March 8, 2008
Box Score vs. USC Upstate | Box Score vs. North Carolina
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Lafayette lost both its games in the rain delayed Tar Heel Invitational on Saturday. The Leopards lost 6-0 to USC Upstate before falling 12-0 in a near no-hitter to host North Carolina in five innings. Lafayette had just three hits in both games with Kristen Ruckno getting her first double of the season against the Tar Heels.
In the third inning, Kim Brasil hit a triple to left field for the Spartans and Melissa Lockey scored off a throwing error. USC Upstate's bats kept swinging as Mitchell hit a two-run homer to centerfield to give the Spartans a 3-0 advantage. Kasey Karr stepped out and Christine Hilcken saw her first time in the circle for the Leopards. Hilcken struck out Katie Adams and Heidi Gibbs grounded out to Sarah Price. Feldon closed the third inning with a homer to right field. Spartans led 4-0.
The Leopards were held hitless in the top of the fifth and the Spartans used their half of the inning to secure the victory. USC used three hits to score the final two runs of the game. Reigning Patriot League Pitcher of the Week, Ali Henry took over to close the inning, striking Flores out.
Neither team had another hit in the final two innings with USC Upstate (10-3) getting the 6-0 win over the Leopards (1-2). Lafayette left eight runners on base in the game. Karr (0-2) allowed five hits in two innings pitched.
In the second game, North Carolina took an early 5-0 lead with five runs off four hits in the first inning. Danielle Spaulding hit a three-run homer with Cassie Palmer and Emily Troup scoring for the Tar Heels. The Leopards were unable to respond to the offensive rush in the bottom of the first with Matchett out at first and Christina Giambrone and Ruckno both striking out.
The Tar Heels went ahead 7-0 after Jennifer Jacobs hit a two-run homer in the second inning. With Lafayette up to bat, Johnson walked Karr, but did not allow a single hit in the bottom of the second inning, striking out Henry, Price and Aimee Dassner.
Lafayette held North Carolina to only one run in the third inning despite getting two hits off Henry. The Leopards' batters went three up and three down with Johnson striking out each in the bottom of the third.
Karr took over for Henry after the Tar Heels scored twice in the fourth inning. North Carolina led 11-0 when Ruckno doubled to left field to put Giambrone in scoring position. It was the first hit allowed by Johnson who finished all five innings. Johnson struck out the next two batters and Price grounded out to third, closing the fourth inning without a mark for Lafayette.
North Carolina (18-6) scored its final run off a single from Allen to end the game with a 12-0 victory over the Leopards (1-3). Henry (1-1) allowed 11 hits in 3.1 innings pitched.
Lafayette will go on its spring break trip to Osceola, Fla. to compete in the Rebel Spring Games from March 17 to March 21. The Leopards will play eight games in four days starting with an 11 a.m. match-up against Cornell on Monday, March 17.
