University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia
Carolina Prevails, 3-2, Over Cavaliers
April 6, 2012 | Softball
April 6, 2012
Follow UNC Softball Via Twitter | 2012 Softball Yearbook
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.-- Lori Spingola struck out pinch hitter Erica Cipolloni as Virginia stranded the tying run at third base and the winning run at second in the bottom of the seventh and No. 23 North Carolina prevailed, 3-2. The Tar Heels improve to 25-10, 4-3 in ACC play. UNC concludes its series with UVA in a doubleheader Saturday, beginning at noon.
Carolina loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the second as Constance Orr and Amber Parrish both drew walks and Logan Foulks reached base on a fielder's choice. But Paige Williams struck out looking and the Tar Heels were unable to plate a run.
The Tar Heels staged a two-out rally in the top of the third, beginning with a solo home run over the right center field fence by Ally Blake. Orr and Foulks each followed with a single before Haleigh Dickey brought them home with a single to right field, propelling UNC to an early 3-0 lead.
The Cavaliers' Taylor Williams hit a one-out single and Alex Skinkas drew a walk in the bottom of the fourth. Spingola struck out Marcy Bowdren and got Stephanie Harris to fly out to right field to escape the inning unscathed.
Orr lined a one-out double off the wall in right field in the top of the fifth frame but Virginia's Melanie Mitchell induced a groundout and struck out Dickey looking to end the threat.
Virginia broke through with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Megan Harris led off with a single to right field and Rachel Gillen drew a bases on balls. Kristen Hawkins then reached first on a throwing error by Carolina's Orr, allowing Harris to score. Giannina Cipilloni then hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field to score another run, paring the Tar Heel advantage to one, 3-2.
Gillen drew a lead-off walk in the bottom of the seventh and was moved over to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Kristen Hawkins. Spingola struck Kennedy Byxbee swinging for the second out but Gillen then took third base on a throwing error by Foulks. Spingola then struck out pinch hitter, Erika Cipilloni, for the final out of the game as the Cavaliers stranded the tying run on third base and the winning run on second.
Spingola (19-8) got off to a fast start, striking out four of the first six Cavalier batters she faced. The sophomore from Atlanta, Ga., finished with 12 strikeouts and gave up only three hits, four walks and two runs to pick up the win.
Carolina and Virginia return to the field Saturday for a doubleheader at The Park, beginning at 12 p.m.
