University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Elon
Cox Perfect Game Leads Tar Heels Past Elon
February 23, 2005 | Softball
Feb. 23, 2005
ELON, N.C. --- Crystal Cox pitched her first career perfect game and three Tar Heels homered to lead the University of North Carolina softball team over the Elon Phoenix Wednesday afternoon at East Field. Cox (5-2) struck out 13 batters in a 7-0 game one victory, then pitched two scoreless innings in game two's 6-4 win to get her third save of the season.
Cox's perfect game almost ended before it started. After Jessica Young's grand slam gave Carolina (12-2) a 4-0 first inning lead, Elon's leadoff hitter Dani Concepcion grounded to third. Joslin Higgins booted the ball, but it was deflected to shortstop Anna Evans, who threw to first for the out. Cox proceeded to retire the next 20 batters to complete the perfect game.
In addition to Young's first-inning blast, freshman Casey Testa also homered in the game. After four in the first, the Tar Heels scored single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to account for the final score of 7-0.
Elon (7-6) was considerably more successful at the plate in game two. After Anna Evans homered in the second to make it 2-0, the Phoenix answered with its own long ball. Right fielder Megan Borgaard led off the bottom of the second with a shot to left off of Carolina starter Alison Yin (4-0). But the Tar Heels had an answer, as Testa walloped her second home run of the day in the third to score Jaclyn Holden and push the lead to 4-1. Evans' second home run of the game extended the gap to 5-1 in the fifth.
Ashley Allen relieved Yin in the fifth and was greeted rudely by the homestanding Phoenix. Elon pounded four hits in five at-bats, with the only out coming on a batter's interference call. Allen induced a pair of groundouts to escape further damage, but would be replaced by Cox in the sixth. Cox breezed through the final two innings, finally allowing a baserunner on an error in the seventh, but remaining unhittable on her way to the save.
UNC will now make the long drive down I-85 to Columbus, Ga., for this weekend's NFCA Leadoff Classic. Carolina's first game is Friday at noon when the Tar Heels face the DePaul Blue Demons.
