University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Charlotte
No. 24 Tar Heels Sweep 49ers
February 15, 2006 | Softball
Feb. 15, 2006
CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- The University of North Carolina softball team, which earlier in the day entered the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 for the first time in program history, swept homestanding Charlotte, 5-0 and 3-1, Wednesday at the Phillips Softball Complex. Senior Crystal Cox and freshman Lisa Norris eached tossed complete games to pick up victories.
A two-out rally in the top of the second allowed the Tar Heels (6-1) to start the scoring game one. Junior outfielder Erin Dudley Drew a two-out walk which was followed by a Joslin Higgins single. Both runners would score on a two-base error by the Charlotte left fielder off the bat of junior catcher Theresa Nicholas.
UNC manufactured a run in the third, as junior shortstop Anna Evans stole second after a one-out single. She then took third on a groundout and scored on Higgins' RBI single. Carolina would add two more in the fifth, again with some help from the Charlotte defense. After a walk and single put two on with two outs, sophomore first baseman Jennifer Jacobs singled to score freshman center fielder Breanna Brown. A misplay by the 49er center fielder allowed senior designated player Erica Ennis to score as well, giving the Tar Heels the final margin of 5-0.
Cox (2-1) was solid in the circle, scattering four hits and striking out nine. The Harrisburg, N.C., native allowed only two Charlotte batters to advance beyond first, none after the third.
Carolina took the early lead in game two thanks to more sloppy defense by the 49ers. Sophomore second baseman Cassie Palmer led off by reaching on an error and Brown singled behind her. After a pop out and a fly out, Evans was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ennis then singled to center, plating Palmer and Brown for a 2-0 UNC lead.
Norris helped her own cause in the fourth. The Snellville, Ga., freshman reached on a one-out single and later scored on Palmer's RBI single. Norris (2-0) was three outs away from a complete-game shutout, but allowed a lead-off homer to catcher Becky Matthews.
The newly-ranked Tar Heels return home to host the annual Triangle Classic, Friday through Sunday at Anderson Stadium.
