March 25, 2009

Spaulding Breaks School Record As No. 18 Tar Heels Roll
Junior Danielle Spaulding broke a 21-year old school record Wednesday when she struck out 19 batters against Campbell in Buies Creek, N.C. as the Tar Heels claimed a 6-1 win. Spaulding snapped Tracey Brower's mark of 17 set in 1988 against North Carolina A&T. Three Tar Heels tallied home runs in the win as Carolina improved to 28-7 on the year. Carolina will welcome Boston College to town on Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

Spaulding was locked in a pitcher's duel with Campbell's Brittany Stanley through the opening three frames as neither pitcher allowed a hit. Carolina struck first with a pair of singles in the fourth inning with one out but the Tar Heels were unable to come up with the big hit stranding the pair and ending the threat.

Senior Emily Troup quickly changed the score in the top of the fifth when she led off the inning with a blast to center field that put Carolina in front 1-0. The Tar Heels would put another pair of runners on in the inning as Christine Knauer and Kelsey Green each reached on infield singles but a ground ball back to the pitcher ended the inning. 

Wolfpack Beats No. 15 Ohio State, 2-1 in Eight
It took some timely hitting and patience at the plate, but NC State topped No. 15 Ohio State 2-1 in eight innings in the first game of a twin bill at the Curtis & Jacqueline Dail Softball Stadium on Wednesday, March 25. The win moves the Pack to 15-10, while the Buckeyes dip to 22-5.

State now has two wins over top-15 squads this season.

Alyssa Ishibashi went 2-for-3 at the plate for State, while Kristine Bechtholdt hit her fifth long ball on the year. Lindsay Campana (7-5) allowed just one run and three hits while striking out nine throughout her complete game performance. Lindsay Bodeker (8-2) took the loss. 

NC State Drops Game Two to Ohio State
Two home runs led to Ohio State topping NC State, 4-0, in the second game of a doubleheader at the Curtis & Jacqueline Dail Softball Stadium on Wednesday, March 25. The loss sends NC State to 15-11 on the year, while the Buckeyes advance to 23-5.

Mendy McKenzie took the loss, falling to 6-4 on the year. Megan Miller (4-0) got the win.

Sam Marder drove one way out of the yard in the top of the first to left-center, putting the Buckeyes up 1-0. A Courtney Pruner three-run shot to left-center extended the score to 4-0 later in the top of the third.

Maryland Falls to No. 8/10 Northwestern
The University of Maryland softball team played one of the nation's top teams even for six innings but ultimately fell to No 8/10 Northwestern, 7-2, in nonconference action Wednesday evening in Robert E. Taylor Stadium.

Playing their fourth consecutive game against a nationally-ranked opponent, the Terrapins (14-15) claimed a 2-1 advantage in the third inning. The Wildcats (16-7) knotted the game at two during their ensuing at bat, and the score remained that way until a big seventh inning resulted in five more runs for Northwestern.

Sophomore Kerry Hickey continued to demonstrate her ability to excel as a two-way player for Maryland. The Huntingtown, Md., native started on the mound and pitched four solid innings, allowing just two earned runs on two hits with six strikeouts. Hickey also knocked in one of Maryland's runs, when her hard single through the left side during the third inning enabled junior Nadine Blackie to score. 

BC Softball Falls, 5-0, to Boston University in Home Opener
The Boston College softball team (9-14, 0-0 ACC) fell, 5-0, to Boston University in its first game of the season at Shea Field.

BC starting pitcher Taylor Peyton (6-8), lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing five runs (four earned), on five hits, while walking five batters and striking out four.

BU took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a home run by Nora Militz over the center field wall. The Terriers rallied for three more runs with three hits in the top of the third inning, and would tack on one more in the top of the fifth inning for a 5-0 lead.