University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia Tech
Tar Heels Take Doubleheader Over Virginia Tech; Papa Ties ACC Mark
April 24, 2010 | Softball
April 24, 2010
LACKSBURG, Va. --- The University of North Carolina (38-15, 11-9 Atlantic Coast Conference) took both games of Saturday's doubleheader over Virginia Tech (19-31, 5-12 ACC) in front of 785 fans at Tech Softball Park. In game one, Carolina routed the Hokies, 8-0 in six innings, behind a shut out performance from Danielle Spaulding and a two-RBI game by outfielder Anna Roberts. In the second game of the day, senior Amber Johnson silenced Virginia Tech with a one-hit shutout as the Tar Heels roll, 1-0. With the two wins UNC Head Coach Donna Papa tied former Florida State Head Coach JoAnne Graf for the most ACC career head coaching victories in conference play with 128.
Game One
Danielle Spaulding started the game for Carolina and pitched all six innings while allowing no hits, walking four batters and striking out seven Hokies. The Rancho Cucamona, Calif. native carried a one-hitter into the sixth inning and advanced her record on the year to 18-3. The six shutout innings lowered the senior's ERA to 0.86 (fifth best in NCAA) in 157.1 innings pitched this season.
Carolina jumped to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning when Ally Blake doubled to left center and scored pinch runner Elisha Elliott, who was running for Stephanie Murad. Murad, who has batted .371 in the past 11 games, doubled to the gap in left-center field to start the inning.
The Tar Heels maintained a 1-0 lead into the top of the fifth before Carolina tallied another two runs to increase the lead. Roberts, who has batted .350 since April 10th, notched her first RBI of the game on a single up the middle that scored freshman pinch runner Tisha Mahon. Spaulding followed Roberts with a single up the middle and scored the senior outfielder from Greenville, N.C. to give Carolina a 3-0 lead.
In the top of the sixth inning, the floodgates opened for the Tar Heels with five runs crossing the plate. During the inning, Carolina batted around the order, totaled five hits and took advantage of three Hokie errors to increase the lead to 8-0. Roberts and junior outfielder Dani Manko each earned RBIs during the rally that resulted in five unearned runs for the Tar Heels.
In the home frame, Spaulding retired the side as Carolina wins in 6 innings due to the NCAA's Eight-Run-Ahead Rule by the score of 8-0.
Carolina finished the game with eight runs on 11 hits. Seniors Roberts, Spaulding and Murad all collected two hits for the Tar Heels. Spaulding went 2 for 2 in the game with two walks and advanced her average on the season to a team-leading .343.
Game Two
Senior Amber Johnson started the second game of the day for Carolina and rewarded Coach Papa with a one-hit, shutout effort against the Hokies. The senior from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. struck out three and walked only one batter. With the win, Johnson is now 19-12 on the season.
Offensively, Carolina gathered seven hits, but could only muster one run in the game. Sophomore Kelli Wheeler led the Tar Heels with two hits and is now batting .298 on the season.
UNC notched its only run in the first inning when Roberts knocked in shortstop Christine Knauer on a single. Knauer, who is Carolina's leadoff hitter, laid down a bunt single and stole second base to start the frame. The stolen base, her 38th this season, is the most of any player in the ACC.
Johnson carried a no-hitter all the way into the bottom of the seventh before the inning's leadoff hitter, Kristen Froehlich, broke up the no-hitter on a triple to right-center field. Johnson hit the next batter, Misty Hall, to allow two base runners, but was able to retire the next three batters in order to earn the win for Carolina.
The two victories on the day give Carolina a 38-15 overall record and 11-9 record in ACC play.
Additionally, the two wins tie Coach Papa with former FSU Head Coach JoAnne Graf for the most head coaching victories in ACC league play at 128. Papa, who also owns the second best career overall winning percentage of ACC coaches at a .638 clip, is in her 25th season at Carolina.
North Carolina and Virginia Tech meet again tomorrow for the series finale at Tech Softball Park. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.
