University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Charlotte
Tar Heels Rally Late To Sweep Charlotte
March 13, 2003 | Softball
March 13, 2003
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The University of North Carolina softball team picked up its third and fourth wins in a row this afternoon downing Charlotte, 4-0 and 6-5, at the UNC Softball Complex. Freshman pitcher Crystal Cox (Harrisburg, N.C.) threw her second straight shutout in game one, striking out 11 and walking just one to move to 8-6 on the season. The Tar Heels scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh in game two and Alison Yin (Glendale, Calif.) threw 4.1 innings in relief, allowing one run as UNC improved to 14-13. Charlotte drops to 9-9 overall.
In game one, Carolina struck first with a run in the second inning to grab a 1-0 lead. Freshman Jaclyn Holden (Santa Clarita, Calif.) slapped a double into left center and junior Emily Price (Decatur, Ill.) followed with a bunt single and stole second to put runners at second and third with no outs. Junior Jessica Graziano (Pearl River, N.Y.) then singled into center field to collect Holden as the Tar Heels led early.
Carolina added two more runs in the third inning as freshman Megan Welch (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) hit a sacrifice fly to score senior Tiffany Tolleson (Winter Haven, Fla.) who earlier singled and stole a base. Holden then hit her second double of the game and scored on a double steal as the Heels led 3-0.
Welch exploded on a fastball to leadoff the fifth inning to push across the final run of the game as the Tar Heels took the opener 4-0.
Carolina scored four runs, on 11 hits and no errors, while Charlotte had no runs, one hit and no errors.
Holden finished the first game 3-for-3, with two doubles to lead the Tar Heels. Price went 2-for-3, while Welch ended 1-for-3 with a home run.
UNCC's Lynne LaPorte had the only hit for the 49ers in the opener.
The Tar Heels took the first lead of the nightcap with a two-out double by Holden to score Tolleson. Charlotte tied the game at 1-1 with a leadoff home run in the second inning by Autumn Lawson to left field.
The 49ers grabbed their first lead of the game in the third inning as Melanie Thevenote singled into right field with two outs to collect two runners on an error by the UNC right fielder. Lawson continued the two-out rally with her second home run of the game to score two more runs for UNCC as the Tar Heels trailed 5-1.
Carolina posed a scoring threat in the fourth inning with runners on second and third with no outs after a base hit by Holden and a 49er error. Charlotte had a costly error on the next play on a ground ball as the Tar Heels scored two runs to cut the deficit to two, 5-3.
UNC started a rally in the seventh as Tolleson and Welch singled with one out. Streete drove in Tolleson to cut the deficit to one 5-4 and Natashalyn Snipes (Durham, N.C.) entered the game as a pinch runner for Streete. Snipes then scored on a passed ball to tie the score and senior Quinn Porter (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) hit the game-winning single with two outs as the Tar Heels rallied to win 6-5.
Carolina scored six runs, on 10 hits and one error, while Charlotte scored five runs, on seven hits and three errors.
Holden had five consecutive hits in the doubleheader and ended game two 2-for-3 with an intentional walk to pace the Tar Heels at the plate. Streete and Tolleson each had two hits for Carolina in the second game.
The 49ers' Lawson ended the nightcap 2-for-3, with two homers and three RBIs to lead UNCC.
North Carolina will travel to Salem, Va., for the Hokie Invitational Friday, March 14-16. The Tar Heels will face Georgia State at 3 p.m. and Texas Tech at 5 p.m. tomorrow. For tournament information and results, please go to: Hokie Invitational
