University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
No. 18 Tar Heels Claim 2-0 Win
February 8, 2009 | Softball
Feb. 8, 2009
MIAMI - Danielle Spaulding came within two outs of her third career no hitter Sunday afternoon in Miami, Fla. against Texas A&M Corpus Christi as the junior led the Tar Heels to a 2-0 win. Carolina improves to 3-2 on the year and finish third in the FIU Combat Classic. The Tar Heels will take on UNC Wilmington Wednesday, Feb. 11 at Anderson Stadium before hosting the Carolina Classic from Feb. 13-15.
The Tar Heels got on the board first in the top of the second inning with a two-out rally. Emily Troup started the rally with a single to right field before Alyssa Francona was hit by a pitch putting runners on first and second for left fielder Dani Manko. The sophomore hit a slow grounder to second base that she was able to beat out for a single. The attempted throw got past the first baseman allowing Troup to score on the play and give starter Danielle Spaulding all the help she would need.
Spaulding was dealing once again, after striking out 14 in six scoreless innings Friday night. The Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., native struck out two or more batters in six of seven innings and set down the Islanders in order on strikes in the third.
Carolina tacked on an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning when pinch hitter Kelli Wheeler got things started with a four-pitch walk. Brittany Robinson dropped down a picture perfect sacrifice bunt to move Wheeler to second base. Following an Emily Troup walk, freshman Ally Blake stepped to the plate for her first collegiate at bat. The Concord, N.C., native drilled the first pitch she saw to left center field for an RBI single as Carolina laid claim to a 2-0 advantage putting Spaulding just three outs from a no hitter.
Spaulding picked up one out on one pitch to start the inning as the leadoff hitter fouled out to Alyssa Francona at third base. The next batter would break up the no-no with a bloop single to left field. Texas A&M Corpus Christi would put another runner on with a base on balls before Spaulding settled down and returned to her dominant ways with a pair of swinging strike outs for her first win of the season. In her two starts during the FIU Combat Classic Spaulding struck out 27 batters in 13 innings of work, while allowing just three hits and an unearned run.
Carolina will return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 4 p.m. when the Tar Heels host in-state foe UNC Wilmington.
