University of North Carolina Athletics
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UTEP
Tar Heels Win on Walk-Off Homerun
February 17, 2012 | Softball
Feb. 17, 2012
2012 Season Preview
LAFAYETTE, La.-- Logan Foulks belted a walk-off home run down the right field line to give North Carolina a 7-6 win over the University of Texas-El Paso Friday morning in the opening game of the 8th Annual Mardi Gras Classic at Lamson Park. The Tar Heels improve to 5-0 on the season and return to the field Friday evening against Northwestern Louisiana State at 8:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. CT).
Lori Spingola picked up her fourth win of the year, scattering seven hits, four walks and three earned runs over seven innings of work. The Atlanta, Ga., native also finished with 14 strikeouts.
Carolina struck first, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. Foulks and sophomore Jordan Scarboro each tallied RBI singles and Foulks scored on an error by UTEP's shortstop to give the Tar Heels an early 3-0 lead.
The Miners answered in the top of the fourth, rallying to score four runs after their first two batters struck out swinging. The following two UTEP batters reached base after being hit by a Lori Spingola pitch. Designated player, Tyler Wade later unleashed an RBI-single up the middle. With the bases loaded, UTEP's Chelsea Troupe singled to Foulks, who hesitated and committed a throwing error to first base, allowing three runs to score, as Carolina fell behind, 4-3.
Prior to Wade's RBI-single, Spingola had pitched 19 and two-thirds innings without surrendering a run.
UNC quickly responded in the bottom half of the fourth, as Constance Orr drew a walk to score Tisha Mahon and Megan Morrison came in to pinch hit for Amy Nece and hit a sacrifice fly to left field to regain the lead, 5-4.
The Tar Heels added another run in the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back doubles by Haleigh Dickey and Lauren Walker, increasing their advantage to 6-4.
UTEP rallied to knot the score at 6-6 in the top of the sixth with a two out two-run home run off the bat of Camilla Carrera. It was the first baseman's sixth home run in her last six games.
Carolina again answered in the bottom half of the frame as Foulks led off with a walk-off home run down the right field line to give the Tar Heels a 7-6 win. It was the second home run of the year for the sophomore from Douglasville, Ga.
Spingola has recorded double-digit strikeouts in all three of her starts this season.
Carolina returns to action this evening as it takes on Northwestern State at 8:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. CT) from Lamson Park.
