University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Loyola Marymount
Tar Heels Tame Lions, 5-1, In Final Game Of DeMarini Invitational
March 7, 2010 | Softball
March 7, 2010
Fullerton, Calif. --- A two-run home run from Kelli Wheeler powered the No. 20 (15-3) North Carolina Tar Heels over the (3-6) Loyola Marymount Lions, 5-1 Amber Johnson held the Lions to one run on five hits as Carolina finished out the DeMarini Invitational undefeated.
In the first inning, Carolina gathered three hits from Danielle Spaulding, Constance Orr and Anna Roberts, but could not convert any into runs. The Tar Heels left three on base and left the inning scoreless.
On the first pitch of the second inning, Loyola Marymount hit Brittany McKinney with a pitch to give the Tar Heels an early baserunner. Head Coach Donna Papa called on freshman Tisha Mahon to pinch run for McKinney. A perfectly laid bunt by Kelli Wheeler advanced Mahon to second base. Kelsey Green looped a single over the shortstop's head to give the Heels the lead, 1-0.
In the bottom of the third Carolina added another run on an Anna Roberts sacrifice fly to left field. The RBI hit scored Elisha Elliot, who was pinch running for Danielle Spaulding. The run scored gave the Tar Heels a 2-0 lead after three innings.
Kelli Wheeler put the game out of reach with her first home run of the season clearing the left-field fence. The two-RBI home run gave Carolina a 4-0 lead. The next batter, Kelsey Green, hit a double to the left-center gap. Next up, shortstop Christine Knauer sacrificed bunted Green into scoring position at third base. Danielle Spaulding brought in Green with an infield hit to the third baseman. The two-time ACC Player of the Year hustled down the first base line and beat out the throw to first base to give Carolina a 5-0 lead.
Spaulding, playing as the designated player today, went 4-for-4 at the plate to raise her batting average to a team-leading .352 on the season. Spaulding now leads the Tar Heels' batters in batting average, home runs, slugging percentage, RBIs and hits.
Senior pitcher Amber Johnson held the Lions scoreless for most of the game until Loyola Marymount hit a solo home run with two outs in the seventh inning. The win gives Johnson a team-leading eight this season.
Carolina wraps up the DeMarini Invitational as the only undefeated team in the Fullerton, Calif. event. UNC won all five contests and is now 15-3 on the season. The Tar Heels continue on the California road trip facing Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday and No. 5 UCLA on Wednesday.
