Haleigh Dickey powers UNC with three home runs

In star senior Danielle Spaulding’s first game pitching in almost two weeks, a lesser-known North Carolina player stole the show.

Freshman third baseman Haleigh Dickey blasted three home runs in three at-bats to power the UNC softball team (23-8) past UNC-Wilmington, 5-0.

It didn’t matter where the Seahawks (5-18) pitched to her — inside, outside or down the middle. All resulted in deep bombs off the bat of Dickey.

The Tar Heels belted four home runs in the win.

“I’ve been here 25 years and we’ve never seen a performance like that: three consecutive at bats and three home runs,” coach Donna Papa said.

Dickey’s three longballs set a North Carolina softball record for the most in a single game.

She had never homered in her young Tar Heel career before Thursday’s game.

“Today I was just really relaxed,” Dickey said.

Spaulding, who came into the game leading UNC in home runs and RBIs, was as impressed as Papa.

“I’ve never seen that before,” Spaulding said. “It’s good that people are stepping up and hitting.”

Sophomore left fielder Kelli Wheeler also went deep for the Tar Heels, hitting her fifth homer of the season and tying Spaulding for the team lead in that category.

Spaulding didn’t hit, but she proved that she could regain the dominant form on the mound that she had shown throughout her first three years at North Carolina.

Spaulding threw three scoreless innings, allowing only one hit while striking out two against UNC-W. It was her first action since being hit in the wrist by a pitch against Florida State.

“It was good for her to get out there today, to get out on the mound and compete,” Papa said. “I thought she did well for her first time out in two weeks.”

Papa said that she wanted to make sure Spaulding got back into a routine before the team’s upcoming series with ACC rival N.C. State.

“(Papa) just wanted me to get a couple innings in,” Spaulding said.

She didn’t hit in an attempt to save her hand from any additional strain and discomfort.

Spaulding struggled with her control early in the game. One Seahawk batter had to dive to the ground in order to keep from being hit in the head by a pitch in the second inning.

Spaulding said she was working on her “off-pitches” because they were the ones that hurt the least, which might have led to some of her control issues.

The Tar Heels will host N.C. State this weekend, and Spaulding says that she needs to be “pretty close to 100 percent” for that series.

Still, even with the occasional wild pitch, she walked only one batter.

Her fellow senior, Amber Johnson, took over for her in the fourth inning and three-hit the Seahawks through the game’s final four frames — earning Johnson her 15th win of the season.

“Everybody was really relaxed,” Dickey said. “That’s the mindset we’re trying to take right now.”



Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.