University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Coastal Carolina
Carolina Downs Chanticleers, 5-3
May 19, 2012 | Softball
May 19, 2012
2012 NCAA Tourney Central
ATHENS, Ga.-- No. 21 North Carolina scored four runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back, defeating Coastal Carolina, 5-3, in an elimination game Saturday evening at Jack Turner Softball Stadium. The Tar Heels improve to 43-14 on the season.
Kelli Wheeler led off the game with a solo home run over the wall in left center field. Ally Blake, Constance Orr and Jordan Scarboro each tallied RBI-singles to propel the Tar Heels ahead early, 4-0.
Amber Parrish lined a RBI-double to center field in the top of the second inning as Carolina went ahead, 4-0.
Coastal Carolina's Cacia Pierre and Jazmin Daigle both singled in the bottom of the fifth frame to position runners at first and second base and then Jessie Winans then drew a walk to load the bases with two outs. Sara Rasley then hit a hopper up the middle, scoring two runs for the Chanticleers, narrowing the Tar Heel advantage to three, 5-2.
Kory Hayden led off the bottom half of the sixth with a solo home run down the left field line to pare the deficit to two runs, 5-3.
Lori Spingola (33-11) held the Chanticleer bats in check the rest of the way, scattering seven hits, three runs and one walk to go along with five strikeouts in the complete-game effort.
Carolina will take to the field again tomorrow in another elimination game vs. No. 10 seed Georgia at noon.
