North Carolina
Virginia
Virginia Tops UNC 3-1 In Series Finale
April 3, 2011 | Softball
April 3, 2011
CHAPEL HILL --- Virginia scored three runs in the final three frames to top North Carolina 3-1 in the series finale Sunday at Anderson Stadium. Brittany McKinney registered a RBI single, but UNC falls to 24-13 overall and 7-2 in ACC play.
Lori Spingola (19-9) suffers the loss allowing three runs on seven hits over seven innings of work. The freshman was perfect through 4 1/3 frames, but allowed a run in each of the last three.
At the plate, Brittany Robinson paced Carolina with a pair of doubles. McKinney registered the lone RBI for UNC. Jordan Scarboro and Haleigh Dickey each added a hit. Junior Kelli Wheeler's six game hit streak was snapped in the loss.
North Carolina gained a 1-0 scoring a run on two hits in the second frame. Foulks ripped a single up the middle and pinch-runner Tisha Mahon swiped second base. McKinney then delivered a RBI single down the right field line to score Mahon for a 1-0 Tar Heel lead. UVA starter Melanie Mitchell escaped a jam stranding two Tar Heels with a ground out and line out.
Spingola faced the minimum retiring the Cavaliers in order in the first three innings. The rookie worked ahead in the count early and recorded a pair of strikeouts through the first three frames.
Virginia struck in the top of the fifth frame as Erica Cipolloni skied a solo home run over the center field fence. Spingola tossed 4 1/3 perfect innings before the solo shot knotted the score at one. The home run was Cipolloni's first of her career.
Spingola labored in the sixth allowing a hit and back-to-back two out walks to load the bases. Alek Skinkis then parachuted a RBI single into left field to put the Cavaliers ahead 2-1. Spingola ended the frame with a ground out, but not before Virginia took their first lead of the game after five and half frames.
The Wahoos tacked on another run in the seventh frame as Marcy Bowdren notched a two-out RBI single to score Taylor Williams. Spingola wriggled out of the inning, but Virginia owned a 3-1 lead headed to the bottom of the seventh.
Robinson led off the seventh with a double, her second of the day, off the left field wall. Carolina used a pair of pinch-hitters, but failed to string anything together. Mitchell retired the last three to end Carolina's five game win streak.
Up next for Carolina will be a midweek tilt against South Carolina. The Tar Heels will open a five-game road trip Wednesday traveling to Columbia, S.C. for a 4 p.m. game at Beckham Field.
