University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
UNC Greensboro
Tar Heels Down UNC Greensboro, 5-1, Thanks To Pair Of Fifth Inning Home Runs
March 18, 2010 | Softball
March 18, 2010
GREENSBORO, N.C. --- A pair of home runs from Brittany McKinney and Kelli Wheeler power the No. 16/20 (19-6, 2-1 ACC) North Carolina Tar Heels over the (8-14) UNC Greensboro Spartans, 5-1. Both McKinney and Wheeler lead the Tar Heels offense with multi-hit games and accounted for four of Carolina's five RBIs in today's game. Senior pitcher Amber Johnson pitched seven strong innings, striking out eleven batters, allowing only three hits and one run.
Carolina jumped on the in-state Spartans early, gathering three hits and one run in the first inning. Both shortstop Christine Knauer and right fielder Anna Roberts started the inning off with infield singles. Brittany McKinney, a Second-Team All-ACC selection last year, knocked in Knauer to put the Tar Heels up, 1-0.
Ally Blake leadoff the third inning with a single to left field. Freshman pinch runner Elisha Elliott pinch ran for Blake and quickly stole second to give the Tar Heels a runner in scoring position. Sophomore Constance Orr scored Elliott by singling to center field. The RBI single gave the Tar Heels a 2-0 lead after three innings.
Brittany McKinney extended the Carolina lead by slamming a two-RBI home run to left field in the fifth inning. The home run is McKinney's second of the season. Sophomore Kelli Wheeler followed with a home run of her own to left-center. Wheeler's third home run of the season gave Carolina a 5-0 lead and provided the Tar Heels' starter Amber Johnson with plenty of run support.
Freshman Haleigh Dickey became the first freshman this season to start a game this season with her start at third base. The Woodstock, Ga. product went one for four with a single to left field.
Johnson received her team-leading 11th win of the year for her seven innings of three-hit ball. With today's start, the senior lowered her season ERA to 1.04 on the season.
Carolina moves to 2-0 over UNC Greensboro this season after beating the Spartans, 8-0, earlier in the year at the Carolina Classic in Chapel Hill.
Carolina next takes the field against (22-3) Georgia Tech in a three game weekend series in Chapel Hill.
