University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Hofstra
Carolina Takes Title, Wins School-Best 16th Straight
March 11, 2007 | Softball
March 11, 2007
CLEARWATER, FLA. --- Just 15 days after a win over Hofstra gave North Carolina head coach Donna J. Papa her milestone 800th career victory, the Tar Heels beat the Pride 7-1 for a second time Sunday afternoon at Eddie C. Moore Field, this time setting a new school record for most consecutive wins with 16 and claiming the title of the USF/Adidas Invitational in the process.
That day - Feb. 24 - also marks the last time the Tar Heels (23-8) lost as they dropped a 10-2 decision to No. 13 Michigan prior to reeling off sixteen straight.
Factoring heavily into the last one was Lisa Norris, who collected two-RBI on a 2-4 day at the plate and pitched all seven innings to earn the victory. Norris gave up just four hits and one run in taking her record to 14-6. She picked up the win in the semifinal game Saturday morning against Central Michigan as well.
The Tar Heels jumped on Hofstra (10-10) right away - Cassie Palmer was hit by a pitch to leadoff the game and Breanna Brown followed with a walk to put two on with no out for Carolina. Both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch from Pride starter Courtney Oliver, and Stephanie Murad came through to deliver the early blow, depositing a liner down the left field line for a standup double. Palmer and Brown scored on the play, putting UNC up 2-0.
In the top of the fourth, Carolina loaded the bases on a Joslin Higgins single, an Erin Dudley walk, and Palmer's second hit-by-pitch of the game. But with two outs, Oliver got a called third strike on the outside to send it to the bottom half.
Hofstra struck for a run in its half of the frame, converting a walk into a run with back-to-back two-out singles. But Carolina got the third out of the inning as a Pride runner tried in vain to advance to second, keeping UNC's lead at 2-1.
Carolina answered with two unearned runs in the sixth to push its lead to three runs. Taking advantage of two Pride errors in the inning, Ashley Oxendine and Erin Dudley crossed home plate and it was 4-1 Heels.
UNC wasn't done yet, adding three more runs in the seventh for all the security they needed. Norris picked up a two-RBI double to cap the scoring, and it went to the bottom half with Carolina up six. Norris made sure that it stayed that way, setting down the Pride 1-2-3 to close out the victory.
The Tar Heels will next be in action Tuesday, when they face Boston University in Tampa at 3 p.m.
