game-winner, giving Furman a 4-2 advantage. The Spartans cut into the lead in the sixth, as Thompson doubled and scored on Sweeney¹s RBI single to make the score 4-3, but they were sent down in order in the seventh.

Johnson improved to 6-8 as she allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out four. Amber Watson (Jr./Mt. Airy, NC) took the loss for UNCG, falling to 12-10 as she gave up four runs on six hits in 3.1 innings of action. Thompson led UNCG at the plate (3-of-3, 1 run, 1 RBI), while Lewis
was 2-of-4. Johnson led Furman, going 2-of-3 with one run.

In the second game, Johnson broke a scoreless tie in the sixth as she entered as a pinch hitter with two outs and promptly hit her third home run of the season over the right field fence to score herself and Kate Morrison. Down 2-0, UNCG had a chance to tie in both the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, Lewis reached on a fielder¹s choice and moved to second on a fly ball, bringing Thompson to the plate with two outs. Thompson, the leading home run hitter in the SoCon, was intentionally walked, and thrown out on a fielder¹s choice on the next play. In the seventh, UNCG had runners on second and third with two outs, but Benningfield fouled out to the third baseman to end the game.

Rachel Henley earned the win for Furman, moving to 10-10 as she scattered four hits over seven innings to earn the shutout. Jessica Vanderploeg (Jr./Charlottesville, NC) fell to 10-6 as she allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings. Amanda Johnson (Sr./Williamsville, NY) was 2-of-3 at the plate for UNCG, while Morrison was 2-of-3 for Furman.

The teams will play the third game of the series tomorrow afternoon at 1pm at Campus Field.