University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Wins Fall Softball Tournament
October 5, 2002 | Softball
Oct. 5, 2002
Chapel Hill, N.C. -- The University of North Carolina softball team defeated UNC-Wilmington, 3-2, East Carolina, 3-2, and UNC-Charlotte, 8-1, to win the Carolina Fall Softball Tournament tonight on the Carolina Softball Field. The Tar Heels scored runs in their last at-bats in each of the first two games, and exploded for eight in the nightcap, for the three-game sweep.
In game one, freshman pitcher Crystal Cox picked up the victory in relief, striking out five in three innings of work. Tiffany Tolleson went 3 for 4, with three stolen bases and a triple, to lead the Heels offensively. Dionne Streete slugged in the winning run with a double in the sixth and ended the game 2 for 3, with an RBI.
The second game was another thriller for the Tar Heels. Jessica Robinson hit the game-winning single in the top of the seventh, with two outs, as the Heels defeated East Carolina 3-2. Brandi Griffin got the win in relief, pitching the final three innings.
The final game of the tournament witnessed a great start on the mound from Cox. She retired the first nine hitters she faced, striking out four, and allowed no hits through four innings. Allison Yin pitched the final three innings, surrendering three hits and one run. At the plate, Natashalyn Snipes got the Heels started in the fourth inning with a two-out single to give UNC a 3-0 lead. Robinson then blew the game wide open as she tagged a ball off the top of the left field fence, with the bases loaded, to pick up two RBIs,to give the Tar Heels a 6-0 lead. Carolina added two more insurance runs in the seventh inning and held on for the win.
Tolleson went 6 for 9 in the tournament, with three stolen bases and one RBI. Robinson led the Heels with three RBIs and Cox picked up two of the three wins on the mound for UNC.
"I'm really pleased with what we did offensively," said head coach Donna Papa. "We were aggressive at the plate and scored first in every game.
"The freshman did well and it was good for them to compete against real opponents. I was pleased by the way we attacked the ball at the plate, and we did some nice things defensively. We also made some mistakes, but that is what the fall is for. Overall, I'm pleased by the way we came to the field ready to play."
Carolina Fall Softball Tournament Line Score
Game 1
UNC-Wilmington 0-0-0-2-0-0-0-2
Carolina 1-0-0-1-0-1-X-3
Game 2
East Carolina 0-1-2-0-0-1-0-4
UNC-Wilmington 0-0-0-0-1-0-0-0
Game 3
UNC-Charlotte 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
East Carolina 0-0-0-0-4-0-X-4
Game 4
UNC-Charlotte 0-0-1-0-3-1-5-10
UNC-Wilmington 0-0-0-0-4-0-0-4
Game 5
Carolina 2-0-0-0-0-0-1-3
East Carolina 0-0-1-0-1-0-0-2
Game 6
Carolina 0-0-0-3-0-3-2-8
UNC-Charlotte 0-0-0-0-0-0-1-1
