University of North Carolina Athletics
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North Florida
Tar Heels Take Two In National Invitational Tournament
February 10, 2012 | Softball
Feb. 10, 2012
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score | Follow UNC Softball Via Twitter | 2012 Softball Yearbook
CLERMONT, Fla.--Sophomore Lori Spingola struck out 13 batters to propel North Carolina to a season-opening 3-0 shutout of North Florida in the National Invitational Tournament. Ally Blake and Kelli Wheeler combined for five hits and four RBI and Sara Buchholz pitched four and two-thirds innings in UNC's 8-3 game-two win over Florida Atlantic.
Carolina got on the board early, with Blake hitting a one-out single and advancing to second on an error by North Florida's first baseman. Haleigh Dickey followed up with a single to bring Blake home, advancing to second on the throw and giving the Tar Heels an early 1-0 lead.
Blake ignited the Carolina offense again in the bottom half of the third, doubling to right center field. Dickey then drew a walk before freshman Jenna Kelly recorded her first career collegiate hit and RBI, doubling to right field to push Blake across home plate. Sophomore Jordan Scarboro later tacked on another Tar Heel run with a sacrifice fly to right field, stretching the advantage to 3-0. Spingola was brilliant in the circle for the Tar Heels, surrendering only two hits and three walks for the 12th complete-game shutout of her career.
UNC again got off to a fast start in game two, with Wheeler knocking a leadoff double to right field. Blake singled up the middle to bring Wheeler home. Foulks later ripped a one-out RBI single down the right-field line, giving the Tar Heels a 2-0 advantage in the top of the first. Buchholz showed poise, working her way out of a no-out bases-loaded jam to escape the bottom of the first unscathed. lake and Dickey each uncorked a two-out RBI double in the top of the second frame, increasing the UNC edge to 5-0. Florida Atlantic countered in the bottom of the third as Taylor Fawbush singled up the middle for an RBI, the only run Buchholz would give up.
Blake blasted a home run over the left field fence to lead off the fifth frame and push the Tar Heels ahead, 6-1. Tisha Mahon then led off the sixth inning with a pinch-hit single and later crossed home plate on a fielder's choice by Amy Nece. Nece proceeded to steal second base, before Wheeler hit an RBI single to right field, giving Carolina an 8-1 lead.
Sophomore Ashley Bone came in to relieve Buchholz in the fifth inning, pitching two scoreless innings before running into trouble in the seventh. Bone walked the leadoff batter, who then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Carly Speerin unleashed an RBI-double, paring the UNC advantage to 8-2. Bone then struck out Stephanie Call before giving up another double and a walk, loading the bases with only one out. Buchholz re-entered the game to relieve Bone and get the final two outs for the Tar Heels. Buchholz was credited with the win, scattering four hits over four and two-thirds innings, walking one Owl batter and surrendering one run.
Carolina returns to action Saturday to take on Ohio State at 11 a.m. and Chattanooga at 1 p.m.
