University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Maryland
No. 22 North Carolina Handles Terps, 2-1
March 21, 2008 | Softball
March 21, 2008
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Danielle Spaulding improved to 8-1 on the year as she struck out 13 batters in helping No. 22/24 North Carolina claim a 2-1 win over Maryland on Friday in Chapel Hill. Cassie Palmer drove in both runs on the day for Carolina with a leadoff home run and an RBI single in the game. The Tar Heels and Terrapins will meet for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Anderson Stadium.
Cassie Palmer put Carolina ahead early when she took a 2-1 pitch deep to left field for her fourth home run of the year in the bottom of the first. The solo shot would be all starter Danielle Spaulding would need as she allowed just five hits on the day. Spaulding did something in the top of the second that does not happen too often, the sophomore left-hander struck out four batters in the inning. She opened with back-to-back strikeouts before a walk put a runner on first. Spaulding would get the next batter to swing at the third strike but the ball got away from the catcher allowing the batter to reach first. The two runners did not seem to bother Spaulding as she set the next batter down on strikes for her fourth of the inning.
Carolina manufactured a run in the bottom of the second thanks in large part to a leadoff double by Alyssa Francona. Dani Manko came on to pinch run for Francona and moved to third when Anna Roberts hit a dribbler in front of the plate that moved Manko up a base with two outs. Cassie Palmer tallied her second RBI of the game when she reached on an infield single to make the score 2-0.
The Tar Heels loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth with two outs but were unable to come up with the key hit to up their lead. The Terps cut the deficit in half in the top of the sixth when the first three batters reached base. A leadoff single, a walk and a single back up that pushed Maryland's first run across the plate. A pair of strikeouts and a force out got Carolina out of the jam with a one run lead heading into the seventh. Spaulding opened the seventh like she closed the sixth with back-to-back strikeouts before a grounder back to Spaulding ended the opening game of the weekend.
Carolina improves to 25-6-1 on the year and 3-1 in the ACC, while Maryland falls to 22-5 overall and 0-1 in the ACC.
The Tar Heels and Terrapins will meet twice on Saturday with the first game scheduled for 1 p.m. at Anderson Stadium.
