North Carolina
Campbell
UNC Splits Doubleheader Against Campbell
March 23, 2011 | Softball
March 23, 2011
BUIES CREEK, N.C. --- Lori Spingola allowed just one run over a complete-game effort and North Carolina uncorked a season-best four home runs to defeat Campbell 6-1 in game one of a doubleheader at Eakes Athletic Center. The Camels rallied from a three-run deficit to take game two 7-4. UNC is 19-12 overall heading into a home league-series against Florida State this weekend.
Game 1
Spingola (15-8) rendered one run on two hits while striking out six over a complete-game effort. The Atlanta, Ga., native has now allowed two runs or fewer in 12 of her 20 starts in her freshman campaign.
Offensively, four different Tar Heels registered a home run - the highest home run total in 2011 and most since a six home run effort in a 17-7 win over South Carolina March 30, 2010.
Ally Blake and Brittany Robinson each registered two hits both homering to pace UNC at the plate. Haleigh Dickey added a solo home run, her team-best seventh of 2011. Brittany McKinney posted a solo home run, her first of the season, and Kelsey Green added a hit.
The Tar Heels gained a 2-0 lead in the second frame after a pair of solo home runs off the bats of Dickey and McKinney. Dickey led off the second belting a solo shot over the center field fence. Two batters later, McKinney followed suit hammering a 2-0 offering over the fence to provide UNC with a 2-0 lead.
The Camels cut the Tar Heel lead in half in the fourth frame scoring one run on one hit. Senior Lauren Stephan took a 1-2 offering from Spingola over the center field fence for a solo home run. The solo blast was the only blemish in Spingola's outing.
Carolina responded in the next frame manufacturing four runs on three hits to own a 6-1 advantage. Robinson uncorked a solo home run over the center field fence to lead off the frame. Green followed with a single and after another walk Carolina earned a pair of base runners. Blake then opened up the inning tattooing a three-run shot over the right center field wall.
Spingola retired the last nine batters she faced to seal the 6-1 victory over the Camels in game one.
Game 2
Starter Sara Buchholz (4-4) allowed seven runs, four earned, on four hits over three innings of work. Spingola spelled her classmate tossing three shutout innings and posting five strikeouts.
Blake continued her strong day at the plate, collecting a game-high three hits. Kelli Wheeler, who saw her eight-game hit streak snapped in game one, registered a pair of hits in game two. Tisha Mahon, Logan Foulks, Paige Williams and Dani Manko all posted one hit. Dickey added two hits and a RBI.
Carolina took a 1-0 lead in the first frame scoring on two hits. Wheeler led off the inning with a double and later moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Mahon. Dickey then ripped a two-out RBI single to score Wheeler.
The Tar Heels tacked on two more runs on four hits and one Campbell error in the third frame. After Mahon reached on an error, back-to-back singles off the bats of Blake and Dickey loaded the bases with one out. A RBI walk issued to McKinney followed by a RBI single off the bat of Foulks gave UNC a 3-0.
Campbell knotted the score at three in the bottom of the inning. A Katie Hinton RBI single scored one and a Amanda Miller RBI fielder's choice added another for the Camels. Stephan then registered a RBI sacrifice fly to tie the score at three after three frames.
The Camels manufactured four runs on three hits and one Tar Heels error to take a 7-3 lead in the fourth. Raven Lee belted a solo home run to lead off the inning and a hit, error and fielder's choice later Campbell loaded the bases with no outs. Spingola inherited the bases loaded situation quickly striking out two Camels. A two-out two RBI single off the bat of Miller pushed the Camels in front by a four-run margin.
Carolina added one more in the fifth after a Blake double. Pinch-runner Elisha Elliott swiped third and later scored on a wild pitch. The Camels wriggled out of the inning with a pair of groundouts.
The Tar Heels got the leadoff runner on again in the sixth after a Manko single, but a 6-4-3 double play ended the threat. The Camels hung on for the 7-4 win and improved to 16-15 on the year.
Up next for Carolina is a three-game ACC series against Florida State beginning Saturday at 1 p.m. from Anderson Stadium. All three-games will be aired on Carolina All-Access. For more UNC softball updates check back in at TarHeelBlue.com.
