University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Florida State
Tar Heels and Seminoles Split On The Day; Heels Win First Game, 5-0. Drop Game Two, 2-1
March 13, 2010 | Softball
March 13, 2010
Game 1:
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. --- Junior Brittany McKinney's two-run home run in the top of the eighth propels the No. 18 (17-4) North Carolina Tar Heels over the No. 16 (21-3) Florida State Seminoles, 5-0. The McKinney home run started a five-run rally as North Carolina starts ACC play with a win over the Seminoles. Senior Danielle Spaulding earned her eighth win of the season, striking out nine batters and pitching eight shutout innings.
The first game of the doubleheader featured two of the top pitchers in the ACC, Danielle Spaulding and Sarah Hamilton, facing off. Coming into the game the two pitchers combined to be in the top two of ACC statistics for pitchers in strikeouts, shutouts, and opposing batting averages.
In the fifth inning, Carolina started strong with Christine Knauer beating out the throw on a bunt to the pitcher. A Dani Manko sacrifice bunt advanced Knauer over to second base. Next up, Spaulding walked to put runners on first and second base. A deep fly ball by Anna Roberts to right field moved Knauer over to third and gave Carolina the first real scoring threat of the game. After a groundball to the second baseman, the Tar Heels could not capitalize on the opportunity and the score remained, 0-0.
After two more scoreless innings, the game entered extra innings. This is the second time North Carolina has played extra innings, after a 0-1 loss to Texas earlier this season.
In the top of the eighth with two-outs, Brittany McKinney hit a two-run home run over the center field fence scoring Ally Blake, to finally put Carolina on the scoreboard, 2-0. The inning was not over for Carolina as Kelsey Green and Christine Knauer hit back-to-back singles extending the two-out rally. The next batter, Dani Manko, walked to load the bases for Danielle Spaulding, who looped a single over the shortstop into left field scoring both Green and Knauer. Next up, Anna Roberts, singled up the middle to score Manko and advance the Carolina lead, 5-0. In the bottom of the ninth, Spaulding holding the Seminoles scoreless to earn her eighth win of the year.
Danielle Spaulding pitched the entire game for Carolina, scattering five hits and striking out nine. The shut out is Spaulding's sixth of the season and the first extra-inning shut out of the year.
With today's win, Carolina has now won 16 out of the last 17 games. In games against ranked teams, Carolina is now 4-3 this season and 2-2 in road games. Carolina plays the second-part of the doubleheader 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. Tomorrow the two teams meet up for the conclusion of the series at noon.
Game 2:
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. --- Anna Roberts gathered two hits and an RBI, but a late inning hit gives the No. 18 (17-5) North Carolina Tar Heels a 2-1 loss against the No. 16 Florida State Seminoles. Amber Johnson pitched 6.1 strong innings allowing two runs and striking out seven batters. The Tar Heels and Seminoles split on the day and enter ACC play 1-1.
After a first game that Carolina did not score until the eighth inning, the Tar Heels scored early when Anna Roberts singled to right field, scoring the leadoff hitter shortstop Christine Knauer. The Roberts' RBI is her 16th on the season, second most on the team.
In the bottom of the fifth, two errors and a walk loaded the bases for the Seminoles. The next two batters grounded to Knauer and Johnson respectively and the Tar Heels' fielders made the throw home to get the lead runner at the plate. The next batter, FSU cleanup hitter Tory Haddad, struck out to end the inning without the Tar Heels yielding a run.
In the bottom of the seventh, Florida State started the inning collecting two base hits. After a sac bunt moved the runners over, Jen Lapicki knocked in both on a game-winning hit to right-center giving the Seminoles a 2-1 win.
Carolina next plays Florida State Sunday at noon to finish up the weekend series.
