University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Georgia Tech
Tar Heel Softball Drops ACC Doubleheader
April 5, 2002 | Softball
April 5, 2002
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--The University of North Carolina softball team opened Atlantic Coast Conference play Friday with a pair of one-run losses to Georgia Tech, 1-0 in the first game and 5-4 in the second. UNC is now 23-19 on the season and 0-2 in the ACC, while Georgia Tech improved to 35-9 overall and 6-0 in the conference.
At the UNC Softball Complex, Georgia Tech registered the only run of Game 1 in the top of the fifth inning, when Jamie Frost came home unearned on an RBI single by Felicia Coursey. The Yellow Jackets strung together three of their five hits in that inning, while UNC scattered four hits and never got a runner past second base.
Erin Voeltz (12-4) earned the win for Tech, striking out six and walking two. Ashley Allen (9-6) took the loss for UNC.
In Game 2, the Tar Heels jumped out early with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the first. With one out, Rosie Gustavson and Quinn Porter both singled, and Gustavson scored on a double by Natalie Anter. Porter then scored on a ground out to put UNC up 2-0.
The Yellow Jackets pulled even in the top of the second, when Lindsay Wood led off with a home run off the flagpole beyond the center field fence. With two outs, Frost, who had reached on a walk, scored an unearned run on a single by Kirin Kumar to tie the game at 2-2. Georgia Tech took the lead for good in the top of the fifth, when Tara Knudsen blasted a two-run shot over the left field fence. She added a second homer in the seventh, a solo shot that put Tech up 5-2 before UNC made a late run.
UNC freshman Erica Ennis opened the bottom of the seventh with a double to center, and she advanced to third on a single by Tiffany Tolleson. The next batter, Gustavson, singled to bring in Ennis, and Tolleson came home on an error to make the score 5-4. After Quinn Porter walked, Natalie Anter singled to load the bases with one out, but the last two Tar Heel batters struck out to end the game.
Jessica Sallinger threw the complete-game win for the Yellow Jackets, striking out nine to improve to 17-4. Shannon Walsh (10-9) took the loss, giving up four runs in four innings of work. Ennis threw three innings in relief and allowed one run and two hits.
Carolina will get another shot at Georgia Tech on Saturday in the Tar Heel Invitational, which will run through the day on Saturday and Sunday at the UNC Softball Complex. The Tar Heels meet the Yellow Jackets at 6 p.m., following a game against Virginia at 4. Maryland and Virginia open the action at noon, and Georgia Tech meets Maryland at 2 p.m. On Sunday, Virginia and Georgia Tech play at 10 a.m. and UNC takes on Maryland at noon. The championship and consolation games will be played at 2 p.m. Although all the teams participating are ACC members, the games will not count toward the conference standings.
Game 1: Georgia Tech 1, North Carolina 0
GT 000 010 0 -- 1 5 0
UNC 000 000 0 -- 0 4 1
Win: Erin Voeltz (12-4), Loss: Ashley Allen (9-6)
Game 2: Georgia Tech 5, North Carolina 4
GT 020 020 1 -- 5 8 1
UNC 200 000 2 -- 4 9 1
Win: Jessica Sallinger (17-4), Loss: Shannon Walsh (10-9)
