University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Bethune Cookman
No. 25 Tar Heels Blank Bethune Cookman 5-0
February 11, 2011 | Softball
Feb. 11, 2011
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. -- Kelli Wheeler registered three hits and two RBI to lead No. 25 North Carolina over Bethune Cookman 5-0 Friday afternoon at Jacksonville University Softball Complex. Lori Spingola earned her first collegiate win, combining with classmate Sara Buchholz on a four-hit shutout. UNC improves to 1-1 overall and Bethune Cookman falls to 0-1.
Spingola (1-1) entered the circle in the fifth and baffled the Bethune Cookman hitters. After allowing a leadoff double, the freshman retired the next nine batters she faced en route to her first win of 2011.
uchholz, in her first collegiate start, allowed just three hits in four frames of work. The Miami, Fla., native issued three walks, but wriggled out of a bases loaded jam in the third and ended the fourth with a timely 5-3 double play.
Wheeler led the UNC attack that collected five runs on nine hits. Senior Brittany McKinney reached base in all four-plate appearances with a pair of hits. Haleigh Dickey added two hits and two RBI. Ally Blake recorded a hit and RBI sacrifice fly.
Carolina registered only three hits through the first four frames. Both squads struggled to put runs on the board in the early going combining to leave 12 runners on base through the first four innings.
The Tar Heels broke the scoreless tie in the fifth frame scoring two runs on three hits. Wheeler parachuted a RBI single to right center field to score freshman Amy Nece and cap three straight singles by the Tar Heels. Blake then laced a RBI sacrifice fly to deep center field extending the Carolina lead to 2-0 after five innings of play.
The Tar Heels tacked on three more runs in the sixth all with two outs. Dickey ripped a two-RBI double down the left field line to score two Tar Heels. Wheeler followed with her third hit of the day, a RBI single to the left center field gap.
Spingola tossed a perfect seventh inning to seal the victory for Carolina.
UNC returns to action Saturday challenging Buffalo at approximately 11:45 a.m. and Jacksonville at approximately 4:15 p.m. from Jacksonville University Softball Complex.
