North Carolina
Virginia Tech
Tar Heels Top Hokies In Twinbill Sweep
March 19, 2011 | Softball
March 19, 2011
CHAPEL HILL --- Lori Spingola tossed a complete-game shutout and Kelli Wheeler added four hits as North Carolina defeated Virginia Tech 3-0 and 3-2 in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Anderson Stadium. The Tar Heels improved to 18-10 with the victories and 2-0 in the ACC.
Game 1
Spingola (14-7) tossed a complete-game three-hit shutout in game one. The Atlanta, Ga., native struck out eight batters en route to her fourth complete-game shutout this season.
Carolina manufactured three runs on seven hits. Kelli Wheeler and Haleigh Dickey each notched two hits apiece. Brittany Robinson cranked a two-run home run and provided all three RBI. Ally Blake and Jordan Scarboro both added a hit.
Spingola was electric early striking out the side in the first frame. The freshman allowed just one hit after three innings of work, ending the third with a timely 8-3 double play.
Robinson pushed the Tar Heels in front 2-0 with a two-run line drive home run over the center field fence in the fourth frame. The senior worked deep into the count fouling off five pitches before cranking her third home run of 2011.
Hokie starter Kenzie Roark began to labor in the sixth frame issuing a walk and a pair of hits loading the base for the Tar Heels. Robinson drew a one-out bases loaded walk to push another run on the board. A double play ended the frame, but UNC owned a 3-0 lead after six frames.
Spingola shut the door in the seventh despite allowing two of her three hits in the final frame. The talented freshman used a strikeout and groundout to seal the shutout win.
Game 2
Sara Buchholz (4-3) allowed just two runs over 4 1/3 innings of work to earn the win. Spingola spelled her classmate earning her first save of the season, tossing 2 2/3 shutout innings of relief.
Wheeler notched two hits and one RBI, including the go-ahead home run in the fourth frame. Tisha Mahon and Robinson both notched two hits apiece. Logan Foulks added a solo home run to round out the UNC attack.
Carolina got on the board in the first inning scoring one run on two hits. A leadoff double off the bat of Wheeler led to a RBI sacrifice fly from classmate Blake. The Tar Heels owned a 1-0 lead after the first.
The Tar Heels plated another in the second frame after a solo home run off the bat of Foulks. The freshman belted her first career home run to give Carolina a 2-0 advantage after two innings of play.
The Hokies scored their first runs of the day in the third inning of game two. Dani Anderson notched a RBI single and Courtney Liddle added a RBI double to knot the score at two. Buchholz wriggled out the jam with a big strikeout to keep the scored tied at two after three innings.
Carolina regained the lead manufacturing one run on two hits in the bottom of the fourth. Wheeler tattooed here sixth home run of the year over the left field fence to push UNC in front 3-2 after four innings of play.
Spingola entered to pitch in the fifth frame and earned her first collegiate save. The freshman worked ahead in the count and did not allow a hit over 2 2/3 innings.
Carolina and Virginia Tech will conclude their three-game set Sunday at 1 p.m. from Anderson Stadium.
