University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
College of Charleston
Carolina Rallies To Sweep College of Charleston
March 30, 2005 | Softball
March 30, 2005
CHAPEL HILL --- Freshman Jennifer Jacobs was 2-for-2 with four RBIs and a home run in game one, and added the game-winning RBI in game two to lead the University of North Carolina softball team to a sweep of visiting College of Charleston, 9-1 and 3-2, Wednesday afternoon at the UNC Softball Complex. Crystal Cox struck out 12 Cougars on the day to pick up a win and a save.
Jacobs got things going in game one with a two-out single in the second that drove home the first two runs of the game. Leshe' Russell brought the Cougars (29-12) within one in the third with a solo home run down the left field line. But Cox (10-11) would allow only one more hit the rest of the way, and the Carolina offense did its part to shorten the game to five innings.
With a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the fourth, the Tar Heels (22-19) exploded for six runs to put the game away. Joslin Higgins led off the frame with a solo homer to left, her first of the year. After a Theresa Nicholas double, Jacobs struck again, this time depositing her second home run of the year into deep right field. A Marissa May single and a pair of walks by Cassie Palmer and Casey Testa loaded the bases with one out for Erica Ennis, who plated May with a sacrifice fly. Jessica Young then belted a two-run double to left to get to the final margin of 9-1.
Game two proved to be much more difficult for UNC, as C of C carried a 2-0 lead into the sixth inning. But the Tar Heels, who entered the contest with a record of 0-16 when trailing after five innings, would rally for the come-from-behind win.
Evans led off the sixth with her fifth home run of the season to cut the Cougar lead in half. After Testa was hit by a pitch, pitcher Alison Yin (7-3) pinch-ran and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Young. Pinch hitter Erica Ennis then earned a walk after battling back from an 0-2 count and having the at-bat extended by a dropped foul ball. Higgins followed with a four-pitch walk, and Nicholas delivered an RBI single to score Yin. Finally, it was Jacobs who plated Ennis on an RBI fielder's choice that would prove to be the game-winner.
But the Cougars would not go quietly. Bridget Loudermilk led off the seventh with a double that chased Yin, who just allowed two hits in 2.1 innings in relief of Ashley Allen. That brought on Cox, who earned her fourth save of the year - a school record. The key play came against the first batter Cox faced. Darcy Johnson laid down a successful sacrifice bunt, and was safe at first when Palmer dropped the throw from Ennis. But Loudermilk tried to score from third, and was cut down at the plate by a throw from Palmer. Two Cox strikeouts sandwiched around a walk ended the game and secured the sweep for Carolina.
UNC now will move on to this weekend's Tar Heel Invitational. Carolina will host non-conference foes Liberty, Lipscomb and Florida Atlantic Saturday and Sunday.
