University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
UNC Wilmington
Carolina Blasts UNC Wilmington In Home Opener
February 19, 2003 | Softball
Feb. 19, 2003
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The University of North Carolina softball team hammered out 11 hits and nine runs in the opening game and homered twice in game two to sweep UNC Wilmington this afternoon, 9-0 (5) and 8-3, at the UNC Softball Complex. The Tar Heels improve to 5-3, while the Seahawks drop to 1-4.
"I was very pleased with the way we hit the ball up and down the lineup," said head coach Donna Papa. "We attacked it all game long in the first game and made the most of our opportunities in the second game.
"Emily really hit the ball well and Crystal and Alison had good outings for us on the mound. I was proud of the team effort this afternoon and I thought we executed extremely well on defense."
Freshman right-handed pitcher Crystal Cox (Harrisburg, N.C.) won her third consecutive start with a one-hit complete game shutout. Cox (3-1) struck out seven and walked just one in five innings of work.
Carolina wasted little time in the opener scoring two runs in the first inning. Senior Tiffany Tolleson (Winter Haven, Fla.) led off with a single to left field and then stole second the next pitch. After a strikeout, senior Quinn Porter (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) hammered a fastball into center field to score Tolleson. Porter advanced to third on an error and freshman Jaclyn Holden (Santa Clarita, Calif.) slugged her in with a double in the gap.
The Tar Heels added one more run in the second inning as junior Natashalyn Snipes (Durham, N.C.) and Tolleson singled with two outs and teammate freshman Megan Welch (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) drove Snipes in as UNC led 3-0. Carolina extended its lead to five after three innings as junior Dionne Streete (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) tallied her first RBI of the season and fellow junior Emily Price (Decatur, Ill.) scored on a double steal two pitches later.
In the fourth inning, Melissa Moore ended the no-hit bid for Cox with a two-out single to center field for the Seahawks only hit of the ballgame. UNC closed the scoring in game one with four more runs in the bottom half of the fourth as junior Jessica Graziano (Pearl River, N.Y.) smashed a double to right center for two RBI's and freshman Julia Bove (Charlotte, N.C.) added her first RBI and hit of the season to give UNC a 9-0 victory.
In game one, Carolina had nine runs, on 11 hits and no errors, while UNCW had no runs, on one hit and two errors.
In the nightcap, the Tar Heels continued to hammer the ball scoring three runs in the first inning highlighted by a two-run home run by Price as UNC led 3-0 after one inning. The Seahawks held Carolina off the board for the first time all day in innings two through four as the Heels led 3-0.
The Seahawks scored their first run in nine innings with a RBI single by Ashley Chunn after a double by Kelli Adcox. The Tar Heels responded with a huge fifth inning scoring five runs after a three-run homer by Porter and a two-run shot by Price as the Tar Heels extended their lead to seven, 8-1. UNCW scored the final two runs of the game in the seventh inning as Tiffany Lindemann hit a shot to left field to end the game 8-3.
Freshman right-handed pitcher Alison Yin (Glendale, Calif.) improved to 2-0 on the season, pitching five innings, surrendering four hits, one earned run and struck out four.
In game two, Carolina had eight runs, on six hits and one error, while UNCW had three runs, on six hits and two errors.
Leading the Tar Heels offensively were Price, Holden and Tolleson. Price slugged two home runs and ended the doubleheader 3-for-5, with five RBI and two runs scored. Holden was a perfect 3-for-3, with three walks, two RBI, two runs scored and a double. Tolleson finished the games 3-for-6, with three stolen bases and four runs scored. Porter chipped in with a 2-for-4 performance, slugging a home run and four RBI.
North Carolina will travel to Columbus, Ga. for the Leadoff Classic Feb. 21-23. The tournament will host 24 ranked teams, including two of the three teams that Carolina will face in pool play-No. 4 Nebraska and No. 14 Stanford on Friday, and Southern Mississippi on Saturday.
