Softball Daily Update - April 14

By Matt Pellegrin, UNC Pembroke

LAURINBURG, N.C. - Senior centerfielder Brittany Berrier broke the UNCP record for doubles with the 45th two bagger of her career in a doubleheader sweep of St. Andrews on Monday afternoon as the Braves defeated the Knights, 3-0 and 5-0, in non-conference softball action at Knights' Field.

Berrier, who broke the record of former Brave Wendi Cochran (44), went 5-for-7 at the plate with the record-breaking double and a home run while driving in two runs and scoring another two for UNCP (43-10). St. Andrews (13-33) managed only three hits in two games against the Braves' pitching combination of Candace Evans and Whitney Landwermeyer.

The Black & Gold extended their win streak to 12 games and the Knights had their four-game win streak snapped.

After two scoreless innings, UNCP broke a scoreless tie in the first game with an unearned run in the top of the third. Berrier, who singled and scored in the third, added two insurance runs for the Braves in the fifth with a two-run home run. Berrier's third home run of the season just had enough juice to get over the centerfield fence. Berrier finished game one going 3-for-3 with three stolen bases.

Landwermeyer (8-4) held the Knights to just two hits over 7.0 innings en route to the complete-game shutout. Landwermeyer had five strikeouts in the victory.

The Braves grabbed a quick 3-0 lead in the nightcap as the first three batters of the game scored. Barrier led off the game with a double while Jelena Shaw and Katie Linkous each had RBI-singles in the first.

Freshman Morgan Patrick produced Pembroke's fourth run with a single in the third. UNCP added an unearned run in the fifth to complete its scoring. Berrier, Patrick, and freshman Courtney Hill all finished with two hits in the finale.

Evans hurled a one-hit gem as the Braves posted their third consecutive shutout of the season against SAPC. Evans improved to 14-3 on the season with the complete-game victory. Evans had three strikeouts while sophomore Nicole Easter had the Knights only hit off Evans with a single to lead-off the second inning.

Sophomore Daisy Mendez and junior Dani Ghramm had St. Andrews only other hits on the day. Senior starter Samantha Stewart pitched all 14 innings for the Knights. Stewart (9-26) had six total strikeouts but was tagged with both losses.