University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Arkansas
Carolina Rolls In First Day Of Fun & Sun Classic
February 11, 2006 | Softball
Feb. 11, 2006
MIAMI --- The University of North Carolina softball team started off the 2006 campaign with a bang, sweeping Arkansas and Florida International on day one of the FIU Diamond Fun & Sun Classic Friday at University Park. Sophomore second baseman Cassie Palmer had seven hits, including a school record-tying five in game two, and a pair of three-run home runs, as the Tar Heels (2-0) defeated the Lady Razorbacks, 5-0, and the Golden Panthers, 15-4 in six innings.
In game one, Carolina squandered opportunities in the first three innings, stranding five runners, including leaving the bases loaded in the first. The fourth started with junior catcher Whitney Gelin being hit by a pitch and junior third baseman Joslin Higgins singling to right. After a strikeout and a pop out, Palmer drove an 0-1 pitch over the left field wall to give UNC a 3-0 lead. After freshman center fielder Breanna Brown and senior designated player Erica Ennis reached on a single and a walk, respectively, the Tar Heels added a pair of unearned insurance runs thanks to back-to-back Arkansas fielding errors.
That proved to be all the support that starting pitcher Crystal Cox would need, as the Harrisburg, N.C., senior allowed just one hit in five innings. Freshman Lisa Norris made her first career appearance in the sixth and struck out four batters in two innings to finish off the Lady'Backs (0-2).
The Tar Heels wasted no time in game two, exploding for eight runs on seven hits in the top of the first. The big blows were a two-run triple by sophomore Jennifer Jacobs, a three-run home run by Gelin and a three-run double by Brown. Four unearned runs for FIU prevented UNC from ending the contest in five innings. But Carolina added six runs in the top of the sixth, including Palmer's second three-run homer of the day, to seal the six-inning victory. Freshman Amber Johnson picked up the win in her first career start, striking out eight batters in five innings. Norris once again ended the game, this time with a scoreless sixth.
Carolina is back in action Saturday as the Tar Heels take on Iowa at 10 a.m. and Georgia at 2 p.m.
