University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Georgia Tech
No. 21 Tar Heels Sweep Jackets
April 21, 2012 | Softball
April 21, 2012
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score | Follow UNC Softball Via Twitter | 2012 Softball Yearbook
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.-- Elisha Elliott looped a walk-off, RBI-single through the middle as No. 21 North Carolina (36-10, 11-3 ACC) upended Georgia Tech, 3-2, in the series opener Saturday afternoon at Anderson Stadium. The Tar Heels used a big fifth inning to rally from three runs down in game two, sweeping the doubleheader, 6-4. Lori Spingola picked up both wins in the circle and freshman Lauren Walker tallied a RBI-single in each victory, as UNC extends its unbeaten streak to 12 games.
Saturday also served as Senior Day as the Carolina softball program celebrated the careers and contributions from student athletes Ally Blake, Kelsey Green and Kelli Wheeler as well as team manager Chris Presnell and athletic trainer Kat Trinidad.
GAME ONE
The Jackets put a runner in scoring position in the top of the second as Kate Johnsky hit a high fly ball just above the middle infield. Pitcher Lori Spingola called to make the catch but Ally Blake made the attempt, fumbling the ball for an error. Johnsky never stopped running, advancing all the way to second in the error. Spingola induced a pop up and groundout from the next two Tech batter to keep the game scoreless.
Chelsie Thomas laid down a bunt single to lead off the top of the third inning and Ashley Thomas moved her over to second with a sacrifice bunt. Kate Kuzama then flew out to left field and Kelsi Weseman reached first on a hit-by-pitch. Spingola struck out Alysha Rudnik swinging, stranding a pair of Tech base runners.
Carolina's Amy Nece drew a lead-off walk in the bottom half of the third and Kelsey Green laid down a sacrifice bunt to move her over to second base. Kelli Wheeler then grounded out to the shortstop, advancing Nece to third base. Freshman Lauren Walker came in to pinch hit for Tisha Mahon and drove a single through the left side, plating Nece and giving the Tar Heels a 1-0 lead.
Nece ignited the Tar Heel offense again in the bottom of the fifth, leading off with a triple off the wall in left center field. Green then hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring Nece home and stretch the UNC advantage to two, 2-0.
Rudnik blasted a solo home run to right field to lead off the top of the sixth, paring the Tar Heel advantage to one, 2-1. Karly Fullem later hit a two-out, solo home run to left field, evening the score at 2-2.
Logan Foulks drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the sixth frame and Chelsey Butler came in to pinch run for her at first base. Orr then drew four straight balls from Rush to put runners at first and second.
Amber Parrish subbed in to pinch hit for Jordan Scarboro but flew out to deep right field, ending the threat.
Nece led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single to Tech's shortstop and Green moved her into scoring position with a deep fly out down the left field line. Wheeler then drew a walk, positioning runners at first and second base. Elliott came in to pinch hit for Mahon, looping a one-out single up the middle to score Nece from second base and give the Tar Heels a 3-2 walk-off victor.
Spingola improved to 25-8 in the circle, scattering four hits, two earned runs and striking out seven in the complete-game effort.
GAME TWO
Kate Kuzma and Alysha Rudnik notched back-to-back RBI-doubles in the bottom of the first inning as the Yellow Jackets grabbed an early 2-0 lead. After surrendering three straight doubles, Sara Buchholz came in to relieve Ashley Bone. Buchholz got Karly Fullem to groundout for the final out of the inning.
Georgia Tech loaded the bases with one out in the top of the second, but Ally Blake turned an unassisted double play to help Buchholz and the Tar Heels out of the bases-loaded jam.
Kelsi Weseman lead off the top of the third with a solo home run to right field, increasing the Jackets lead to three, 3-0. Kuzma followed with a single down the left field line to chase Buchholz. The Tar Heels then brought in Lori Spingola, who got the next three batters to ground out.
lake drew a base in balls to lead off the bottom of the fourth. Dickey laid down a bunt and Tech first baseman Karly Fullem fielded the ball cleanly, but the throw to first sailed on her and went all the way down the right field line. Blake was able to score from first, trimming the deficit to two, 3-1, on the error and Dickey advanced all the way to third. The Yellow Jackets turned a double play on a grounder by Foulks, getting the force out at first and tagging Mahon, who had come in to pinch run, at home. Orr then flew out to end the frame.
Scarboro led off the bottom of the fifth with a single to left field and Elliott followed with a single to the shortstop, positioning runners at first and second base with no outs. Green laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third base. Wheeler then drew a walk to load the bases. Freshman Lauren Walker followed with a pinch-hit, RBI-single to left field, bringing the Tar Heels within one run, 3-2. Blake then drove a double off the fence in right center field, plating two more runs as Carolina went ahead, 4-3. Dickey kept the rally going, hitting a hard grounder to Tech second baseman Chelsie Thomas, plating another run. Foulks then laid down a suicide squeeze, tacking on another run for the Tar Heels, as they went ahead 6-3.
Georgia Tech looked to answer in the top of the sixth inning, utilizing two Tar Heel errors to place runners on first and second with no outs. Ashley Thomas laid down the sacrifice bunt to move the runners over to second and third base, but Spingola struck out pinch hitter Danielle Dike and got Weseman to fly out, holding the Jackets at bay and maintaining UNC's lead, 6-3.
Kuzma belted a solo home run off the flag pole in left center field to lead off the top of the seventh, cutting the deficit to two runs, 6-4. Spingola struck out the next batter and Fullem singled to center field. Johnsky then flew out to left field and Wheeler threw a frozen rope to tag out the runner at first, ending the game.
Spingola (26-8) was credited with the win, tossing five innings and giving up only three hits, one earned run and walked one batter. The sophomore pitcher from Atlanta, Ga., also struck out four batters on her way to picking up her 26th win of the season, one shy of the single-season record of 27.
Carolina and the Jackets return to the field Sunday for the series finale at 1 p.m. from Anderson Stadium. Sunday will also be "Kelsey Green & Kelli Wheeler," and fans can pick up their official player cards for Green and Wheeler and have them autographed by the seniors in the concourse of Anderson Stadium following the game.
