University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Furman
Yin Fires No-Hitter In Tar Heel Sweep Over Furman
March 12, 2003 | Softball
March 12, 2003
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The University of North Carolina softball team ended its four-game slide with a sweep over Furman, 2-0 and 3-0, this afternoon at the UNC Softball Complex. Freshman Alison Yin (Glendale, Calif.) took a perfect game into the seventh of game two but made an error as she struck out two in her first collegiate no-hitter. Fellow freshman Crystal Cox (Harrisburg, N.C.) allowed three hits in her fifth complete-game shutout this season. Carolina improves to 12-13 overall, while Furman falls to 8-10.
In the opener, Furman put runners on first and second with two singles to start the fourth inning for the game's first threat. Cox put a stop to the Lady Paladin threat striking out one and getting two ground outs as the game remained scoreless.
The Tar Heels loaded the bases in the bottom half of the fourth with one out to pose their first scoring threat of the ballgame. UNC hit a couple of ground balls to squander its chances as the game went to fifth tied at zero.
UNC freshman Megan Welch (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) ended a 30-inning scoreless streak for the Tar Heels with a two-out homer to center field to give Carolina the first lead of the game, 1-0. Carolina added an insurance run in the sixth inning as junior Jessica Graziano (Pearl River, N.Y.) singled into right field with two outs as the Heels led 2-0 heading into the seventh.
Cox struck four hitters (one reached on a passed ball) to end the game with her fifth shutout of the season. She improves to 7-6 on the season.
Carolina scored two runs, on four hits and no errors, while Furman had no runs, on three hits and two errors.
Cox struck out 12 Paladin hitters and walked just two in game one.
In game two, Yin (5-3) shut down the Lady Paladins all game allowing two base runners in the game on an error and a walk in the seventh inning. The Tar Heels scored a run in the second and two in the sixth inning to solidify its sweep over the Lady Paladins.
Carolina struck first in the second inning with a two-out single by Graziano to score freshman Jaclyn Holden (Santa Clarita, Calif.) who earlier singled to give UNC a 1-0 lead.
Holden extended the Carolina lead to three with a two-run homer to left-center field with one out in the sixth inning as the Tar Heels won by a final of 3-0.
Carolina scored three runs, on four hits and one error, while Furman had no runs, on no hits and no errors.
Holden led the Tar Heels offensively walking three times in the opener and going 2-for-3, with a home run and three RBIs in game two. Graziano had the game-winning RBI in the second game and had two on the day.
North Carolina will host Charlotte tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. The softball doubleheader will start at 3:30 p.m.
