North Carolina
Virginia Tech
Hokies Edge Tar Heels 2-1
March 20, 2011 | Softball
March 20, 2011
CHAPEL HILL --- A Besty Rose two-run home run gave Virginia Tech a 2-1 win over North Carolina in the series finale Sunday at Anderson Stadium. Lori Spingola suffers the tough luck loss as Carolina falls to 18-11 overall and 2-1 in the ACC.
Spingola (14-8) allowed two runs on six hits over seven innings of work. The freshman pitched 16 2/3 of 21 total innings in the series. The Atlanta, Ga., native finished with two strikeouts and just one walk.
Ally Blake paced Carolina at the plate with one hit and one RBI. Dani Manko posted two of the Tar Heels' five total hits. Kelli Wheeler and Brittany McKinney each added a hit, but UNC left six runners on base.
The Hokies found an early lead in the second inning scoring two runs on three hits. Betsy Rose cranked a two-run home run over the left field fence to give Virginia Tech their first lead of the series.
Carolina sliced the Hokie lead in half in the third frame. The Tar Heels loaded the bases after a Manko single and two walks. Blake then ripped a RBI single up the middle to score pinch runner Chelsey Butler. Newly inserted Hokie pitcher Jasmin Harrell wriggled out the bases loaded jam with a strikeout and fly out, preserving the one-run Hokie lead.
Virginia Tech threatened again in the fourth frame, but outstanding Tar Heel defense halted the Hokie scoring threat. Ashton Ward belted a double off the wall in the right center field gap and Rose attempted to score from first, but Manko corralled the ball and fired to home to earn the second out of the inning. Spingola ended the frame with a fly out as Carolina trailed 2-1 after four innings.
Harrell (8-2) retired the last nine Tar Heel batters she faced. The Tar Heels left five runners on base in the third and fourth frames, but could never manufacture any base runners after the fourth.
Carolina will return to action Wednesday traveling to Campbell for a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. from Buies Creek, N.C.
