University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Pacific
Amber Johnsons Two-Hits Pacific As Carolina Rolls, 3-1
March 6, 2010 | Softball
March 6, 2010
Fullerton, Calif. --- Thanks to another strong pitching performance from Amber Johnson and a home run down the right field line by first baseman Danielle Spaulding the No. 20 (13-3) North Carolina Tar Heels beat the (5-8) Pacific Tigers, 3-1. The win is Carolina's third straight in the DeMarini invitational and 12th consecutive on the year. Johnson held Pacific to only two hits, carrying a no-hitter through six innings and earned her seventh win of the year as Carolina continued its hot streak.
To start the game, senior shortstop Christine Knauer looped a hit over the second baseman's head for a single. Outfielder Dani Manko followed Knauer with a single to center field advancing the shortstop to second base. Knauer stole third base off a Pacific mistake, the Tigers attempted a pick off from catcher to second base. Knauer advanced to third base for her ACC-leading 17th of the year. A sacrifice fly from Spaulding to left field scored Knauer and gave the Tar Heels a 1-0 lead.
Senior pitcher Amber Johnson walked two Tiger batters in the first inning. With a slight rain starting to fall, Johnson overcame the conditions and retired the next two Pacific batters to escape the inning scoreless.
Dani Manko continued to ride her recent hot streak with a single up the middle in the top of the third. The Mission Viejo, Calif. native, is now batting .600 in her last two games in her home state. Carolina could not capitalize with the runner on base and left the inning still leading, 1-0.
After Kelli Wheeler walked to start the fifth inning, Tisha Mahon was brought in to pinch run. A Kelsey Green sacrifice bunt moved Mahon over to second base. Next up, Cara Vitale pinch-hit for Knauer, but Vitale could not capitalize on the runner in scoring position.
Carolina began the sixth inning with a Dani Manko walk. Next up, Danielle Spaulding crushed a pitch over the right field fence to put the Heels up 3-0. The home run is Spaulding's fifth of the season. The two-time ACC Player of the Year has hit two home runs so far in the DeMarini Invitational. Brittany Robinson followed up the home run by doubling down the left field line, but Carolina could not extend the 3-0 lead.
Amber Johnson's no-hitter was broken up in the bottom of the sixth when Pacific singled to left field. The hit followed two-out Pacific walks and brought in the runner from second to score. The Pacific run brought the score to 3-1 entering the top of the seventh.
In the bottom of the seventh, Pacific put two runners into scoring position, but Amber Johnson retired three straight batters to seal the win for Carolina.
Carolina next takes the field at 4:30 EST against the No. 10 Stanford Cardinals. Carolina is 2-2 this season vs. ranked opponents.
