University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
College of Charleston
Tar Heels Open 2007, Carolina Classic With Win
February 9, 2007 | Softball
Feb. 9, 2007
Box Score |
Tournament Gallery 
CHAPEL HILL --- The North Carolina softball team opened its 2007 season with a 9-1 win over the College of Charleston in UNC's first game of the Carolina Classic at Anderson Stadium on Friday, using a sparkling performance both offensively and defensively to easily put away the Cougars.
A dominating outing in the circle by ace Lisa Norris propelled the Tar Heels (1-0) on the afternoon as the sophomore pitched a six-inning, one-hit gem. Norris took her bid for a no-hitter deep in the game before finally yielding a single in the bottom of the sixth. Charleston took advantage of the lone Carolina miscue on the day to post their only run - unearned - in that frame, but it was far from enough to match UNC's offensive firepower.
The Tar Heels wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as Cassie Palmer led off the game with a double and came around to score on a Jennifer Jacobs single.
Carolina struck again in the third inning, thanks in large part to their speed and attentiveness on the basepaths. Breanna Brown and Palmer each stole bases in the inning and took advantage of an error by the Cougar catcher to cross home plate.
In the fifth inning, Whitney Gelin was responsible for all the UNC offense, as she added to her three-hit, two-RBI total on the day with a solo shot to right center. That gave the Tar Heels a 4-0 lead.
The floodgates opened in the top of the sixth as the Tar Heels jumpstarted the inning with an Erin Dudley triple and immediately followed that with back-to-back singles. Additionally, Anna Evans, Jacobs and Gelin all later contributed base hits and Carolina put up five runs in the frame to make the score 9-0.
Charleston's lone run in the bottom of the sixth was not enough to stave off the eight-run rule, and the Tar Heels closed out their first game of the season with a win.
UNC next faces No. 2 Tennessee at 3 p.m. tomorrow as the Carolina Classic continues at Anderson Stadium. Admission is free.
