North Carolina
Maryland
UNC Falls To Maryland 5-0
May 8, 2011 | Softball
May 8, 2011
COLLEGE PARK, MD. --- Maryland used a four-run fifth inning to defeat North Carolina 5-0 Sunday afternoon at Robert E. Taylor Stadium. Brittany McKinney and Kelli Wheeler each posted a hit to lead UNC. The Tar Heels finish the 2011 regular season with a 32-20 overall mark and 13-7 ACC record.
Lori Spingola (25-15) suffers the loss allowing five runs on seven hits over five innings of work. Sara Buchholz pitched one scoreless inning of relief.
Maryland scratched out one run on two hits to take an early 1-0 lead. Vangie Galindo registered a hit to break the Terrapins single season hit record with her 71st hit of the season. Galindo later swiped a base and came around to score as UNC trailed 1-0 after one.
Carolina collected three hits in the top half of the second, but failed to manufacture any runs. Dani Manko and Amy Nece registered back-to-back two out singles before Wheeler lined out to center field for the third out of the frame.
The Tar Heels threatened again in the top of the fourth after a McKinney double. Pinch-runner Chelsey Butler moved to third on a well-executed sacrifice bunt off the bat of Brittany Robinson. Nece then catapulted a fly ball into left field as Galindo made a diving catch and rifled to third to putout Butler, who attempted to tag up early. The Terrapins owned a 1-0 lead through four.
Maryland recorded their second double play of the day and fourth of the series to end any scoring chance for Carolina in the fifth frame. Logan Foulks lifted a long fly ball into left field as Galindo reeled in the catch and caught Wheeler at third attempting to advance.
The Terrapins tallied four runs on three hits and one Carolina error to take a commanding 5-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth. A two-RBI Kathy McLaughlin double and Hickey RBI double highlighted the big inning for Maryland.
Kendra Knight spelled Kerry Hickey in the final two frames to seal the victory for Maryland. The duo combined on a five-hit shutout to improve the Terrapins to 38-16 overall and 12-7 in the ACC.
Up next for Carolina will be the 2011 ACC Tournament May 13-15. The Tar Heels will be the second seed in the tournament and game times have yet to be decided. For more UNC softball updates, check back in at TarHeelBlue.com.
