University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
East Carolina
Jacobs' Bombs Carry Heels To 3-1 Win Over ECU
February 28, 2007 | Softball
Feb. 28, 2007
GREENVILLE, N.C. --- A monster day from junior first baseman Jennifer Jacobs powered the North Carolina Tar Heels to a 3-1 victory over the East Carolina Pirates Wednesday. UNC (9-8) also picked up sparkling efforts in the circle from sophomore pitchers Amber Johnson and Lisa Norris as the duo combined to allow just four ECU (9-6) hits and no earned runs in the win.
Jacobs was the difference on offense, though, as she went 2-3 with two home runs - both on 3-2 counts - to factor in all of Carolina's scoring. The three-RBI day for Jacobs pushed her team-leading total to 18 on the year.
After going down 1-2-3 in the top of the first, UNC led off the top of the second with Jacobs at the plate. A shot left her bat moments later and flew over the outfield fence, giving UNC its first hit of the game and a 1-0 lead.
Johnson, the starter for Carolina, kept it that way through four innings - with some help from her defense. Johnson only surrendered three Pirate hits, but a Breanna Brown dart from centerfield was needed to cut down ECU pinchrunner Sarah Bibee at home, ending a Pirate threat in the fourth.
Norris came on in relief of Johnson in the bottom of the fifth and allowed a single to start the inning. That would be the only hit of the game she'd give up, but two Carolina errors in the inning helped the Pirates plate a run, tying the game 1-1.
That's when Jacobs struck again. After second baseman Cassie Palmer worked a walk with two outs against starter Keli Harrell in the top of the sixth, ECU brought in pitcher Toni Paisley to face Jacobs. Jacobs would prove to be one of only two batters Paisley would face, but she got handed the loss nonetheless as Jacobs sent her second shot of the day out of the park to give Carolina a 3-1 lead they would not surrender.
ECU managed only one baserunner in the final two frames against Norris, who picked up the win (6-6) in relief. Palmer and catcher Whitney Gelin accounted for the two Tar Heel hits on the day not belonging to Jacobs, each collecting singles.
Carolina will next see action in the Tar Heel Invitational starting this weekend, where they will serve as host in an eight-team tournament. Games start Friday at 10 a.m., and admission is free. UNC will first take the field at 2:30 p.m. Friday against Appalachian State, followed immediately by a game against Fairfield.
