University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Radford
Tar Heels Stay Unbeaten at Triangle Classic
February 12, 2005 | Softball
Feb. 12, 2005
CHAPEL HILL --- The University of North Carolina softball team ran its record to 4-0 on the young season, taking a pair of games during day two of the Trianlge Classic at the UNC Softball Complex in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels held off the Radford Highlanders in the early game, 4-1, then rallied to defeat East Tennessee State in the nightcap, 7-5.
In game one, UNC jumped out in front early, as Jessica Young singled home Marissa May in the first to give the Tar Heels the lead. Neither team threatened again until Radford (1-3) loaded the bases in the third. After getting a leadoff groundout, pitcher Alison Yin (1-0) allowed three consecutive singles. But the Tar Heels were able to escape when shortstop Cassie Palmer cut down a Highlander at the plate and Yin induced a groundout to second to end the inning.
Carolina immediately seized the momentum, scoring three runs in the bottom half of the frame to take over. Young doubled home Jaclyn Holden for the first UNC run, then catcher Theresa Nicholas singled home two more to push the lead to 4-0.
Junior Crystal Cox pitched two perfect innings to pick up her first save of the season.
The Tar Heels trailed for the first time in the tournament in game two, as a big third inning by East Tennessee State (2-2) threatened to put the game away. After Janine Sprague doubled home the first Buccaneer run, it appeared Carolina had caught a break. Briana Knight grounded to third and UNC had Sprague in a rundown between third and home. But Sprague avoided the tag and scored, with the Tar Heels having failed to record an out. Three more hits would lead to three more runs, and the Bucs led 5-1 going into the bottom of the third.
But Carolina would bounce back quickly via the long ball. Anna Evans was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and two batters later Young homered to left center to cut the deficit to 5-3. It was Evans who would go deep in the fifth, as she led off the frame with a solo shot to right center. Pinch runner Ashley Oxendine would score on an error later in the inning to tie the score at 5-all.
UNC retook the lead for good in the sixth. Erin Dudley led off with a double and scored after ETSU threw away May's bunt single. The Tar Heels would add an insurance when Young reached on a fielder's choice to plate May.
Cox (2-0) struck out the side in the seventh to secure the win. Young finished the day 5-for-7 with five RBIs to lead Carolina offensively.
The Tar Heels wrap up play in the Triangle Classic Sunday at 1 p.m. against ACC rival Virginia. The game is free to the public.
