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Johnson City, Tenn. -- UNC Greensboro won both ends of a softball doubleheader from East Tennessee State, 6-4 and 8-0, Friday afternoon from Kiwanis Park.
Starting pitchers Amber Watson for UNC Greensboro (28-12) and Tiffany Vandergriff of ETSU (8-28) kept the opposing bats quiet for the first three innings of game one. The UNCG bats came alive in the top of the fourth, scoring three runs.
Kim Benningfield opened the scoring for the Spartans with a bunt single, scoring Kristy Norton. Joy Stogner then followed with a line drive double to center, scoring Benningfield and Penny Thompson.
UNC Greensboro added a run in the fifth as Leigh Irwin reached on a bunt single, stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a Thompson single.
The Spartans scored their final two runs in the top of the sixth. Amanda Johnson picked up an RBI as she singled in Benningfield from third. Andrea Harrison then walked with the bases loaded, forcing in Amy Poole.
ETSU made a valiant comeback in the by scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Miranda Byerly came to the plate and doubled in Judith St. Clair and Melonie Collins. Byerly then scored as Andrea Roberts would reach on an error. Rhea Holler, who singled earlier in the inning, would score the final Buccaneer run as she crossed the plate on an error.
Vandergriff (7-14) pitched her SoCon leading 18th complete game, allowing five earned runs and 12 hits, striking out six. Watson (13-7) pitched 6.2 innings to pick up the win for UNCG, allowing no runs on seven hits, striking out three.
Amy Poole, Irwin and Benningfield collected two hits for the Spartans. Collins, St. Clair, Byerly and Holler each had two hits for ETSU.
The Spartans wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in game two, sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring five runs. Thompson opened up the scoring, walking with the bases loaded to force in Irwin. Watson would then reach on a fielder's choice that would score Harrison on an subsequent error. Poole then came to the plate and singled to center, scoring Thompson and Kristy Norton. The final run would come as Irwin singled in Watson in her second at-bat of the inning.
UNCG would add three more runs in the top of the second. The first two batters would line out to Vandergriff in centerfield, the second on a dazzling diving catch. Watson and Benningfield would then hit consecutive doubles, with Watson crossing the plate. Following a walk to Joy Stogner and a passed ball, Poole singled in Benningfield and Stogner to provide the 8-0 margin of victory.
Poole (11-10) was almost perfect on the mound, allowing just one hit in her complete game, striking out two. Marsha Giles (0-5) also pitched a complete game, allowing six earned runs on seven hits, striking out three.
Poole went 3-3 with four RBI's for the Spartans. Julia Chance registered the only hit for ETSU.
The Buccaneers and Spartans play the final game of their series at 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon.