SOFTBALL
Boston College - 2
UNC - 6
Boston College - 1
UNC - 3
Boston College - 0
UNC - 8
North Carolina softball coach Donna Papa knew her team could do better.
For two games Saturday her team struggled to put away an overmatched Boston College Eagles team due to errors and sloppy play.
The outcome of those games were 6-2 and 3-1 respectively but Papa didn't think the team was playing up to its usual standards.
So before Sunday's series finale she gave them a little incentive — play better or face an extra day of practice.
The threat worked fine" as UNC rolled out an 8-0 mercy-rule victory after only four and a half innings of play.
""I know they didn't want to practice tomorrow"" Papa said. I'm very much pleased with us today.""
The bats were humming early and often Sunday afternoon for the UNC softball team. Twelve total hits were tallied on the afternoon as the Tar Heels mercy-ruled the bewildered Eagles.
""We knew we only had four hits in the last game"" and we know we don't need to make errors"""" said senior Breanna Brown. ""And coach Papa threatened us""
The Eagles looked more like deer in the headlights as they faced up against the onslaught of hitters and the hot arm of Danielle Spaulding.
The hitters exploded from the first inning" scoring four runs before Boston College switched pitchers in an attempt to stop the bleeding. The Eagles switched pitchers once more in the third inning when the Tar Heel bats erupted again to produce four more runs" thereby reaching the minimum amount of runs required for the mercy rule.
""So much of this game is just momentum" Papa said. When one person hits and gets on base they just kind of believe and say ‘Hey we can do this"' and they were on a mission.""
The victory was lopsided due primarily to Spaulding"" who notched eight strikeouts in only three innings on the mound and now holds a 0.94 ERA on the season.
""I really work hard during the week with the spins that I throw" I feel like I have a lot of movement" Spaulding said.
So to see the outcome of that is really rewarding.""
The combination of pitching and hitting typified the chemistry that has defined this team.
""We all get along really well. We're always together whether at practice or at home"" Brown said.
I think that makes it easier because you don't have to fake it just to be friends on the field.""
The win marks the 10th in a row for the team that Papa believes can achieve great things.
""Realistically I feel like we have a team that could go to the World Series"" I really do.""
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
