March 9, 2009

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Virginia first baseman Sarah Tacke and North Carolina pitcher Danielle Spaulding have been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week for the week ending on March 8.

Tacke, a junior from Merced, Calif., claimed her second consecutive weekly honor with an impressive 9-for-11 showing at the plate in doubleheader sweeps over Rider and Lafayette. The Virginia slugger tallied two doubles, two triples and her sixth home run of the season and batted in nine runs to lead Virgina to 42 total runs in four games. Tacke hit .818, stole a base and walked once on the week.

Spaulding, a junior from Rancho Cucamongo, Calif., captured her third weekly honor of the season as she recorded her third career no-hitter on Friday over Elon. Overall, she was 2-0 on the week, allowing two hits in 11.0 innings of work. She fanned 25 and walked only two batters while holding Elon and Princeton scoreless as Carolina rolled to 8-0 and 11-0 wins, respectively.

Virginia will host George Washington on Tuesday afternoon for a doubleheader before opening league play on Saturday against Boston College. North Carolina will host Florida State for a three-game series on Monday and Tuesday afternoons before heading to the Coastal Carolina Tournament this weekend for a four-pack of games.