CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Cory Mattson pitched her way past her second Atlantic Coast Conference opponent of the season and UNCG knocked off North Carolina for the first time since 2002 as the Spartans split a doubleheader with the Tar Heels on Wednesday. UNC won the first game 4-1 before UNCG earned a 5-2 win in game two.
After failing to hold on to a 1-0 lead in game one, the Spartans (18-22) came roaring back with a vengeance in game two, pounding out five hits with two outs to score all five runs in the first inning.
After a pair of quick outs to lead off the game, UNCG's offense kicked into gear. Junior Jordan Jewett got things started with a single to left center and Kaitlin Merkt followed with a single to right. After a fielder's choice by Alex Emeterio in which all three runners were safe, Heather Robb singled up the middle to knock in Jewett with the first run.
Eileen Horsmon singled through the right side to bring in two more runs, and freshman Katelyn Bedwell drilled a double to left center to make it 5-0 before the Tar Heels (27-16) had even come to the plate.
Mattson, meanwhile, cruised for most of the day. North Carolina did its only damage in the third inning, when Kelli Wheeler drew a one-out walk and Elisha Elliott followed with a single. A UNCG error on the play allowed the runners to advance a base each, and one out later, Haleigh Dickey doubled to knock in North Carolina's lone runs of the contest.
That was all Mattson would surrender, as she held the Tar Heels at bay the rest of the way. After another walk following Dickey's double, Mattson retired the next seven batters before Dickey's leadoff single in the sixth.
The Tar Heels had one last chance in the seventh, but with a runner on first and no one out, Mattson started a 1-6-3 double play to end the game.
Mattson improved to 9-10 on the season, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and four walks.
The win was Mattson's second this season over an ACC squad, as she started the season with a 1-0 no-hitter over then-No. 23 Florida State in 9 innings on Feb. 11.
Sara Buchholz (6-5) took the loss for North Carolina, allowing five runs on six hits and a walk. She allowed just one hit after the first inning, an Aisha Figueroa single to lead off the fifth.
The win was UNCG's first over the Tar Heels since April 30, 2002, and snapped a 16-game losing streak to North Carolina.
UNCG held a 1-0 lead in game one before the Tar Heels rallied late for the win. The game was scoreless through the first 4 innings, but senior Katie Stripling hit her first home run of the year in the fifth, a solo shot off UNC ace Lori Spingola.
The Tar Heels found the answer in the bottom half of the inning, however, as Brittany Robinson hit a one-out double and pinch-hitter Logan Foulks followed with a two-run homer to put North Carolina ahead for the good.
Foulks gave North Carolina some insurance in the sixth, hitting a two-run single with two outs to make it 4-1.
Emeterio, dropped to fifth in the batting order for the first time since her freshman season, responded with a 2-for-3 effort in game one, banging out two of UNCG's four hits.
Foulks, who didn't enter the game until the fifth inning, was 2-for-2 with four RBI for the Tar Heels.
Josie Felix (5-10) took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits in 5 innings. Raeanne Hanks allowed two runs on one hit in an inning of work.
Spingola (21-11) allowed just one run on four hits, striking out 11.
UNCG returns to action this weekend when it hosts Appalachian State for a three-game series. Saturday's doubleheader, set for a 1 p.m. start, will serve as UNCG's Pack the Park Pink event to raise cancer awareness.
AGATE
North Carolina 4, UNCG 1 (Apr 13, 2011 at Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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UNCG................ 000 010 0 - 1 4 0 (17-22)
North Carolina...... 000 022 X - 4 5 1 (27-15)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Josie Felix; Raeanne Hanks(6). North Carolina - Lori Spingola.
Win-Lori Spingola(21-11) Loss-Josie Felix(5-10) T-1:34 A-212
HR UNCG - Katie Stripling.
HR NC - Logan Foulks.
Weather: 68F, Sunny, light wind
UNCG 5, North Carolina 2 (Apr 13, 2011 at Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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UNCG................ 500 000 0 - 5 6 1 (18-22)
North Carolina...... 002 000 0 - 2 4 0 (27-16)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Cory Mattson. North Carolina - Sara Buchholz.
Win-Cory Mattson(9-10) Loss-Sara Buchholz(6-5) T-1:43 A-212
Weather: 65F, Sunny, light wind
- UNCG -
