Danielle Spaulding lived up to her billing as the ACC Player of the Year on Thursday when she tossed the first perfect game in ACC Softball Tournament history en route to leading North Carolina to a 6-0 win over Virginia in the opening round of the tournament in College Park, Md.

The perfect game is the first for the Tar Heels (50-9-1) since Crystal Cox accomplished the feat against Elon in 2005.

Spaulding struck out nine batters while also going 2-for-2 at the plate with a run scored and two RBIs.

Also coming up big at the plate were second baseman Cassie Palmer and first baseman Jennifer Jacobs, who combined for four hits, two runs and two RBIs.

UNC will take on No. 5 seed N.C. State at 3 p.m. today.

ALSO THURSDAY

MORE ACC SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

N.C. STATE 1, GEORGIA TECH 0: Lindsey Campana posted a one-hit, complete-game shutout as the Wolfpack defeated Georgia Tech in the first round.

Campana had a no-hitter going until the sixth inning, when Tech's Blair Shimandle doubled off the left-field wall. Campana lowered her team-best ERA to 1.51, a mark that ranks fifth overall in the league.

The Wolfpack (30-26) jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning when ACC Freshman of the Year Alyssa Allbritten tripled to right field to score shortstop Shanna Smith.

Allbritten's hit was her 55th of the 2008 season and improved her team-leading RBI total to 34. Also recording hits for the Wolfpack were Smith, infielder Ashleigh Davis and first baseman Allison Presnell.

Georgia Tech (30-29) will take on No. 8 seed Virginia in today's early game in the losers' bracket, scheduled to start at 10 a.m. The winner will advance to play either Virginia Tech or Florida State at 5:30 p.m.

VIRGINIA TECH 7, MARYLAND 4: After giving up three hits and three runs in the first inning, Virginia Tech pitcher Angela Tincher settled down to hold Maryland to a single run over her last six innings in the first round.

Tincher (31-6) struck out 12 Maryland batters to give her an ACC career-leading total of 2,014.

Leading the Hokies' offense were center fielder Jenna Rhodes, second baseman Erin Ota and catcher Kelsey Hoffman, each with two hits, and outfielder Jessica Everhart, who led Tech with two RBIs.

The Hokies (42-15) will play Florida State at 12:30 p.m. today.

FLORIDA STATE 5, BOSTON COLLEGE 1: Brittany Osmon hit a grand slam in the ninth inning to give the third-seeded Seminoles the first-round win.

BOSTON COLLEGE 7, MARYLAND 3: The Eagles advanced in a losers' bracket game and will face either North Carolina or N.C. State at 8 p.m. today.

ATLANTIC SUN TOURNAMENT

CAMPBELL 3, STETSON 2: A three-run homer by freshman Keeli Michael in the second inning provided all the offense Campbell (38-23) would need to pull off an upset of defending champion Stetson (41-23).

The Camels took on East Tennessee State later Thursday night. The game did not end in time for this edition.

WOMEN'S GOLF

DUKE LEADS REGION: Led by under-par rounds from Kim Donovan and Amanda Blumenherst, top-seeded Duke jumped out to a five-stroke lead after the first round of the NCAA East Regionals at Athens, Ga.

The Blue Devils carded a 3-under-par 285 on their way to the lead over Florida (290).

Rounding out the top five were South Carolina (291), Furman (292) and Louisville (293).

Wake Forest posted a 10-over 298 to land in eighth place.

WOLFPACK NINTH IN CENTRAL REGION: Lauren Doughtie is in fourth place after a 3-under 69 to lead N.C. State into a tie for ninth place after the first round of the NCAA Central Regional at Austin, Texas.

The Wolfpack fired a team score of 12-over 300 to tie with LSU and is only two shots out of seventh place. The top eight clubs advance to the NCAA Championship.

NOTES

FOOTBALL

GOLDBERG REINSTATED: Duke coach David Cutcliffe reinstated starting offensive tackle Cameron Goldberg on Thursday.

Goldberg, who immediately resumed off-season workouts, had been suspended for violating team rules on April 15 and was given a chance to earn his way back.

Missing that time working out with teammates was a big deal for Goldberg. Offensive linemen usually do all their football-related activity together to build chemistry and strengthen their communication.

(From College News Release)

BASKETBALL

UNC'S COPELAND TEARS ACL: North Carolina reserve Mike Copeland will need surgery after injuring his knee during a pickup basketball game last week.

The senior forward suffered a torn right anterior cruciate ligament. The surgery is scheduled next month once swelling goes down. Recovery time is typically six to eight months.

The Winston-Salem native scored 30 points in 25 games last season for the Tar Heels.

HUGGINS TRIPS IN AIRPORT: West Virginia officials say basketball coach Bob Huggins was taken to a hospital in Charlotte for precautionary reasons after tripping on an airport tarmac and hitting his head on the pavement.

Athletic director Ed Pastilong says Huggins had a bump on his head but never lost consciousness.

Pastilong said Huggins and other athletic department staff flew to Charlotte on Thursday morning for a Mountaineer Athletic Club event.

(The Associated Press)

ECU SIGNS GUARD: Chris Turner, a 6-foot-5 guard who played this past season at Humble Christian (Texas) Life Center, has signed with East Carolina for this fall, Pirates coach Mack McCarthy announced Thursday.

(From College News Release)