University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Auburn
Tar Heels Drop A Pair At Leadoff Classic
February 23, 2007 | Softball
Feb. 23, 2007
COLUMBUS, GA. --- North Carolina opened up play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic Friday, losing two close games to Auburn, 3-0 in eight innings, and to No. 24 Southern Illinois, 3-2, with both contests being held on the stadium field at the South Commons Complex.
In the first game against Auburn, starting pitcher Amber Johnson for the Tar Heels (6-7) and her counterpart Holly Currie for the Tigers (6-7) made quick work of the batting orders through the first four innings, with neither pitcher yielding a run while combining to give up just one hit.
Auburn mounted the first real threat in the top of the fifth, loading the bases with two outs, but Johnson struck out Myesha Finney to get out of the inning with no harm.
In the bottom half of the fifth, UNC received a Cassie Palmer leadoff hit and Breanna Brown reached on an error as Carolina chased Currie from the game. Palmer and Brown would reach third and second, respectively, but Anna Thompson was able to shut down the Tar Heels in relief of Currie to prevent any damage.
The Tigers finally touched Johnson for their first hit of the game in the sixth, but Johnson responded immediately by inducing a groundout double play to send it to the bottom half.
The game remained scoreless through the seventh, and the international tiebreaker rule, which places a runner at second at the start of each team's at-bat, was enacted for the start of play in the eighth inning. Auburn managed to load the bases with two outs, and a Sara Ghezzi hopper was mishandled by Anna Evans to plate the first run of the game. Tatiana Fernandez followed with a single to right field, bringing two more Tigers home, extending the Auburn lead to 3-0.
That was the score when the Tar Heels came to bat in the bottom half. Anna Evans started on second for Carolina, but Thompson proved up to the task, picking up two quick strikeouts before a last-ditch effort by the Tar Heels came up just short, and she held on to pick up her third win of the season. Johnson was handed the loss (2-2) despite a terrific day in the circle that saw her go eight innings and give up only two hits - none in the first five innings - while striking out six. She did not allow an earned run.
Palmer, Brown and Whitney Allen were the only Heels to register hits in the game, with each picking up one. Carolina stranded 13 runners on base in losing their second extra-inning game of the season.
The scoring in game two started in the top of the third when Cassie Palmer lined a shot over the fence in right field to break Carolina's 10-inning scoreless streak and give UNC a 1-0 lead.
The Salukis (9-2) answered with an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth, knotting the game at 1-1. Two UNC errors in the bottom of the fifth helped SIU tack on two more runs and the Saluki lead grew to 3-1.
Whitney Gelin led off the top of the seventh with a home run to centerfield, narrowing UNC's deficit to one and giving the Tar Heels renewed life. But Ashley Hemby came on in relief of SIU starter Cassidy Scoggins to close the deal for the Salukis, racking up her first save in the process.
Norris went six innings and gave up just one earned run but still got stuck with the loss, taking her record to 4-5. Scoggins moved to 4-1 with the win.
Ashley Oxendine collected two of the Tar Heels' six hits in the game.
UNC will play two more games - and will try to earn head coach Donna J. Papa her 800th victory - as the NFCA Leadoff Classic continues tomorrow, starting with Hofstra at 3:30 p.m. followed by a game against No. 15 Michigan at 6 p.m.
