UNC takes year’s first ACC series

North Carolina junior Kelli Wheeler knew this weekend was going to be different. What she didn’t know was that a move to the infield for the first time in her career would lead to success in the batter’s box, as well.

The first-time shortstop posted five hits and a solo home run on the weekend to help the UNC softball team win its first ACC series of the season against Virginia Tech.

“She’s the type of player that can make those transitions,” UNC coach Donna Papa said. “So I was really proud of what she did yesterday because when you move somebody from the outfield to the infield, I think it takes a lot of discipline for someone to be able to do that.”

The Tar Heels (18-11, 2-1 ACC) returned to Anderson Stadium after a 10-game road swing and swept the double header on Saturday, 3-0 and 3-2, before dropping the final game on Sunday, 2-1.

Freshman pitcher Lori Spingola complemented Wheeler’s success at the plate as the UNC pitchers allowed only 16 hits during the series.

Spingola recorded a complete-game shutout in the twin bill Saturday and had eight strikeouts in the first game. In the second game, she came in after 4 1/3 innings to relieve pitcher Sara Buchholz and garner her first collegiate save.

“If I had to give somebody the MVP right now, (Kelli Wheeler) and Lori (Spingola) would be the two that I would say that are two of our clutch people,” Papa said.

Wheeler was not the only Tar Heel to find success at the plate. Brittany Robinson connected with the ball for her third home run of 2011, batting in right fielder Jordan Scarboro for a two-run homer in the fourth inning of the first game.

In the second game, Logan Foulks also added a home run by hitting the ball over the fence in left field in the bottom of the second.

The Tar Heels simply couldn’t find the same level of production in Sunday’s game, as they recorded only five hits and one run on the day.

The lone tally came when center fielder Dani Manko scored off a ground-ball single hit straight up the middle by designated player Ally Blake in the bottom of the third frame.

“I’m disappointed in today because I felt that we could have swept them in all three games and I feel that usually we’re pretty tough at home,” Papa said. “But to only score one run is kind of disappointing when we left six people on base.”

Errors plagued North Carolina in the third game when Wheeler and Robinson both committed mistakes. In the second inning, Wheeler made her first error at shortstop when she caught a ground ball off the bat of VT’s Ashton Ward, but dropped it and did not regain control in time to get the out at first.

“We came out strong as a team and just played really well in the first two games,” Spingola said. “But today, fatigue probably hit us and we just didn’t come out as strong.”

Sunday’s game also saw Spingola give up a two-run home run to Hokie catcher Betty Rose.

“Rose, their catcher, is their leading home-run hitter and we had shut her down for two games,” Papa said. “So I kind of knew it was only a matter of time before she got a big hit.”

Though Papa was pleased UNC won its first conference series of the season, she was more upset with her team’s inability to pull out the sweep.

“Our goal in the ACC is to win the regular season, so the key to that is winning the series and you can take that as two out of three games like we did, or all three,” Papa said. “I’m just really disappointed today because we had enough opportunities to beat them.”

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