University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Florida State
Tar Heel Softball Falls At FSU
April 20, 2002 | Softball
April 20, 2002
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.--The University of North Carolina softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader at No. 20 Florida State on Saturday to fall to 2-4 in the ACC, 29-23 overall. With the 7-6 and 9-5 wins, Florida State remained undefeated in conference play (4-0) and improved to 40-13 overall.
Carolina led in both games, but each time was unable to hang on to the advantage. In Game 1, the Tar Heels jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first on four hits, including doubles by seniors Natalie Anter and Kelly Ramsey. Florida State came back with two runs in the bottom of the third. UNC added another run in the top of the fourth, when Ramsey led off with her second double of the game and scored on a single by Emily Price. In the top of the fifth, Rosie Gustavson led off with a single and scored on an RBI single by Jessica Young to put UNC up 5-2 before a four-run fifth inning by the Seminoles. FSU totaled four hits, including a two-RBI double by Brandi Stuart, to take its first lead of the game heading into the sixth inning. The Tar Heels tied the game in the top of the sixth on back-to-back doubles by Gustavson and Quinn Porter, and the game went into extra innings before either team could score again. In the bottom of the eighth, FSU benefitted from a UNC error and, with the bases loaded, scored the winning run on a single up the middle.
UNC totaled 11 hits and tied the school record for doubles in a game with five.
Freshman Ashley Allen started for UNC and pitched four and a third innings, giving up six runs on eight hits. Brandi Griffin (2-1) pitched three innings in relief and took the loss.
In Game 2, it was Florida State that jumped out to an early lead with three runs on four hits in the bottom of the second. The Tar Heels scored one in the third on Price's solo home run, her fourth of the season and the team's school-record 36th.
The Tar Heels trailed 4-1 heading into the top of the sixth, when they came up with four runs to take the lead. Tiffany Tolleson reached on an error, Gustavson got on with a single and Porter was hit by a pitch to load the based with no outs. Tolleson scored on an RBI single by Jessica Young and Gustavson came home on a fielder's choice by Ramsey. Erica Ennis then doubled to center to score Young and Ramsey and put UNC up 5-4. The advantage wouldn't last long, however. FSU scored five runs in the bottom of the inning, including a three-run homer by Monique Marier, and UNC stranded three runners in top of the seventh.
Shannon Walsh (12-11) took the loss for UNC. She threw five and a third innings, allowing nine runs on 10 hits, before being relieved by Ennis in the sixth.
Gustavson was 4-for-9 with four runs on the day. Ramsey had a pair of hits, both doubles, in the first game and three RBI for the doubleheader. Ennis was 2-for-4 with two RBI in the second game.
Carolina returns to action on Thursday, hosting UNC Wilmington for a single game at 5 p.m. On Saturday, the Tar Heels host Maryland for an conference doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
Game 1: Florida State 7, North Carolina 6, 8 innings
UNC 300 111 00 -- 6 11 2
FSU 002 040 01 -- 7 13 2
Win: Leslie Malerich (23-10), Loss: Brandi Griffin (2-1)
Game 2: Florida State 9, North Carolina 5
UNC 001 004 0 -- 5 6 1
FSU 030 015 X -- 9 10 1
Win: Malerich (24-10), Loss: Shannon Walsh (12-11)
