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No. 24 Tar Heels Edge Wolfpack In Walk-Off Fashion
April 15, 2012 | Softball
April 15, 2012
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C.-- Ally Blake blasted a walk-off home run over the center field fence in the bottom of the 10th frame, propelling No. 24 North Carolina to a 3-2 victory and series sweep of NC State. Lori Spingola tossed 10 innings, surrendering only two runs for her 23rd win of the season. The Tar Heels have now won eight straight contests to improve to 9-3 in ACC play, 32-10 overall. The Wolfpack fall to 3-11 in league play, 21-25 overall.
Sunday was also Senior Ally Blake Day, celebrating the four-year career of Tar Heels infielder Ally Blake. The Concord, N.C., native went 2-for-5 at the plate and batted in the winning run, extending her hitting streak to nine games.
The Wolfpack loaded the bases with only one out in the top of the first inning and Sarah Lippard hit a sacrifice fly to left field to give State and early 1-0 advantage.
lake legged out a two-out single to the shortstop in the bottom half of the frame and stole second base, but Haleigh Dickey groundout to Pack pitcher Morgan Peeler to end the threat.
State placed runners at second and third base in the top of the second, but Spingola got Toni Ann Williford to pop up to Blake to get out of the inning.
Kelli Wheeler drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the third. Tisha Mahon laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Wheeler over, but NC State's Peeler fielded the ball and erred on the throw to first. Both Wheeler and Mahon were able to score on the error, as the ball advanced all the way down the right field line and the Tar Heels went ahead, 2-1.
Logan Foulks drove a double down the left field line to lead off the bottom of the fourth and Chelsey Butler came in to pinch run for her. Jordan Scarboro advanced Butler to third on a groundout. NC State then made a pitching change as Emily Weiman relieved Peeler in the circle. Amber Parrish pinch hit for Amy Nece, but grounded out, stranding Butler at third.
NCSU loaded the bases in the top of the fifth inning and plated a run on an error by Blake at shortstop, evening the score at 2-2. The bases remained stuffed, but Spingola struck out two consecutive batters to keep the score knotted.
Nece looped a one-out single over the shortstop's head in the bottom of the seventh. Lauren Walker came in to pinch hit for Elisha Elliott and drove a ball to right center field, but Pack centerfielder Landon Warren made a diving catch for the second out. Wheeler then drew a base on balls to put runners on first and second base. Mahon lined out to NC State's shortstop to end the threat.
Dickey lined a one-out double down the right field line in the bottom of the eighth and Foulks moved her to third base with a deep fly ball to right field. Weiman got Orr to ground out to keep the score tied at 2-2.
lake finally broke the tie, blasting a one-out walk-off solo home run over the fence in straightaway center field and giving the Tar Heels a 3-2 win. Spingola pitched ten strong innings for Carolina, scattering six hits, two runs--one earned--and three walks. The Atlanta, Ga., sophomore also tallied eight strikeouts in the complete-game effort.
UNC is now 3-0 in extra-innings affairs in 2012, having defeated Auburn, 1-0, in eight innings March 3, and prevailed at Virginia Tech, 3-2, in nine innings March 17.
The Tar Heel softball program also wrapped up its silent auction in conjunction with its fourth annual Strike Out Cancer Event. The auction for a Carolina team helmet signed by NFCA Hall of Fame member and UNC head coach Donna J. Papa, raised $250. NC State auctioned off a Wolfpack t-shirt and autographed softball for $55. All the proceeds will be donated in Jamie Shave Mayberry's name to the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center to raise awareness and treat ovarian cancer.
Carolina treks to Charlotte, N.C., for a midweek contest against UNC Charlotte Wednesday, April 18, at 5 p.m., before returning home to host Hampton University in a doubleheader Thursday, April 19, beginning at 3 p.m.
