Tar Heels Down Mississippi State

Saturday, March 12

Tusacaloosa, Ala.

12:00 PM

North Carolina

Mississippi State

March 12, 2011 | Softball

By: UNC Athletic Communications

March 12, 2011

Box Score

Tuscaloosa, Ala. - North Carolina's bats came alive as they tallied 11 hits to defeat Mississippi State 12-4 in the second game of the 2011 ACC/SEC Easton Challenge early Saturday afternoon. Haleigh Dickey and Logan Foulks paced the Tar Heels' offense with a combined eight RBIs on four hits.

Carolina pitcher Lori Spingola (12-7) went five innings, surrendering only two runs on three hits to claim the victory.

Carolina's offense began rolling early, scoring four runs in the top of the first on three hits. Leading the strong start was Dickey, who hammered a two-run home run over the scoreboard in left center, giving the Tar Heels a 2-0 lead. It was the sophomore's fifth home run of the season, tying her for the team lead. Foulks followed up with a two-out two RBI double off of the wall in right center field to give Carolina a 4-0 advantage after one.

Dickey produced another timely hit in the second frame, extending the UNC lead to 5-0 with an RBI single to right field.

It was more of the same for the Tar Heels in the top of the seventh, where they generated seven runs on four hits, stretching their lead to 11-0. Foulks' highlighted the big inning, lining a three RBI double to deep center field. It marked the freshman's second double of the day, giving her a team-high five RBIs for the game. Elisha Elliot also recorded a pinch-hit RBI single to center field.

Spingola thrived off of her teammates run support and was sharp in the circle for Carolina, fanning eight Bulldog hitters in five innings of work.

The Tar Heels will look to keep the hot bats going Saturday afternoon when they take on Alabama in their penultimate matchup of the 2011 Easton Challenge at 4 p.m. CDT.