University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia
Tar Heels Sweep Cavaliers
April 7, 2012 | Softball
April 7, 2012
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score | Follow UNC Softball Via Twitter | 2012 Softball Yearbook
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.-- Lori Spingola tossed seven shut-out innings and Ally Blake tallied a RBI-single as No. 23 North Carolina dropped Virginia, 2-0, at The Park. The UNC bats came alive in game two of the doubleheader to the tune of 10 hits, and the Tar Heels withstood a furious six-run rally by the Cavaliers in the bottom of the seventh to hold on for a 7-6 win. UNC improves to 27-10, 6-3 in the ACC.
GAME ONE
Carolina had a scoring opportunity in the top of the first as Tisha Mahon struck out swinging but reached base on a wild pitch by Virginia's Melanie Mitchell. Mahon stole second and later reached third on a fly out to right field by Ally Blake. But Mitchell struck out Constance Orr, stranding Mahon at third.
The Cavaliers threatened in the bottom of the second inning as Megan Harris lined a two-out double off the field in left center field. Spingola induced a fly out by Rachel Gillen to right field to keep the game scoreless.
Amy Nece struck out swinging in the top of the third frame but reached first on a wild pitch my Mitchell. Mahon proceeded to steal second and then took third on a throwing error by catcher Kristen Hawkins and scored on a throwing error by UVa shortstop Alex Skinkis, putting the Tar Heels up, 1-0.
Stephanie Harris singled past Tar Heel second baseman Kelsey Green to lead off the bottom of the fifth and Megan Harris laid down a sacrifice bunt to move her over to second. Gillen then singled to right field to position runner on the corners with only one out. UNC intentionally walked pinch hitter Erica Cipolloni to load the bases. Spingola got Giannina Cipolloni to fly out to center field to escape the bases-loaded jam and preserve Carolina's one run advantage.
UNC added a run in the top of the fifth inning on a RBI-single by Blake to right field, increasing the Tar Heel lead to 2-0.
Stephanie Harris tallied another lead-off single, this time in the bottom of the seventh and Megan Harris moved her over to second with a sacrifice bunt. Spingola ended the game with two strikeouts to pick up her 20th win of the season.
Spingola (20-8) scattered four hits over seven inning, walked two batters and struck out nine. It was the sophomore's 10th shutout of the season.
GAME TWO
In the top of the second inning, Logan Foulks hit a hard grounder to Cavalier first baseman Stephanie Harris, who fielded the ball cleanly but was unable to make an accurate throw to first, allowing Foulks to advance to second on the error. Virginia pitcher Rachel Gillen got Amber Parrish and Kelsey Green to pop up, stranding the Tar Heel runner on second.
Stephanie Harris led off the bottom of the second with a single through the right side. Harris stole second base before being moved over to third on a Gillen groundout. Ashley Bone struck out Hawkins to end the Cavalier threat.
Wheeler lined a one-out single to right center field in the top of the third frame and Tisha Mahon followed with a bunt single. Blake then grounded a single to third base to load the bases. Orr hit a sacrifice fly to deep right field to score Wheeler and Mahon crossed home plate on a wild pitch by Gillen. Haleigh Dickey then unleashed a two-run home run over the fence in left field, propelling the Tar Heels to a 4-0 lead.
Mahon, Blake and Orr each notched two-out RBI-singles in the top of the fourth, stretching the Carolina lead to 7-0.
Virginia finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh, scoring three runs on four hits and one error to chase Bone. Bone surrendered seven hits and four earned runs over six and one-third innings of work. The sophomore pitcher from Rocky Mount, N.C., also tallied a career high seven strikeouts to improve to 3-1 on the year.
Sara Buchholz relieved Bone, inducing a groundout and walking a batter before surrendering a three-run home run to pinch hitter, Erica Cipolloni, which pared the Tar Heel advantage to one, 7-6.
Lori Spingola then came in to strike out Megan Harris for the final out of the game, picking up her first save of the season.
Carolina next travels to Greensboro, N.C., for a midweek doubleheader against UNC Greensboro Wednesday, April 11, beginning at 4 p.m.
