University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC Looks Forward To This Weekend's Tar Heel Invitational
February 25, 2010 | Softball
Feb. 25, 2010
The No. 23 North Carolina Tar Heels looks forward to the Tar Heel Invitational after a successful last weekend in the Carolina Classic. The Tar Heel Invitational played at Anderson Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C., features Fairfield, Pittsburgh and James Madison in the three-day round-robin tournament. The action begins Friday when Carolina faces Fairfield at 1:30 p.m. During the Tar Heel Invitational Carolina pitcher Danielle Spaulding returns to the circle after two no-hitters this past weekend.
This past weekend Carolina won the championship in the Carolina Classic with a victory over St. Joseph's, 8-0. The game featured a stellar performance from Two-Time ACC Player of the Year Danielle Spaulding. The senior pitcher hurled her second no-hitter of the three-day tournament in the Championship Game. Spaulding pitched six innings of no hit ball, striking out eleven Hawks' batters in the game. Spaulding, the offensive/defensive star, also finished the game with a three-run towering shot to end the game early via the Eight-Run-Ahead Rule in the sixth inning.
Spaulding's other no-hitter of the weekend came in Carolina's first game of the tournament on Friday evening against Delaware. Spaulding was once again simply dominate, striking out 16 batters in the Tar Heels' 11-0 six inning victory.
Spaulding is not the only Tar Heel to start off the season hot, senior shortstop Christine Knauer is currently batting .409 for Carolina. The lefty slap-hitter is one of the fastest players in the ACC and uses her speed to get on base from bunts and infield grounders. Once on base, Knauer is a constant threat to steal second base as she has an ACC-leading nine times already this season.
The biggest swing of the bat this past weekend came courtesy of senior outfielder Anna Roberts during the Saturday game versus UNC Greensboro. With the bases loaded Roberts took a Greensboro pitch over the center field fence to give the Tar Heels a 5-0 lead. The grand slam is the first of the season for Carolina and was instrumental in the Tar Heels' eight-run game winning sixth inning over in-state Greensboro.
Carolina is now 6-3 on the season after winning four games during the Carolina Classic. The Tar Heels are ranked No. 23 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll and No. 25 in the NFCA/USA Today Poll. With this week, Carolina has now been ranked for 28 consecutive weeks.
North Carolina was scheduled to take on the in-state UNC Wilmington on Wednesday evening, but the game was postponed due to steady rain. The game has been rescheduled to March 25th at 4 p.m.
Now North Carolina Head Coach Donna Papa turns her attention to the Tar Heel Invitational also played at Anderson Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. In this tournament Carolina will face competition from James Madison (3-2), Fairfield (0-0) and Pittsburgh (2-3).
The tournament begins Friday afternoon and lasts till the Championship Game on Sunday at 3 p.m. Come out and support the Tar Heels this weekend.
