Megon Smith was on the mound again for Union’s Lady Spartans Thursday, striking out another 12 batters to help lead her team to their third win of the season and their first conference victory. Final score was a blistering 18-7.

Smith pitched all 6 innings for Union, allowing only 3 hits.

The Spartans started off slow, earning only 2 runs in the 1st inning, but they gained momentum throughout the game, scoring 3 more runs in the 3rd and then putting up 6 more in the 4th, 3 in teh 5th and 4 more in the 6th and final inning.

James Kenan couldn’t get anything going, with Smith on fire from the hill, and the Tigers remained scoreless until the 5th inning, when they brought in 5 runs. They added 2 more in the 6th, but it was too late to gain any momentum on the Lady Spartans who got the road W.

“We’re hitting the ball pretty well,” head coach Doug Burley said of his Union girls. “We’ve still got some little things to work out, particularly on defense, but overall I think we’re doing a good job.”

At bat, Lauren Preddy was 3-3, with 4 runs, 2 RBIs and one out-of-the-park home run; Claire Riley was 1-5, with 2 runs; Janalee Strickland, 3-5, 1 run, 5 RBIs and 2 doubles; Smith, 2-3, with 1 run and 1 RBI; Brianna Allen, 1-3, with 2 runs; Carly Jones, 1-4, with 2 runs and 1 RBI; Taylor Malpass, 2-3, with 4 runs, 2 RBIs and a double; Jenna Dutton, 1-2, with 2 runs; and Olivia Burley, 1-4.

Union moves to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play. They host Pender Tuesday.