University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Ball State
Carolina Splits In Day One Of Speedline Invitational
March 6, 2003 | Softball
March 6, 2003
PLANT CITY, Fla. -- The University of North Carolina softball team split in day one of the Speedline Invitational. The Tar Heels downed Ball State, 5-2, in the opening game and fell to No. 16 Massachusetts, 8-0 in six innings. Carolina falls to 10-10, while UMASS improves to 6-3 and Ball State falls to 0-3.
Carolina won its first game of the Speedline Invitational behind a great pitching performance from freshman Crystal Cox (Harrisburg, N.C.). Cox (6-4) threw 6.2 shutout innings, allowing two hits while striking out seven Pride hitters.
The Tar Heels struck first in the second inning with a two-out triple by junior Dionne Streete (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) to score two runs. Carolina scored two more runs in the fifth inning as freshman Jaclyn Holden (Santa Clarita, Calif.) sent a ball into the right-center gap for her first RBI of the game to give UNC a 3-0 lead. UNC took advantage of three walks in the inning to up its lead to five, 5-0.
Ball State got on the board in the sixth inning courtesy of three walks including one with the bases loaded to cut the deficit to four, 5-1. The Pride added another run with a sacrifice fly to end the sixth with two runs on no hits for the final runs of the ballgame.
Carolina scored five runs, on seven hits and one error, while BSU scored two runs, on two hits and two errors.
Holden led UNC going 2-for-4 with a triple, while Streete led the Tar Heels with two RBIs.
In game two, UMASS drew first blood in the first inning after three walks and an error by the Tar Heels scoring two runs with no hits. UNC gunned a runner down at home plate for the first out of the inning and had a throw out at the plate by left fielder Quinn Porter (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) for the third out of the inning as the Tar Heels trailed 2-0 after one.
Carolina put runners at first and second with one out in the second inning, but were held scoreless by UMASS' Kelli Arnold striking out the next two hitters. UMASS added three more runs in the fifth inning as Hilary Puglia homered after two walks for a three-run shot to left-center for a commanding 5-0 lead.
Massachusetts scored three more runs in the sixth inning on three hits to end the game 8-0 after six innings of play. Arnold (3-1) threw a one-hitter for UMASS, striking out three.
Carolina scored no runs, on one hit and two errors, while UMASS scored eight runs, on six hits and one error.
North Carolina will face Northwestern at 10 a.m. and Hofstra at Noon at the Pete Larson Softball Complex tomorrow morning. The Tar Heels will play No. 4 Washington on the Stadium field on Saturday at 2 p.m.
