University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Texas-San Antonio
Tar Heels Stay Alive in NCAA Tournament as They Defeat Texas-San Antonio 4-0 in the Elimination Bracket
May 20, 2004 | Softball
May 20, 2004
Waco, Texas - The North Carolina softball team advanced in the elimination bracket of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night, as they defeated Texas-San Antonio 4-0. UNC's Alison Yin pitched a complete game shutout for the Tar Heels and freshman Marissa May went 2-3 and scored two of Carolina's four runs to lead the Tar Heels to victory.
Carolina was coming off a 16-inning marathon loss to Baylor 1-0 earlier in the day, in which Crystal Cox pitched 15 1/3 innings, allowing just four hits and no walks. UNC staved off elimination with the victory over UTSA and will face the loser of LSU/Seton Hall Friday at 8 p.m. as they try and advance in the Waco Regional.
UNC got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning to make it 1-0. Marissa May reached on a bunt single with one out and Dionne Streete followed with a double to left-center to put runners on second and third. Emily Price drove May in with a deep fly ball to left field.
UNC pitcher Alison Yin shut down UTSA in the first three innings, as she allowed a runner in each inning but didn't allow a run.
Carolina added two runs in the bottom of the third to make the score 3-0. May reached on an infield single with one out and then moved to second on a groundout by Streete. May then stole third and Price was walked by UTSA's pitcher Ursula Mares. UNC worked the double steal next to score May, as Price stole second, and then May was able to run home on the throw to second. Price advanced to third after the catcher dropped the ball trying to get out May and Jessica Graziano came up with a clutch two-out single to score Price to make it a three-run lead.
Yin kept up her shutout, getting out the Roadrunners 1-2-3 in the fourth inning. In the top of the fifth, UTSA got two runners on with one out, but UNC's leftfielder Marissa May made two straight running catches on line drives to keep the score at 3-0.
In the bottom of the fifth, Dionne Streete hit a one-out triple, but UNC's suicide squeeze attempt failed as Mares fielded Price's bunt and threw out Streete at home. UNC added a run in the sixth when pinch-runner Julia Bove scored from third base after Erin Dudley was thrown out stealing at second base.
