University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Florida State
Yin Pitches Tar Heels Past No. 20 Seminoles
March 5, 2005 | Softball
March 5, 2005
CHAPEL HILL --- The University of North Carolina softball team got seven strong innings from Alison Yin and three hits from Anna Evans to knock off No. 20 Florida State, 3-2, Saturday afternoon at the UNC Softball Complex. Yin (5-1) allowed only a pair of unearned runs to get the Tar Heels' first win over the Seminoles since 2002, ending a streak of seven straight losses.
Florida State (14-7) got things started with a run in the first. After a walk and a passed ball put a runner on second, third baseman Lesley Palmer singled up the middle to drive home the first run of the game.
The Tar Heels (14-7) struck back in the second. Whitney Gelin blasted a double off the wall in left center, Joslin Higgins walked and Erin Dudley reached on a error while trying to sacrifice to load the bases with one out. Evans then laid down a bunt single to score Gelin and Cassie Palmer earned a walk to make the score 2-1. FSU starter Casey Hunter (7-6) escaped further trouble with a strikeout and a fly out.
Carolina's lead would be short-lived, as the Seminoles quickly tied the score in the third. Veronica Wootson belted a one-out double to left and came around to score when Natasha Jacob hit a grounder to first that got past Casey Testa.
But UNC would respond in the bottom of the third to regain the lead. Jessica Young led off the inning with a double down the right field line, and pinch runner Marissa May moved to third on a Julia Bove sacrifice. Gelin then reached first after being hit on the top of the helmet. The Tar Heels then executed a double steal, with Gelin swiping second and May speeding home for what would turn out to be the winning run.
The Seminoles would not threaten again until the seventh, when Whitney Buckmon led off the frame with a solid single. But after advancing to second on a sacrifice, Buckmon was stranded there when Yin retired LaShaun Davis and Wootson to end the game.
Carolina returns to action Wednesday, as the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs visit the UNC Softball Complex for a doubleheader. Game one is set to begin at 3 p.m.
