University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Eastern Kentucky
UNC Splits Two At Long Beach Invitational
March 8, 2012 | Softball
March 8, 2012
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score | Follow UNC Softball Via Twitter | 2012 Softball Yearbook
LAKEWOOD, Calif.--No. 23 North Carolina uses big sixth inning, overcomes two-run deficit, to defeat Eastern Kentucky, 8-3, in the opening game of the Long Beach State Invitational at Mayfair Park. Jenna Kelly and Kelli Wheeler each tallied home runs in the win over the Colonels. In the second game of the day, the Tar Heels fell to Oregon State, 8-1.
GAME ONE
The Tar Heels struck early with Amy Nece reaching base on a single to the shortstop and was later brought home on a RBI-double by Haleigh Dickey to left center, giving UNC a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Eastern Kentucky threatened in the top of the third with runners at first and third and only two outs on the board. But the runner on first base left early, allowing Carolina to preserve its 1-0 lead.
The Colonels finally pushed a run across in the top of the fourth on a fielder's choice by Shannon McQueen. Eastern Kentucky then loaded the bases with two outs to chase Bone. Carolina's Sara Buchholz relieved Bone, walking in a run before striking out Christina Datko to end the top half of the frame with the Tar Heels trailing by one, 2-1.
Ashley Bone tossed three and one-third innings for the Tar Heels, giving up three hits, two earned run, two walks and recording two strikeouts.
Larkyn Woods hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to left field to add another run for the Colonels in the top of the sixth as Eastern Kentucky went ahead, 3-1.
The Carolina bats came alive in the bottom of the sixth to the tune of seven runs on seven hits. Ally Blake got the rally started with a one-out RBI-single to left center paring the Colonel advantage to one, 3-2. Jordan Scarboro followed up with an RBI-single of her own to knot the score at 3-3. Jenna Kelly then unleashed a three-run home run over the left field fence to push the Tar Heels ahead, 6-3. Paige Williams then struck out swinging for the second out of the inning and Elisha Elliot appeared to fly out to right field but the home plate umpire called an illegal pitch. The junior singled the next pitch to the shortstop for a base hit before Kelli Wheeler plated her with a two-run home run to left field, increasing UNC's lead to five (8-3).
Lori Spingola came in to close out the seventh inning, surrendering one hit and striking out two Colonel batters.
Buchholz (4-1) was credited with the win, scattering one hit, one run and one walk over two and two-third innings of work. The sophomore also fanned four Eastern Kentucky batters.
GAME TWO
Oregon State went ahead, 2-0, in the top of the second inning on a two-run double by Ally Kutz to left center field.
Carolina tried to answer in the bottom half of the second, placing runners on the corners, but Scarboro grounded into a 5-4-3 double play. Constance Orr and Williams then both drew walks to load the bases. Amber Parrish came in to pinch hit for Elisha Elliott, but popped up to the Beavers' second baseman to end the threat. Dickey trimmed the deficit to one with an RBI-single down the left field line in the bottom of the third.
OSU tacked on two more runs in the top of the fourth, beginning with an RBI-single to single to center field by Dani Gilmore. Elizabeth Santana later drew a bases-loaded walk to plate another run, increasing the Beaver lead to three, 4-1.
The Beavers added two more runs on two hits in the top of the fifth frame. Erin Guzy notched an RBI-double to center field and Gilmore hit a sacrifice fly to right field, pushing the Beavers ahead by five , 6-1.
Ashley Bone came in to relieve Spingola in the fifth inning. Spingola was tossed four innings, giving up 6 runs, four earned and two walks. The sophomore was credited with the loss, falling to 10-5 on the year.
Carolina answered with three straight single by Elliott, Wheeler and Nece in the bottom half of the fifth. However, the Tar Heels were unable to plate a run and still trailed Oregon State, 6-1, after five.
The Beavers added two more runs in the top of the seventh on a bases-loaded wild pitch by Bone and a bases-loaded walk by Buchholz, who entered in relief of Bone for the final third of the inning.
Carolina returns to the field Friday to face UNLV at 12 p.m. ET (9 a.m. PT), followed by a clash with Utah State at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT).
