University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Travels To Texas
February 27, 2003 | Softball
Feb. 27, 2003
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The University of North Carolina softball team will face two more ranked teams this weekend in Austin, Texas against No. 5 Texas and No. 19 Michigan. The third team of the tournament will be SEC power Florida who sits just outside the Top 25. North Carolina heads into this weekend with a record of 8-5, and a record of 0-4 against ranked opponents.
"The Texas Tournament is going to be another exciting tourney for us," said Head Coach Donna Papa. "It's another opportunity to play ranked teams like Texas and Michigan, and even though Florida is not ranked, they are a quality team as well.
"We're going to have to bring our 'A' game and execute well on offense and defense."
Senior center fielder Tiffany Tolleson (Winter Haven, Fla.) had a solid tournament last weekend at the NFCA Leadoff Classic and currently has a nine-game hitting streak for the Tar Heels. Tolleson finished the tourney with a .500 batting average earning all-tournament honors. She leads Carolina this season with a .514 batting average and 11 stolen bases.
Freshman first baseman Jaclyn Holden (Santa Clarita, Calif.) continues to hammer the ball for the Tar Heels. Holden ranks first on the team with 13 RBIs, seven doubles and a .882 slugging percentage. She is currently second on the team with a .412 batting average and three home runs.
Junior short stop Emily Price (Decatur, Ill.) has two game-winning home runs for the Tar Heels in her last three games. Price leads Carolina with four homers on the season and ranks second on the squad with a .788 slugging percentage.
Freshman second baseman Megan Welch (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) has been solid on both sides of the ball for the Heels. Welch has not made an error in 37 chances and is fifth on the team with a .303 batting average.
Freshmen pitchers Crystal Cox (Harrisburg, N.C.) and Alison Yin (Glendale, Calif.) are leading UNC on the mound. Cox fired her second no-hitter of the season in her last outing, walking three and striking out seven. She has won three of her last four starts and has a team low ERA of 1.11.
Yin has started out the season 3-0. She threw a gem in her last outing versus Radford (Feb. 25), allowing just two hits in her first complete game shutout. Yin has an ERA of 1.94 and has fanned 17 batters on the season.
Carolina will face Florida and No. 5 Texas on Friday, Feb. 28. The Gators and Tar Heels will face each other at 3 p.m. and UNC and UT will begin at 7 p.m. CST. North Carolina and No. 19 Michigan will compete against each other on Saturday, March 1, at Noon. The teams will be seeded and bracket play will start at 5 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
*All games can be followed on Live Stats at www.Texassports.com
