University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Delaware
Carolina's Danielle Spaulding No Hits Delaware In 11-0 Win
February 19, 2010 | Softball
Feb. 19, 2010
Chapel Hill, N.C.--- The No. 23/24 North Carolina Tar Heels (3-3) kicked off the Carolina Classic with an 11-0 win over the Delaware Blue Hens (1-1). Pitcher Danielle Spaulding recorded her first no-hitter of the season and fourth of her career, tallying 16 strikeouts in 6 innings of work.
Spaulding was simply terrific on this day, pitching gaining her second win of the season in spectacular fashion. Spaulding dominated the Blue Hens offense and only allowed base runners from two walks.
An Anna Roberts walk got things rolling in the first, followed by doubles from Danielle Spaulding and Brittany Robinson to give Carolina an early 2-0 lead. Then Ally Blake drew another walk for the Heels, before Constance Orr doubled. North Carolina ended the top of the first with three runs on three hits and two walks.
Early success in the batter's box translated into stifling defense in the field for Carolina. Pitcher Danielle Spaulding struck out two in the first before going on a tear, striking out the side in each of the next four innings. She finished with a no-hitter and a total of sixteen strikeouts. Only two of the eighteen outs recorded by the Carolina defense were put outs that made it into the field.
The scoring continued for Carolina in the top of the fourth, as Kelli Wheeler led off with a single. Freshman Tisha Mahon came in to pinch run for Wheeler and successfully stole second base. Mahon then crossed home plate on a Dani Manko double. Manko then scored the Tar Heels' fifth run of the game on a Roberts' sacrifice to center field.
Freshman Haleigh Dickey pinch-hit for Christine Knauer to begin the sixth inning. Dickey drew a walk and was replaced back by Knauer who quickly stole second base. Orr then reached base on a wild pitch, followed by an RBI-single by Spaulding. Pinch-hitter, Cara Vitale, then scored Spaulding on an RBI-double. Carolina then brought in another pinch-hitter, Stephanie Murad, who reached base on a single, and then scored on a pinch-hit single by Elisha Elliot.
The game ended with the Tar Heels leading 11-0, at the bottom of the sixth inning, per the Eight-Run Rule. Carolina scored their eleven runs on fourteen hits and two Delaware errors.
