North Carolina
Maryland
UNC Advances Past Maryland To ACC Title Game
May 14, 2011 | Softball
May 14, 2011
ATLANTA, GA. --- Kelsey Green belted a three run home run and Lori Spingola tossed a complete-game to lead North Carolina past Maryland 7-3 Saturday in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament from Mewborn Field. Spingola earned her 27th win of the year to tie the single season school record for victories. The Tar Heels improve to 34-20 overall and advance to their first ACC Tournament Title game since 2002.
Spingola (27-15) allowed three runs on eight hits over her 30th complete-game effort of 2011. The Atlanta, Ga., native struck out eight batters and issued four walks. The talented freshman will look to break the single season school record for wins (27) and innings pitched (266.1) Sunday in the title game.
Brittany Robinson paced the UNC attack with a home run and two RBI. Green posted a game high three RBI and cranked her first career home run. Logan Foulks registered two hits with one RBI and Amy Nece added a hit and scored two runs.
Carolina struck first scoring one run on two hits in the opening frame. Nece reached on an infield single and later swiped second base. Foulks then provided a two-out RBI single through the right side allowing Nece to collide with Terrapin catcher Samantha Mallory and score safely. The collision forced Mallory to leave the game with a left leg injury.
The Terrapins evened the score in the bottom of the inning. Spingola gave up a leadoff single and issued two walks to load the bases with two outs. The freshman then hit batter Nikki Maier and the Terps manufactured one run to knot the score after one frame.
In the second inning, Robinson ripped a solo home run over the left field fence to give UNC a 2-1 advantage. The senior cranked a 2-2 offering from Maryland starter and ACC Pitcher of the Year Kerry Hickey down the left field line for her fifth home run of the season.
Carolina blew open the score with four runs on three hits in the fourth frame. UNC loaded the bases with no outs and Robinson notched a RBI groundout. With two outs, pinch-hitter Kelsey Green stepped in the box and launched a three run shot to highlight the big inning for the Tar Heels. Green's first career home run placed UNC in front 6-1 after four.
Spingola settled down after a laborious first frame to allow just three hits over the next four innings. The Tar Heels supported the freshman in the field with a timely 6-3 double play in the third frame and several strong defensive plays from Ally Blake at third base.
The Tar Heels tacked on an insurance run in the seventh. Nece reached on walk and stole her second base of the day to advance to second. The speedy freshman crossed the plate on a Terrapin error to stretch the UNC lead to 7-1.
The Terrapins staged a rally in the final frame manufacturing two runs on four hits. Spingola struck out the side and sealed the win catching Candice Beards looking at a called third strike with the bases loaded.
North Carolina will seek their second ever ACC Title and first since 2001. The Tar Heels will face the winner of the Virginia and Florida State semifinal game. The ACC Championship will be broadcasted live on Fox Sports South Sunday at 1 p.m.
