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Virginia Falls to UNC in Doubleheader, 5-3 and 8-2
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Virginia softball team (15-19, 0-7 ACC) fell to North Carolina 5-3 and 8-2 in a doubleheader Saturday at Anderson Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.
UNC, which is receiving votes in both national polls, improved to 24-12 overall and 7-1 in conference play this season.
Game two was tied 1-1 until a six-run inning lifting the Tar Heels to victory. The Cavaliers were outhit 8-7 for the contest. Freshman Marcy Bowdren and sophomore Taylor Williams each recorded two singles while Stephanie Harris and Cynthia Javaras also singled. Giannina Cipolloni also homered in the loss.
Virginia wasted no time getting on the board in game two. Cipolloni led off the game with a solo home run to center field. It was her first of the year and the fifth of her career. But UNC reciprocated the favor as Kelli Wheeler led off the bottom of the first with a solo shot to right.
The game remained knotted at one until the bottom of the fourth inning when Carolina batted around and was able to score six times on six hits, including two home runs, to lead 7-1.
The Cavaliers got a run back in the top of the fifth. With one out, Bowdren singled to center. Harris followed with a single through the left side and Bowdren took third on an Erica Cipolloni fielder’s choice to short. Bowdren then came into score on a wild pitch.
Carolina added another run in the fifth on a Haleigh Dickey solo home run to right center.
Erica Cipolloni started game two for Virginia and threw the first 3 1/3 innings. She tallied two strikeouts. Teammates Kristen Hawkins and Stephanie Coates also pitched in game two.
UNC’s Sara Buchholz, a freshman, picked up the win after throwing a complete game. She recorded six strikeouts in the outing.
In game one against UNC, sophomore pitcher Melanie Mitchell returned to the circle for the first time since March 19 (vs. Boston College). Though she was credited with the loss, Mitchell tossed six innings with four earned runs and eight strikeouts.
North Carolina freshman Lori Spingola earned the win, also tossing a complete game. She finished with nine strikeouts and did not allow a walk.
The Tar Heels outhit Virginia 7-5 in game one. Five different Cavaliers recorded hits, including singles from Giannina Cipolloni, Alison Pittman and Alex Skinkis, a double from Bowdren and a home run from Harris.
UNC took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on a Wheeler solo home run to straightaway center. The Tar Heels were then able to extend their lead to 2-0 in the fifth, when two walks and two errors allowed Wheeler again to score on a bases-loaded walk to Dickey.
The Cavaliers commenced the top of the sixth with back-to-back bunt singles from Cipolloni and Pittman. After Bowdren sacrificed them over, Harris belted a 3-run bomb over the fence for a 3-2 Virginia advantage.
It wasn’t long before the Tar Heels were able to tie the game. Freshman Logan Foulks led off the bottom half of the sixth with a solo home run to right field for a 3-3 ballgame. Pinch hitter Jordan Scarboro provided a 2-RBI single to center to give Carolina a 5-3 lead.
Virginia and North Carolina will conclude the series at 1 p.m. Sunday.