University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Notre Dame
UNC Splits Two Games In Carolina Classic
February 25, 2012 | Softball
Feb. 25, 2012
Carolina Classic Tournament Central Page
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--No. 24 North Carolina staged a late rally before falling just short, 6-5, to Notre Dame for its first loss of the season. Kelli Wheeler and Haleigh Dickey each tallied home runs in the loss to the Fighting Irish. The Tar Heels bounced back to edge Minnesota, 1-0, as Lori Spingola and Sara Buchholz combined to shut out the Golden Gophers. UNC is now 10-1 on the year.
GAME ONE
Notre Dame grabbed the early lead, as catcher Amy Buntin unleashed a two-run double down the left field line. First baseman, Dani Miller then brought Buntin home with an RBI-single up the middle, to go up 3-0 on the Tar Heels.
The Irish increased their lead in the top of the fifth frame, beginning with a one-out solo home run to right field by Alexa Maldonado. Miller followed up with a two-run home run to right center field, giving Notre Dame a 6-0 advantage.
Spingola struggled in the circle, going four and two-thirds innings for the Tar Heels, surrendering six runs on eight hits to go along with six strikeouts. The sophomore was credited with the loss, her first of the season.
Sophomore Ashley Bone came in to relieve Spingola in the fifth, recording the final out of the frame. The Rocky Mount, N.C., native scattered four hits over two and a third innings and gave up no runs.
Finally pushing a run across in the bottom half of the fifth was Jordan Scarboro, with an RBI-single to bring Logan Foulks home and trim the deficit to five at 6-1. Wheeler led off with a solo home run to left field to spark a furious Tar Heel rally in the bottom of the seventh. Dickey later added a three-RBI home run over the right field fence to pare the Irish advantage to one (6-5). But the next three Carolina batters could not get one base, as UNC fell for the first time this season.
GAME TWO
Carolina's second game of the day proved to be a pitcher's duel. The lone run came in the top of the third. Senior Kelsey Green drew a one-out walk and advanced to second base on a single by Wheeler up the middle. Senior Ally Blake then hit a line drive and reached base on a fielder's choice to plate Green and give the Tar Heels a 1-0 lead.
Buchholz started for UNC, scattering five hits, one walk and struck out four Gopher batters. Spingola pitched three and third innings in relief, giving up not hits and striking out six of the 11 batters she face. The sophomore from Atlanta, Ga., was credited with the win to bring her ledger to 7-1 on the year.
Carolina returns to the field tomorrow for an 11:30 a.m. rematch with Notre Dame, followed by a 2 p.m. clash with Penn State.
