Spring break sports recap

Softball

The North Carolina softball team played in tournaments in Alabama and Florida during the break and compiled a record of 5-5.

The Tar Heels first went 2-3 at the Citrus Classic in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. UNC beat Long Island and Temple, but lost one-run games to Oregon, Fordham and Notre Dame.

The Tar Heels were even with No. 13 Oregon through seven innings, but the Ducks scored the game’s only run on a walkoff bunt in the eighth.

UNC then traveled to Orlando, where a Kelli Wheeler two-RBI single in a four-run sixth inning powered the Tar Heels to a 7-6 win against Central Florida.

At the ACC/SEC Easton Challenge in Tuscaloosa, Ala., UNC dropped two games to No. 2 Alabama by a combined score 13-1, but pulled out victories of 12-4 and 8-2 against Mississippi State.

Lori Spingola tossed a complete-game one-hitter against in the finale against MSU.

Baseball

The No. 14 baseball team was busy during the break, playing eight since March 4.

UNC swept Stony Brook at Boshamer Stadium after starter Patrick Johnson hurled seven innings of one-run ball in a 5-1 win the opener. Johnson’s performance was followed by a doubleheader sweep Saturday.

The Tar Heels continued their winning ways by thumping Elon and St. John’s on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Freshman southpaw Kent Emanuel made a second straight strong start in the Elon game by giving up just one hit and no runs in six innings of work. The outing left his ERA at a team-low 1.35.

Johnson improved his record to 3-0 in Friday’s 7-1 win at Wake Forest before the Demon Deacons snapped UNC’s eight-game win streak with consecutive victories Saturday and Sunday.

The Tar Heels led the rubber game 4-0, but Wake Forest scored four runs in the sixth inning to tie the game and chase starter Michael Morin.

Emanuel retired the first two batters in the eighth, but a walk, a stolen base and a single brought in the go-ahead run in Wake Forest’s 5-4 victory.

Men’s lacrosse

The No. 10 North Carolina men’s lacrosse team was perfect during Spring Break, posting a 3-0 record that ended with a 9-5 road win against No. 7 Princeton on Friday.

The Tar Heels began their Spring Break with a 13-9 win against UMBC on March 5. Freshman Nicky Galasso continued his strong campaign with two goals and three assists, while Marcus Holman added four goals.

Against No. 9 Pennsylvania on Tuesday, UNC hopped out to a 6-1 first-quarter lead and never looked back in a 12-6 win. Thomas Wood had all three of his goals in the first period to help give the Quakers their first loss of the year.

The win against Princeton was UNC’s third against ranked competition this season and first away from home. The Tigers began with a 3-0 lead, but Thomas Wood, Mark McNeill and Holman combined for seven goals to lead the comeback. UNC’s record is now 5-1 after four straight victories.

Agent dies

Gary Wichard, a sports agent with Pro Tect Management and the agent involved in the NCAA’s investigation of UNC’s football program, died at the age of 60, according to reports.

Wichard died in his home of diabetes and pancreatic cancer.

Former UNC defensive lineman Marvin Austin received money from Wichard through an intermediary and a search warrant was released by the N.C Secretary of State’s Office.

The warrant stated that Wichard paid for Austin’s two flights to California to work out with former teammate Kentwan Balmer through Austin’s former high school assistant coach Todd Amis.