February 6, 2010

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PEMBROKE, N.C.—The middle infield due of senior shortstop Nicole Bailey (Lumberton, N.C.) and sophomore second baseman Kaitlin Harris (Acworth, Ga.) were a combined 4-for-6 for St. Andrews Presbyterian College but the University of North Carolina at Pembroke was able to escape with 7-4 win in a chilly season-opener for the Lady Knights Saturday.

Junior Courtney Hill (Goldsboro, N.C.) drove in three runs on a pair of hits including a solo home run in the fourth inning to help the host Braves (1-1) obtain their first win of the season in the UNCP Invitational at LRA Field.

Bailey, who took over the leadoff spot for the Knights (0-1), proved to be a handful at the top of the order going 2-for-3 with two steals and two runs scored. Harris ripped a pair of doubles and drove in a run for the Royal Blue & White. Senior centerfielder Morgan Farroll (Newton Grove, N.C.) knocked in a team-high two runners for SAPC.

Bailey led off the game with a double down the left field line and later scored on a single to center by Farroll as the Knights grabbed a quick 1-0 lead. UNCP tied the game in the home half of the first before taking the lead for good with three unearned runs in the second that was highlighted by a two-run single by Hill.

After the two teams traded one run in both the third and fourth innings, UNCP tallied its last run in the sixth to take a 7-3 advantage into the final frame. Sophomore Jamie Burwell (Enka, N.C.) scored the Braves last run in the sixth after leading off with a single. Burwell was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI-double.

SAPC attempted a late rally in the seventh as Bailey led off with an infield single. Sophomore Lex Cowger (Indian Head, Md.) traded places with Bailey on a fielder’s choice before Harris clubbed a double in the left field corner bringing up the Knights cleanup hitter. Farroll drove in Cowger on a groundout but the rally was cut short as the Braves recorded their eighth strikeout to end the game.

Burwell, who started the game playing shortstop, tossed three effective innings of relief to earn her first win of the season. Junior starter Caroline Newman (Fair Bluff, N.C.), who pitched earlier in the day, fanned a game-high five batters in the first three innings.

Sophomore hurler Ashley Disque (Prince Frederick, Md.) went the distance for St. Andrews allowing seven runs (four earned) on seven hits and four walks. Disque had two K’s. Freshman Kendra Norton (Marshall, N.C.) picked up an RBI in her first collegiate game for the Knights.

Both squads collected seven hits but SAPC had two costly errors that resulted in three unearned runs that accounted for the winning margin.