GREENSBORO, N.C. – Despite senior catcher Whitney Sirois' first career home run, No. 16/20 North Carolina topped UNC Greensboro 5-1 at the UNCG Softball Stadium on Thursday.
With UNCG (8-14) trailing 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Sirois sent pitcher Amber Johnson's 2-2 offering out over the fence in left field for her first career long ball to cut it to 5-1.
UNCG mounted a bit of a rally in the bottom of the seventh inning, putting runners on the corners with two outs to make it interesting. Pinch-hitter Chelsea D'Ambrosio dumped a single into left field, and pinch-runner Laura Olenderski advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches. Sirois drew a four-pitch walk to keep the inning alive, but Johnson got a flyout to left to end the game.
The Tar Heels (19-6) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Christine Knauer and Anna Roberts led off the game with consecutive infield singles, and after a sacrifice bunt moved both runners up, Brittany McKinney hit an RBI single to bring in the game's first run.
North Carolina added another run in the third inning when Constance Orr singled up the middle to drive in pinch-runner Elisha Elliot. UNCG right fielder Jordan Jewett saved a run in the inning, throwing out Haleigh Dickey at first for the third out on what had appeared to be a base hit that would have scored Orr.
UNC would blow the game open in the fifth, with McKinney hitting a two-run home run to knock UNCG starter Cory Mattson from the game. Amber Harrell came in to relieve her and struck out Orr for the second out of the inning, but Kelli Wheeler followed with a solo home run to make it a 5-0 game.
Sophomore Alex Emeterio had UNCG's third hit in the game, a sharp double off third baseman Dickey's glove in the first inning.
Mattson (5-6) allowed four runs on six hits and a walk in 4 1/3 innings. She struck out two. Harrell allowed one run on three hits and two walks in 2 2/3 innings, striking out four.
Johnson improved to 11-4 on the season, allowing one run on three hits and four walks in 7 innings. She struck out 11.
McKinney and Wheeler had two hits each for the Tar Heels.
UNCG returns to conference play this weekend at College of Charleston. The Spartans will face the Cougars for a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m., followed by game three Sunday at 1 p.m.
AGATE
North Carolina 5, UNC Greensboro 1 (Mar 18, 2010 at Greensboro, N.C.)
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North Carolina...... 101 030 0 - 5 9 0 (19-6)
UNC Greensboro...... 000 010 0 - 1 3 2 (8-14)
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Pitchers: North Carolina - Amber Johnson and Ally Blake. UNC Greensboro - Cory Mattson; Amber Harrell(5) and Whitney Sirois.
Win-Amber Johnson(11-4) Loss-Cory Mattson(5-6) T-2:03 A-127
HR NC - Brittany McKinney (2); Kelli Wheeler (3).
HR UNCG - Whitney Sirois (1).
Weather: 67 degrees, fair
- UNCG -
