University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Harvard
Carolina Softball Wins Two to Open Carolina Classic
March 25, 2005 | Softball
March 25, 2005
CHAPEL HILL --- Crystal Cox became the all-time leader in career strikeouts at Carolina and the Tar Heels ran their winning streak to four games with a pair of wins over Harvard and Coastal Carolina Friday on day one of the Carolina Classic. UNC dispatched the Crimson, 7-3, then dropped the Chanticleers in the nightcap, 3-0. Marissa May had five hits on the day, as well as a pair of stolen bases.
The Tar Heels (20-14) picked up where they left off Wednesday in game one, scoring four runs in the top of the first, with Jessica Young driving in a pair with a single to right. Harvard (2-4) got one back in the bottom half, only to see UNC pile three more on in the third. Cassie Palmer's fifth double of the season was the big blow.
Ashley Allen (5-3) started in the circle for Carolina and continued her recent run of strong outings. The Houston, Texas, senior allowed only one earned run in seven innings and struck out eight batters. Harvard's Julia Kidder drove in a pair of runs in the fifth to pull the Crimson with four at 7-3, but they would get no closer.
Game two had a taste of history, as Cox (9-8) moved past Radara McHugh to become Carolina's all-time leader in career strikeouts. Cox retired Coastal's Ashley Gerdts in the fifth for her ninth strikeout of the game, and 687th of her decorated career. The Chanticleers (12-14) could only muster four hits against the junior hurler, and advanced just one runner beyond second base on the night.
Whitney Gelin delivered what would turn out to be the game-winning hit in the third with a bases-loaded double that scored Casey Testa and May. The Tar Heels added an insurance run in the sixth when Erin Dudley scored on a wild pitch by Coastal's Danyelle Gerdts (2-4).
UNC will resume play in the Carolina Classic Saturday with a doubleheader against No. 3 California at the UNC Softball Complex. The first game is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. Admission is free for all fans.
