Haleigh Dickey hit a grand slam to give North Carolina a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning Wednesday, but the first inning was much closer than the 8-0 final score may suggest.
Although South Carolina was shut out in only four and a half innings, the Gamecocks threatened to break it open to start the game.
The only problem was that they couldn’t get a hit. UNC starter Lori Spingola, kept them hitless, notching her second no-hitter of the season.
In the first inning, USC’s Samie Garcia walked to first base, then stole second. After a popout, Evan Childs walked to first and Kaela Jackson followed after being hit by a pitch.
With the bases loaded and only one out, Spingola struck out USC’s Dana Hathorn and Kaitlin Westfall to end the scoreless inning.
“Lori did a great job of maintaining her composure, she stayed within herself,” coach Donna Papa said.
“The top of (USC’s) lineup is tough. They have some good numbers and some good speed. So for us to shut them down (in the top of the first inning) and then come back and score those four runs, that set the tone for the game.”
In the bottom of the first, Kelli Wheeler started off the Tar Heels with a single past third base and then a stolen second base.
“Kelli sets the table for us,” Papa said. “Whenever she gets a hit, that makes us go.”