North Carolina
North Carolina State
Tar Heels Split Twinbill At NC State
April 10, 2011 | Softball
April 10, 2011
RALEIGH, N.C. --- UNC used a six-run sixth inning to top NC State 10-2 Saturday in game two of a doubleheader at Dail Stadium. Carolina's come back bid fell short as NC State claimed game one 3-1. Brittany McKinney, Jordan Scarboro and Haleigh Dickey all tallied home runs improving UNC to 25-15 overall and 8-3 in ACC play.
Game 1
In the circle, Lori Spingola (19-11) allowed three runs on five hits in six innings of work. The freshman stuck out six and allowed just one walk.
The Wolfpack gained an early 3-0 lead after one inning of play. A two-out Bridget Debois RBI single followed by a two-run Bethaney Wells' home run plated all three runs for NC State. Carolina trailed for just the ninth time this season after one frame.
Carolina could not string together much offense in the first few frames. Elisha Elliott collected a pair of hits early, but UNC failed to manufacture any runs. Carolina drew a pair of walks in the third and notched a hit. A caught stealing and foul out kept UNC off the board.
Spingola settled in after the eventful first inning. The Atlanta, Ga., native allowed just two hits and no runs in her next four innings of work.
Brittany McKinney led off the fifth with a single to center field. Pinch-runner Amy Nece then advanced to second on a well-executed sacrifice bunt from Paige Williams. NC State starter Kayla Cox dodged the scoring threat with a strikeout and fly out.
Elliott reached base for the third consecutive time in the sixth on error by the third baseman. The Tar Heels moved Elliott to third with two outs. Jordan Scarboro battled in a 15-pitch at bat to earn a walk landing runners on first and third. Cox again shut the door with a strike out as UNC still trailed 1-0 after six.
McKinney broke an 18-inning scoring drought catapulting a solo home run over the left field fence to lead off the seventh. Carolina loaded the bases battling Cox to several long pitch at-bats, but could not bring another run across the board. NC State claimed game one over UNC 3-1.
Game 2
Sara Buchholz (6-4) scattered seven hits and allowed just two runs in six innings. The freshman improves to 3-0 in four league starts in her young career.
The Tar Heels found their first lead of the series in the opening frame. Kelli Wheeler reached on walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Elliott and to third on a fielder's choice. Haleigh Dickey then ripped a two-out RBI single to score Wheeler providing UNC with a 1-0 advantage.
Carolina loaded the bases with no outs in the third frame. McKinney added another RBI knocking in Wheeler on a sacrifice fly. Elliott then scored on a wild pitch to extend the Tar Heel lead to 3-0 after three.
uchholz worked ahead in the count to keep NC State off the board in the early going. The Wolfpack landed a pair of runs after a two-out two-run Alicia Abbott home run in the fourth. Buchholz ended the frame with a fly out to preserve the 3-2 UNC lead.
Dickey answered back with a two-out line drive home run over the left field fence in the fifth. The sophomore cranked her team-leading ninth home run to five Carolina a 4-2 advantage.
Jordan Scarboro added to the Tar Heel lead uncorking her first career home run over the left field fence to start off the sixth. Carolina continued to add insurance runs after an Elliott RBI infield single, her fourth hit of the day.
The Tar Heels blew the game open on a two-RBI double off the bat of Ally Blake. Carolina plated another on a Wolfpack error and Dickey then knocked in pinch-runner Chelsey Butler with a RBI single. UNC batted around in the inning scoring six runs on six hits to take a commanding 10-2 lead.
uchholz pitched a flawless bottom frame to seal the six-inning win. Dickey finished the game two with three hits and three RBI. Brittany Robinson added a pair of hits as Carolina took game two.
Carolina and NC State will conclude their three-game set Sunday at 1 p.m. from Dail Stadium.
