web Charlotte

April 3, 2002

Box Score

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Charlotte 49ers softball team split a doubleheader against UNC Greensboro Wednesday afternoon at the Phillips Sports Complex. The 49ers won game one, 6-0, before falling in the second game, 6-2. The second game was called after six innings due to darkness.

In the first game, Charlotte (16-18) got on the first, when Kiley Scott scored from first on an Autumn Lawson double. The 49ers padded their lead in the third, plating three more to go in front 4-0 with a Leah Heston home run to center to score Lynne LaPorte, Stephanie Dunlap and herself. The Niners added two more in the sixth before Dana Bowers closed the door on UNC Greensboro (24-18-1) in the seventh. Betsy Thompson earned the win to improve to 9-6. She struck out seven and gave up only one hit in six innings of work.

The 49ers didn't fair as well in game two as the Spartans jumped out to a 3-0 lead before getting on the board in the second. Two of UNC Greensboro's runs came in the top of second, when Jessica Vanderploeg scored on Jennifer Aguilar's fielder's choice and Tabitha Lewis scored on an error by Nora Petrie. Charlotte countered with two in the bottom half of the inning. Leah Heston scored the first run for the Niners' cause on wild pitch. Kristin White pulled the 49ers within one, 3-2, with a single up the middle to drive in Autumn Lawson. The Spartans clinched the game in the fifth, however, when Kim Benningfield came in as a pinch hitter and knocked a three-run home run over the left field fence to provide the final margin. Andrea Harrison, who came in as a pinch runner after Christine Sweeney singled, and Amanda Johnson also scored on the blast. The game was stopped after the sixth due to darkness. Vanderploeg picked up the win and moved to 6-4. Shannon Carson took the loss and fell to 1-3.

Charlotte returns to Conference USA action this weekend with a three-game series at UAB. They stay on the road next week as well before returning home against Furman on April 17.