University of North Carolina Athletics
Sharx Win Two More With Spaulding
August 20, 2009 | Softball
Aug. 20, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Danielle Spaulding has played a large role in each of the Austrian Sharx's wins. In the first game of the European Cup Championships Thursday, Spaulding pitched a complete game three-hitter striking out nine in the Sharx's victory over Russia. In the second tilt Thursday, Spaulding belted a solo home run en route to the Sharx 4-0 win over the Czech Republic.
After starting the European Cup Championships with two losses, the the Austrian Sharx have reeled off four straight victories. Spaulding's tournament batting average sits at .400 with two home runs and six RBI. In the circle, the junior continued her dominance with 36 strikeouts in 20 innings and a 0.35 ERA. The Rancho Cuchamonga, Calif. natives performances are tops among the players participating in the European Cup.
The Two-time ACC Player of the Year Danielle Spaulding has joined the Austrian Sharx this summer playing in the 2009 European Cup Championships in Milan, Italy.
Spaulding native led all of Division I pitchers with 14.3 strikeouts per seven innings, fanning 338 batters in only 165.3 innings pitched while recording a 20-4 record in 2009. Her team, the Austrian Sharx, has a tough draw in pool A of The tournament.The Sharx are in the same pool as the Dutch Champion Tex Town Tigers and Italian champions Fiorini Forli. Both teams feature American players as well.
Spaulding helped the Tar Heels to a 47-13 record in 2009 and a spot as an NCAA regional host for the second straight season. The standout junior led the Tar Heels in home runs (12) and RBIs (45), while ranking third in runs scored (22) and fourth in batting average (.311). In the circle, she paired with fellow teammate Lisa Norris to provide one of the strongest pitching duos in the country. The junior registered 13 complete games holding opponents to only a .124 batting average.
Stay tuned to tarheelblue.com for further updates on Spaulding's experiences in Italy. The Sharx tackle another Italian team tomorrow looking to advance to the tournament's championship Saturday.
