University of North Carolina Athletics
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Georgia Tech
Carolina Softball Earns Split With No. 19 Georgia Tech
March 12, 2005 | Softball
March 12, 2005
ATLANTA, Ga. --- After an embarassing 12-2 loss in the opener, the University of North Carolina softball team rallied from a four-run deficit to defeat No. 19 Georgia Tech, 6-4, in game two of a doubleheader Saturday at Glenn Field. Sophomore Whitney Gelin knocked in the winning runs in the top of the eighth inning with a solid double to left center. Junior Crystal Cox allowed three earned runs in eight innings to pick up the win.
Game one got out of hand early as the Yellow Jackets tallied six runs in the first to take a commanding lead. Catcher Savannah Brown had the big blow with a two-out opposite field grand slam. Georgia Tech (22-6, 1-1 ACC) added three more in both the second and third innings, as seven different starters had hits. The Tar Heels (16-9, 2-3 ACC) avoided the shutout with runs in the third and fifth on RBI singles by Julia Bove and Anna Evans, respectively.
It appeared early that game two would follow a similar path, as the Yellow Jackets raced out to a 4-0 lead after three. But Carolina finally came alive in the top of the fourth. Evans led off the frame with a single to left, her second hit of the game to extend her hitting streak to seven games. Casey Testa came to the plate next and blasted her fifth home run of the season over the left field wall.
The Tar Heels then loaded the bases without a hit, as Georgia Tech All-America starter Jessica Sallinger (11-4) hit two batters and Jaclyn Holden reached on an error. Two batters later, Joslin Higgins plated Holden on an RBI fielder's choice to cut the deficit to 4-3. The Yellow Jackets then gave away the tying run, as Christine Sheridan's error allowed Gelin to score the fourth run of the inning.
Cox (7-6) held the potent Georgia Tech lineup to only two hits over the next four innings to keep the game tied and set up Gelin's heroics in the eighth. After Testa and Jessica Young led off the inning with back-to-back singles, Holden bunted the two into scoring position. Gelin then gave UNC the lead for good with shot to left center that scored both runners. The Yellow Jackets threatened in the ninth, loading the bases on a single and two errors with two outs. But Cox struck Caitlin Lever and secured a split for the Tar Heels. Carolina will look for a series win in Sunday's rubber match. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
