University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia Tech
Tar Heels Split With Virginia Tech
April 9, 2005 | Softball
April 9, 2005
Game 1 Box Score Game 2Box Score
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- North Carolina and Virginia Tech split Saturday's Atlantic Coast Conference doubleheader at UNC Softball Complex, with the visiting Hokies taking the first game 2-1 and the Tar Heels winning 11-1 in five innings in the second. The teams will meet again on Sunday for a single game at 2 p.m.
In the opening game, UNC (26-21, 3-5 ACC) got its only run in the first inning. With one out, sophomore Whitney Gelin tripled to right then scored on a single to center by freshman Jennifer Jacobs. The lead held up until the fifth inning, when Virginia Tech (33-12, 2-6 ACC) scored two unearned runs on an error. Theresa Walsh doubled to left and Alisia Narodowski singled to move Walsh to third. Megan Evans' long ball to left was misplayed, allowing both runners to score.
Hokies pitcher Angela Tincher struck out 11 to improve to 17-4 on the season. Junior Crystal Cox (12-13) struck out four and took the loss for Carolina despite not allowing an earned run.
For the game, Virginia Tech had six hits to UNC's three. The Hokies left seven runners on base and UNC stranded five.
Carolina's win in the second game was highlighted by freshman Casey Testa's third-inning grand slam, the first of her college career. The Tar Heels tied their highest scoring output of the season with 11 runs before the game was stopped after five innings.
"It was a great way to come back," UNC coach Donna J. Papa said. "The first game was definitely a disappointment. In the second game, Virginia Tech gave us some opportunities and we took advantage of them. We didn't hang our heads after that first game."
The Tar Heels scored seven runs in the first inning on four hits, five walks and a Virginia Tech error. The Hokies used three pitchers in the inning and walked a total of seven Tar Heels in the game. Virginia Tech's only run came in the top of the third, when Theresa Walsh reached base on a single up the middle, took second on an error, got to third on a sacrifice bunt then scored on an RBI single by designated player Kathleen Jones.
Testa's grand slam, her sixth home run of the season but the first at home, came with two outs in the bottom of the third. Joslin Higgins walked and advanced on a single by Cassie Palmer. A bunt single by Marissa May loaded the bases for Testa.
Senior Ashley Allen earned the win for UNC, allowing four hits and just one unearned run to improve to 7-5 on the year. Starter Katie Maynard took the loss for Virginia Tech and fell to 12-7.
Game 1: Virginia Tech 2, UNC 1
VT 000 020 0 -- 2 6 0
NC 010 000 0 -- 1 3 1
WP: Angela Tincher (17-4); LP: Crystal Cox (12-13)
Game 2: UNC 11, Virginia Tech 1 in 5 innings
VT 001 00 -- 1 4 1
NC 704 0X -- 11 7 1
WP: Ashley Allen (7-5); LP: Katie Maynard (12-7)
