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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. The Virginia softball team (24-14, 2-9 ACC) was defeated twice by 14th-ranked North Carolina (37-7, 12-2 ACC) Saturday at Anderson Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Tar Heels took the first game of the doubleheader, 8-3, and won the second, 6-0.
Home runs from senior Carly Winger and redshirt sophomore Nicole Koren proved to be the lone hits for Virginia in the first game. The 2008 ACC Player of the Year, UNC’s Danielle Spaulding, struck out 18 batters in seven innings and allowed just one walk on the afternoon.
North Carolina, which outhit Virginia 11-2, picked two up runs in the first and three in the third to take a 5-0 lead. Virginia’s first run came in the fourth, a solo shot by Winger to left. The Tar Heels added three more runs in the fifth and took an 8-1 advantage.
In the top of the seventh, Koren belted her 12th home run of the year, a two-run shot to right. Koren’s 12th homer leaves her one shy of tying the single season school record of 13 home runs, set in 2002 by former Cavalier Kristen Dennis.
Sophomore Allee Rife (1-2) took the loss in the circle after tossing two innings and allowing five runs on six hits. Stephanie Coates pitched three innings and gave up three runs on four hits, while Koren came on to pitch the sixth to four batters, allowing a hit.
Carolina outhit UVA 8-3 in game two in the shutout victory. Virginia’s first two hits came in the first inning on back-to-back singles from freshmen Clara Kendall and Giannina Cipolloni. Abby Snyder also recorded an infield single in the fifth.
Senior Karla Wilburn (17-7) took the loss after three innings and giving up five runs on seven hits. Wilburn also finished with three strikeouts and three walks. Rife pitched the fourth and Koren tossed the fifth and six innings.
Virginia will play host to Norfolk State in a doubleheader at 5 p.m. Tuesday at The Park.