March 21, 2012
by Koby Padgett
Assistant Media Relations Director
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – South Carolina (19-13) dropped a road non-conference game in tough fashion at No. 24/25 North Carolina (22-8), as the Tar Heels claimed an 8-0 win in five innings at Anderson Stadium.
The Gamecocks threatened in the first inning but could not come through. Tar Heel starting pitcher Lori Spingola (16-6) walked leadoff hitter Samie Garcia and senior Evan Childs around a pop out before plunking cleanup hitter Kaela Jackson to load the bags. But Spingola came back with two strikeouts to escape the jam. South Carolina would not threaten again, only getting a leadoff walk from Chelsea Hawkins in the fifth.
North Carolina took over from there. Haleigh Dickey got the scoring started in the first with a grand slam out to right. Three more Tar Heel runs crossed in the third, with Kelsey Foulks doubling home one and Constance Orr plating two more. Kelli Wheeler led off the fourth with a homer to give North Carolina the 8-0 advantage.
South Carolina had no answer for the sophomore Spingola, who tossed 86 pitches in a five-inning no-hit effort. She walked three and struck out eight. Gamecock redshirt junior starter Audrey Broyles (5-4) took the loss, giving up six earned runs on five hits and a walk in 2.1 innings. She fanned three.
Amy Nece scored twice while going 2-for-2 with a double for North Carolina. Wheeler also had two hits, including the home run.
The Gamecocks host LSU in a three-game series starting at 6 p.m. on Friday at Beckham Field. Saturday’s contest is slated for a 2 p.m. start, while Sunday’s game is set for 1 p.m.
