AIKEN, SC -Bladenboro native Abbey Walters pitched a no-hitter and walloped a 3-run home run to lead UNC-Pembroke to a 10-0 Peach Belt Conference victory Friday at USC-Aiken that clinched a PBC Tournament berth for the Lady Braves.
Walters allowed only a lead-off walk in the second inning, but that runner was erased on a double play. The junior righthander struck out 5 in recording her first shutout and fourth complete game of the season.
It was the first no-hitter thrown by a UNC-Pembroke pitcher since 2010 and the first no-hitter of at least 6 innings by a Lady Brave pitcher since 2003. Walters raised her record to 7-5 on the season and lowered her team-best earned run average to 3.03. She ranks sixth in the Peach Belt with a 2.67 ERA in conference play.
At the plate Walters blasted a 3-run home run over the left field wall in the first inning to stake the Lady Braves to an early 3-0 lead.
Walters leads the Lady Braves in batting average (.398), slugging percentage (.649), home runs (7), runs batted in (37), doubles (16), triples (3) and hits (68). The West Bladen grad is fifth in the Peach Belt in batting average, tenth in rbi’s, ninth in home runs and sixth in stolen bases.
The Lady Braves improved to 12-10 in the PBC and 26-23-1 overall and are assured of at least the No. 7 seed in the post-season PBC Tournament. UNC-Pembroke could move up as high as the No. 4 seed with victories in their regular-season finale against Montevallo which begins at 11 a.m. Sunday. The second game of the double-header is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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