TIGERVILLE, S.C. - The Newberry College softball team brought its winning streak up to three consecutive games, as the Lady Indians swept a doubleheader against North Greenville University Monday afternoon.

Newberry is now 12-9-1 on the year, while the Crusaders drop to 3-15.

Game One: Newberry 1, North Greenville 0
The Lady Indians picked up their second consecutive shutout, as Kristen Hicks (1-1, Bamberg, S.C.) earned her first win of the season. Stephanie Monette (Conway, S.C.) struck out four batters in 2-2/3 innings of work for her first save of the year.

Newberry pushed across the only run of the game in the top of the fourth inning. Freshman Sara Powell (Ocean View, Del.) led off the inning with a double down the left field line, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Christina Kirby (Delmar, Del.).

Kat Hammond (Irmo, S.C.) drove Powell in on a bloop single to left center, earning what turned out to be the game-winning RBI.

Hicks got into a jam in the bottom of the fifth, as the Crusaders loaded the bases with one out on two singles and a walk. However, Monette entered the game and got the next two batters to pop out and strike out to keep NGU at bay. The Crusaders stranded eight runners in the game, while Newberry stranded five.

Game Two: Newberry 3, North Greenville 1
Newberry scored two early runs in the first and added ad insurance run in the sixth to win Monday's nightcap.

Ginna Dean (Willow Springs, N.C.) led off the game with a triple to right-centerfield and was driven in by a Powell single up the middle. Hammond reached on a fielder's choice, and made it to second on a single to left field by Kirby.

Courtney Lindler (Irmo, S.C.) drove Hammond in with a double to left, giving Newberry a 2-0 lead with only one out in the game. However, a groundout and a fly out to right would end the Newberry barrage.

North Greenville was able to end Newberry's string of 15 scoreless innings on defense, when a potential third out dribbled its way to the outfield to push Bridget Wilson across the plate and narrow the deficit to 2-1.

The Lady Indians manufactured a run in the top of the sixth to add an insurance marker. Lindler led the inning off with a single to left field, and showed off her speed, as she extended a sacrifice bunt situation to third base. The senior scored on a throwing error to close the scoring.

Kirby picked up the victory in relief, allowing only two hits in four innings. The senior brings her record to 7-3 on the season. Monette started the game, giving up one unearned run and one hit in three innings, but earning no decision.

"I've been pleased with our pitching, especially over the last six games," head coach Joe Elston said. "We've thrown three shutouts in there, which is very good."

"However, I've been a little disappointed in our run production over the last four games. We've gotten runners on base, but we haven't put together the hits to bring home runners in scoring position. I've also been disappointed in our lack of intensity the last few games. We're so close to being a very, very good team, but we haven't learned how to do that yet," Elston added.

The Lady Indians play one more doubleheader before the spring break tournaments begin. Newberry travels to Florence to take on Francis Marion University on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.