UNC-Greensboro's hopes of a possible upset of No. 16 North Carolina (14-3) were dashed after a pair of home runs in the second game of their doubleheader.
The Tar Heels staved off a late Spartan run in the first game and got behind early in the second" but UNC clinched it when Anna Roberts hit a three-run homer — her first of the season.
""I told them we have been here before and we can do this"" coach Donna Papa said. Anna had a great hit. It was timely — a three-run homer to put us ahead.
""It just opened the door"" and we hit really well in the second game.""
All-America Danielle Spaulding (6-1) pitched four innings while striking out seven and driving in a run of her own for the Tar Heels in their two-run rally in the third inning of the first game.
Lisa Norris" the ACC's Pitcher of the Week after her no-hitter against Cal State Fullerton on Friday" struggled in the sixth inning.
Spartans Kaitlin Merkt and Whitney Sirois both hit deep balls against the center field wall and drove in consecutive runs.
""One of the things you always want to do — especially when you're home — you want to take advantage of opportunities and also put your opponent down" Papa said.
Even though we were winning the game I don't think we ever put Greensboro down. I always worry about the midweek games and in-state games" because we always have this target on our back.""
But Norris closed out the Spartans in the final inning on three pop outs" and the Tar Heels snuck by the Spartans 3-2 in the first game.
In the second UNC-G got off to a quick start after the Tar Heels' starting pitcher Constance Orr put herself in a tight spot in the second inning.
She gave up a run then walked a batter to load the bases — ultimately giving up three runs in 1-and-two-thirds innings pitched — and forcing the Tar Heels to bring Norris back to the mound.
The Tar Heels rallied in the third inning with an RBI double by Brittany McKinney and Roberts' three-run bomb.
UNC then piled on seven more runs in the last three innings eventually ending the game with the eight-run mercy rule in the sixth.
Roberts finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs while Spaulding who played first base in the second game" added a solo home run shot and finished 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs.
Norris held the Spartans scoreless after the third inning.
""We just weren't feeling it at first" I guess Roberts said.
We started talking about how we needed to start hitting" because we can't always put the pressure on (our) pitchers.
""We came together and beat her up.""
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
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Friday, April 26, 2024
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