University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
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Mississippi State
Tar Heels Victorious On Final Day At Leadoff Classic
February 25, 2007 | Softball
Feb. 25, 2007
COLUMBUS, GA. --- Freshman Stephanie Murad led the way for North Carolina with four RBI, including a three-run homer - the first round-tripper of her career - and the Tar Heels evened their record at 8-8 with an 8-4 victory Sunday against Mississippi State in their final game of the NFCA Leadoff Classic at the South Commons Complex.
Breanna Brown, Jennifer Jacobs and Whitney Allen all recorded two hits for UNC as the Tar Heels pounded out 10 against the Bulldogs (10-6). Lisa Norris picked up the win for the Tar Heels in relief of starter Amber Johnson, who left after three innings with a 5-2 lead, taking her record to 5-6.
UNC broke through for an early run against Mississippi State starter Kelli Miller in the bottom of the first, with Brown singling to open the game before coming around to score on a throwing error by the Bulldog catcher. Jacobs kept things going for the Tar Heels with a single up the middle that hit and injured Miller, bringing Sara Hickerson in to pitch for MSU. UNC didn't let up, though, as a sacrifice fly and two more hits gave Murad, Joslin Higgins and Whitney Allen an RBI each while helping the Tar Heels put three more runs up in the frame, and Carolina held a 4-0 advantage after one inning.
The bottom of the second saw the Tar Heels add another run. Brown picked up an RBI double and Samantha Ingersoll, who had reached base on her second hit of the year, came around to score, making the score 5-0 in favor of UNC.
The Bulldogs answered with their first three hits of the game off Carolina starter Amber Johnson in the top of the third, plating two runs in the inning to narrow the Tar Heels' lead to three.
Murad personally extended the lead to six for Carolina in the bottom of the fifth, lining a three-run shot to left center for the first home run of her career. Cassie Palmer and Jennifer Jacobs both scored on the play.
Mississippi State used a two-run home run in the sixth to close the gap again for the Bulldogs, but Norris got out of damage in that innig and allowed only one hit in the seventh to secure the win.
Carolina will next travel to Greenville, N.C., for a Wednesday matchup against East Carolina at 3 p.m.
