University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia Tech
Tar Heels Win ACC Opener, Drop Game Two
March 17, 2012 | Softball
March 17, 2012
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
BLACKSBURG, Va.- North Carolina battled back after trailing early to open ACC play with a 3-2 extra-innings win over Virginia Tech before falling short in the second game with a 5-0 loss to the Hokies. Lori Spingola tossed all nine innings in the first game, while Constance Orr tallied three hits, including a solo homerun, through both games to lead the Tar Heels.
Game 1
In game one, Virginia Tech struck early, scoring twice in the second. However, the Tar Heels held them scoreless through nine innings and eventually scored the winning run in their final at-bat.
Virginia Tech's Betty Rose singled to left field and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Kristen Froehlich, who reached base safely on a fielding error by Spingola. After both runners advanced on a ground out by Logan Spaw, Rose scored the first run for the Hokies when Lauren Gaskill singled to left field. Kylie McGoldrick singled, advancing the runners and driving in Froehlich for the Hokies' second run.
In the third, after a double by Paige Williams and a walk to Kelli Wheeler, Nece singled to left field, knocking in Williams who had advanced to third on a groundout by Elisha Elliott for Carolina's first run. In the fourth, Constance Orr smashed a solo home run over the left field fence to tie the game.
UNC loaded the bases in the fifth after three walks from Jasmin Harrell, but were unable to push any more runs across.
In the ninth, after a double to left center by Jordan Scarboro and a single from Parrish, Ally Blake doubled to right field to send Scarboro home for the go-ahead run. The Tar Heels shut the Hokies down in the final frame to take the first game 3-2.
Spingola (14-6) had a strong showing in the circle, giving up seven hits and five walks with no earned runs over nine innings for the Tar Heels. (20-7)
Game 2
In the second game, Bailey Liddle pitched a complete game for the Hokies, giving up five hits and two walks to shut out the Tar Heels 5-0. Orr had two hits and Wheeler, Nece and Scarboro each tallied one, but Carolina was unable to produce any runs.
After retiring the first two batters in the first, Ashley Bone gave up a walk to Dani Anderson, who put Virginia Tech on the board when Courtney Liddle doubled to right center. In the third, Lauren Gaskill singled and then stole second to start the inning. After a walk to Kylie McGoldrick, Gaskill advanced to third on a passed ball and scored the second run for the Hokies when Anderson grounded out to second.
Virginia Tech padded their lead with three more runs in the third. Kelsey Mericka and Katey Smith each reached base on a fielder's choice, and then advanced to second and third when Kat Banks singled to left center. After Froehlich popped out to Orr, Gaskill doubled to center driving in Mericka, Smith and Banks to make it 5-0, Virginia Tech.
Wheeler and Nece each singled in the sixth, and Scarboro singled in the seventh frame, but it wasn't enough for the Tar Heels to make another comeback over the Hokies.
Bone (2-1) was credited with the loss for Carolina, pitching three and one-third innings and giving up four hits, three walks and two earned runs.
North Carolina, now 20-8 overall and 1-1 in the ACC, will face Virginia Tech for the third game in the series on Sunday. The game time is moved up to 12 p.m.
