May 13, 2011

Atlanta – The Boston College softball team lost to North Carolina, 9-0, in five innings of the first round of the ACC Tournament on Friday at Mewborn Field.

Kelli Wheeler and Haleigh Dickey each hit a home run for the Tar Heels (33-20), accounting for six runs.

Senior Allison Gage (7-13) shouldered the loss for Boston College (15-31). The right from LaGrange Ill. walked two batters and allowed two runs on a pair of hits in two-thirds inning.

Freshman Amanda Horowitz and sophomore Nicole D’Argento came in as relief, each tossing two innings. Horowitz struck out one, walked two and allowed two runs on three hits. D’Argento struck out two batter, walked four and allowed four earned runs on two hit.

Freshman Lori Spingola (26-15) struck out 11 batters, walked three and did not allow a hit in five innings of work.

In the first, the Eagles drew two walks, but Spingola struck out three batters before North Carolina took a two run lead in the bottom half of the inning. Wheeler knocked a lead-off single up the middle and was advanced on a 5-4 sac bunt. After Dickey drew a walk, Logan Foulks dusted the left field line on a standup double to bring in the two runs for the Tar Heels.

Horowitz retired the next four batters, but in the third a lead-off single and Dickey’s homer to right put UNC up four, 4-0. The freshman responded by getting a pair of outs, but after two Carolina hits, D’Argento came in and fanned Jordan Scarboro to get out of the inning.

In the fifth, Logan Foulks drew a walk and was pinch run for by Paige Williams. A throwing error to first on Ally Blake’s bunt allowed Williams to round the bases and Blake to reach second. With the 5-0 lead, North Carolina loaded the bases with two more walks. After BC got the force out at home, Wheeler ended the game with a grand slam to left center.