North Carolina
Florida State
Tar Heels Take Two From Florida State
March 26, 2011 | Softball
March 26, 2011
CHAPEL HILL –-- Lori Spingola tossed a complete-game shutout and Kelsey Green provided a RBI sacrifice fly as North Carolina defeated Florida State 1-0 and 3-2 in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Anderson Stadium. Carolina improves to 4-1 in ACC play and 21-12 this season.
Game 1
Spingola (16-8) scattered three hits over the complete-game shutout effort. The Atlanta, Ga., native struck out three en route to her sixth shutout in 2011.
Wheeler led Carolina with a pair of hits at the plate. Haleigh Dickey, Brittany Robinson and Dani Manko all added a hit at the plate. Brittany McKinney provided the lone RBI for the Tar Heels, drawing a bases loaded hit-by-pitch.
The Tar Heels got off to a sluggish start defensively as the Seminoles loaded the bases. Spingola wriggled out of the jam with a huge strikeout to keep the Seminoles off the board.
Carolina scratched out a run in the fourth on two hits. Wheeler led off the frame with a double off the right center field wall. After a walk issued to Ally Blake and a Dickey single, the Tar Heels loaded the bases. McKinney then took a pitch off her wrist to bring Wheeler across the plate and give UNC a 1-0 lead.
The one run was all Spingola needed in the circle. Florida State loaded the bases again in the fifth, but the freshman got out of the jam unscathed with a pop out. The Seminoles threatened again in the sixth, but Manko ended the frame with a spectacular catch in center field. The senior scaled the wall making a leaping catch and preserving the one-run lead.
Spingola allowed one hit in the seventh, but Manko added an assist to throw out Tiffani Brown attempting to stretch a single into a double.
Game 2
Starter Sara Buchholz was strong in 4 1/3 shutout innings of work, allowing just three hits. Spingola (17-8) entered in relief, allowing just two runs on five hits over 2 2/3 innings picking up her second win of the day.
Offensively, Elisha Elliott notched a single and RBI in her first career ACC start. Green and Blake each added a hit and RBI. Wheeler and Manko both registered a hit apiece for the Tar Heels.
Carolina took a 1-0 after drawing a bases loaded walk in the third frame. After Green reached on a fielder's choice both Manko and Wheeler posted back-to-back singles to load the bases. Blake drew a two-out bases loaded walk to give Carolina a one-run advantage.
Florida State threatened to score in the fifth frame. Spingola entered to pitch, inheriting two base runners. The freshman worked out of the jam benefiting from great defense. Amy Nece made a diving catch in shallow left field to end the frame and keep UNC ahead 1-0.
The Seminoles scored their first runs of the series in the sixth. After a Robin Ahrberg single, Ashley Stager cranked a two-run home run over the left field fence. Florida State vaulted in front 2-1 to earn the first lead of the series.
The Tar Heels answered right back in the bottom of the frame manufacturing two runs on two hits. Elliott hung tough and drew a bases loaded RBI walk to knot the score at two. Green then followed with a key RBI sacrifice fly to right field to score Tisha Mahon. Carolina jumped back in front 3-2 and never looked back.
Spingola worked a solid seventh and final frame, as shortstop Paige Williams snagged a line drive and fired to first for a game-ending double play. The last three meetings between the Tar Heels and Seminoles have all been decided by one run – with three UNC victories.
UNC and Florida State are slated to conclude their three-game set at 1 p.m. Sunday from Anderson Stadium. For more Carolina softball updates check back in at TarHeelBlue.com.
