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No. 24 UNC Blanks South Carolina, 8-0
March 21, 2012 | Softball
March 21, 2012
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C.-- No. 24 North Carolina shutout South Carolina, 8-0, behind Lori Spingola's second no-hitter of the season and a grand slam from Haleigh Dickey. Kelli Wheeler also notched a home run and Constance Orr added two RBI in the win over the Gamecocks, as the Tar Heels improve to 22-8 on the season.
South Carolina loaded the bases with only one out in the top of the first inning on two walks and a hit-by-pitch. Spingola struck out the next two batters to keep the Gamecocks off the board.
Wheeler led off the bottom of the first with a single through the left side and proceeded to steal second base. Amy Nece drew a walk and Ally Blake singled to right field to load the bases. Logan Foulks reached first on a fielder's choice, but Wheeler was thrown out at home by USC second baseman. Dickey then came up and blasted a home run over the right field fence for a grand slam, putting the Tar Heels on top, 4-0.
Foulks ripped an RBI-double down the left-field line in the bottom of the third to add another run. Constance Orr followed with a two-RBI single to left field, increasing the Carolina lead to 7-0 through three innings.
Wheeler led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run over the fence in left field, propelling Carolina ahead, 8-0. It was the sixth home run of the season for the senior from Marietta, Ga., who is now two shy of the school-record for career home runs.
Spingola was brilliant in the circle en route to her second no-hitter of the season and the fourth of her career. The sophomore from Atlanta, Ga., walked three batters and posted eight strikeouts to improve to 16-6 on the year. She previously no-hit UNLV March 5, at the Long Beach Invitational.
Carolina returns to Atlantic Coast Conference play Saturday, March 24, against Maryland. The Tar Heels and Terrapins will face off in a doubleheader at Anderson Stadium, beginning at 1 p.m.
