University of North Carolina Athletics
Next Up: DeMarini Invitational In Fullerton, Calif.
March 2, 2010 | Softball
March 2, 2010
The North Carolina Tar Heels (10-3) wrapped up last weekend with another tournament championship victory. This time it was the Tar Heel Invitational hosted by Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C. The three-day tournament featured participating teams James Madison, Pittsburgh and Fairfield.
The weather throughout the weekend was consistent - clear skies and a bright sun ruled the weekend, but temperatures were in the high 40s to low 50s with breezy winds and made for a good weekend of softball.
UNC 2, Fairfield 0
Carolina started the tournament slow by only creeping by Fairfield with a 2-0 win. The offense had converting base runners into runs against the Stags. Despite eleven batters reaching base Carolina could only convert two into runs. Fortunately for Carolina, with the strong pitching of Amber Johnson, that is all they would need. Johnson pitched seven shutout innings, striking out 12 batters and only allowed two hits.
UNC 8, James Madison 0 (5 inn.)
In the second game of the day Friday, North Carolina dominated James Madison due to an exceptional performance from Danielle Spaulding in the circle and at the plate. Spaulding pitched her third no-hitter of the season and sixth of her career, while striking out twelve in the process. At the plate, she slammed her third home run of the season as the Tar Heels rolled 8-0.
UNC 8, Pitt 0
Another game and another no-hitter this time courtesy of Amber Johnson in the Saturday game vs. Pittsburgh. The senior pitcher hurled her second career no-hitter and the second straight no hit game from a Tar Heel pitcher. Offense was easy to come by for the Tar Heels as Carolina took advantage of Pittsburgh's errors and put eight on the board in seven innings. With the win, Carolina advanced to the Championship Game on Sunday afternoon vs. James Madison.
UNC 5, James Madison 1
For the first time during the Tar Heel Invitational, North Carolina trailed during a game. An opposing team finally got to Danielle Spaulding, who had been unhittable up to that point, when Caitlen Manning hit a solo home run to give James Madison a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning. Carolina responded in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases and taking the lead with a two-RBI double from Anna Roberts down the left field line. A Brittany Robinson two-run home run put the game out of reach in the sixth inning as the Tar Heels kept the Championship Trophy in Chapel Hill.
Next Up: The DeMarini Invitational in Fullerton, Calif.
North Carolina travels west to California for the DeMarini Invitational and follow up games vs. Cal State Fullerton and UCLA. The DeMarini Invitational hosted by Cal State Fullerton at the Titan Softball Complex in Fullerton, Calif. This premier invitational features top teams: Northwestern, No. 3 Florida, Pacific, UNC, Oregon State, No. 10 Stanford, Indiana, UC Davis, Loyola Marymount and Cal State Fullerton.
This tournament will test Carolina much in the same way that the Texas Invitational did earlier this year. The Tar Heels will face top-notch competition from around the country and put Carolina's nine game winning streak on the line.
After the three-day invitational Carolina will stay in California and face Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday, March 9th. The next day Carolina faces perennial powerhouse No. 5 UCLA in Los Angeles.
Opponents All-Time Series with UNC: March 5th - Northwestern (Northwestern leads 1-0 all-time) Indiana (Tied at 1-1 all-time)
March 6th Pacific (Pacific leads 1-0 all-time) Stanford (No past meetings)
March 7th Loyola Marymount (No past meetings)
March 9th Cal State Fullerton (UNC leads 1-0 all-time)
March 10th UCLA (No past meetings)
