University of North Carolina Athletics
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Carolina Drops NDSU To Earn Day Two Split
March 4, 2006 | Softball
March 4, 2006
CHAPEL HILL --- Senior pitcher Crystal Cox pitched another seven innings without allowing an earned run and sophomore second baseman Cassie Palmer delivered a three-run triple as the No. 24 North Carolina Tar Heels defeated North Dakota State, 5-1, Saturday night at Anderson Stadium on day two of the Tar Heel Invitational. Earlier in the day, the Tar Heels fell to South Carolina, 4-3.
Game one saw the Gamecocks (16-5) get single runs in the first, third and fourth innings to take a 3-0 lead. An Alyssa Francona RBI single in the bottom of the fourth brought Carolina (13-4) within two before the Tar Heels tied it in the fifth.
Palmer led off the frame with a solid single and advanced to second on an Ashley Oxendine sacrifice. After a Lisa Norris strikeout, sophomore first baseman Jennifer Jacobs and junior shortstop Anna Evans walked to load the bases with two outs. Twice it appeared that the Gamecocks would get out of the inning, but back-to-back South Carolina errors allowed UNC to tie the score at 3-all.
But the Tar Heels quickly gave the lead right back. The Gamecocks put runners on first and second with a single and an error, and the baserunners moved up on a sacrifice bunt. Then with two outs, a Whitney Gelin passed ball allowed Darcy Norem to score what would prove to be the game-winning run.
The pitching dominated the early stages of game two, as the teams traded zeroes for the first three innings. Carolina started the scoring in the foruth. Jacobs led off with a single to right and pinch runner Marissa May moved to second on an Erica Ennis sacrifice. Evans then singled up the middle to plate May, giving the Tar Heels a 1-0 lead.
It would prove to be short-lived, however, as UNC allowed another unearned run. Lynnae Foshag led off with a routine fly ball that was dropped by right fielder Erin Dudley, putting a runner on second with no one out. Jackie Currie then singled home Foshag to tie the score. The Bison (4-9) threatened to take a lead, but Cox made a great play on a squeeze attempt to keep the score tied.
Carolina would finally break through in the sixth. Ennis led off with a home run to right, giving the Tar Heels a 2-1 lead. Carolina then loaded the bases with one out on two walks and an error. After a Gelin strikeout, Palmer came up with the big blow, clearing the bases with a triple to the wall in right center. Cox would strike out five of the final seven batters to close out the win.
UNC will finish the Tar Heel Invitational Sunday afternoon at 12:30 against Canisius in a rematch of a 2005 NCAA Regional game.
