University of North Carolina Athletics
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LSU
Tar Heels Start Season Strong With Victory Over LSU
February 12, 2010 | Softball
Feb. 12, 2010
AUSTIN --- The No. 19/22 North Carolina Tar Heels opened up the 2010 season with a 1-0 victory against No. 13/18 LSU in Austin, Texas. The game is the opener of the Time Warner Invitational Tournament also featuring host Texas and DePaul.
The temperature of the game remained in the low-40s with a strong breeze coming across the field. The cold weather made it especially difficult on the batters of both teams, turning the game into a pitcher's duel.
Third baseman Brittany Robinson put the Tar Heels on the board with a solo home run in the second innning. Robinson worked the count to a 15-pitch at bat before unloading on a ball over the left field fence.
In the third inning, Carolina continued to make consistent contact on LSU true freshman Rachele Fico. Christine Knauer reached first on an infield hit and Ally Blake walked. Carolina could not convert the runners into runs as Fico worked out of the jam and retired the next three batters.
Two-time All-America Danielle Spaulding received the call for the Tar Heels in the opener. Spaulding dominated the Tigers early, striking out four batters in the first two innings. LSU eventually got to Spaulding in the fourth innning putting two runners in scoring position before two pop-flies kept the shut out intact.
Spaulding was unusually wild today, walking four batters and hit another. Though, LSU was not able to convert any of the baserunners and Spaulding received her first win of the year.
Stephanie Murad, pinch-hitting for Kelsey Green, took a Fico pitch to the right field fence for a double. Freshman Chelsey Butler pinch-ran for Murad and advanced on a Kelli Wheeler ground out to third. Carolina was out on the next two at bats to left Butler on base at third.
In the bottom of the seventh LSU made a comeback bid getting two hits from Kirsten Shortridge and Ashley Applegate. Rachel Mitchell hit a short ground ball half way to third before Brittany Robinson fielded the ball and tossed to catcher Ally Blake who applied the tag on Shortridge to give LSU the second out of the inning. The next at bat produced a pop fly to second and gave Spaulding her first shut out of the season.
Carolina next faces Texas tonight at 7:30 p.m. (CT). On Saturday the Tar Heels face No. 20/21 DePaul at 11:00 a.m. before tournament play begins.
LSU faces DePaul today at 2:30 p.m. (CT) and Texas at 5:00 p.m. (CT).
