University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Marshall
Tar Heels Claim Tournament Crown
March 4, 2007 | Softball
March 4, 2007
CHAPEL HILL --- A 5-1 win over Marshall in the championship game of the Tar Heel Invitational gave the North Carolina softball team the title in their home tournament at Anderson Stadium Sunday. The Tar Heels (13-8) went a perfect 4-0 on the weekend and used two RBI from Stephanie Murad to put away the Thundering Herd (10-8). Carolina has now won six straight games.
UNC started the scoring in the top of the first, grabbing an early 1-0 lead. Centerfielder Breanna Brown singled in the frame and alertly took second upon noticing nobody covering the bag. She came home on an RBI double off the bat of Murad to put the Tar Heels ahead.
The top of the third saw the Tar Heels add another run as Murad collected her second RBI of the game. Her sacrifice fly to left field was plenty deep to plate Cassie Palmer, who reached base on an error to open the inning.
Marshall narrowed the gap to one in the third, converting a Rachel Schmidt leadoff single into a run. The Thundering Herd threatened to add more, but starting pitcher Amber Johnson induced a fly out with two outs and the bases loaded to escape danger.
A three-run top of the seventh gave UNC a little extra security and pushed the lead to 5-1. None of the runs were earned as Carolina capitalized on two Marshall errors in the inning. Cassie Palmer, Brown and Jacobs all crossed home in the frame and eight Tar Heels came to bat.
Amber Johnson earned the win, her fifth of the season, in 4.1 innings of work for UNC. She held the Herd to one run on four hits before giving way to Lisa Norris, who kept Marshall off the scoreboard to pick up her third save of the year.
Carolina will play next in a doubleheader at home Tuesday against Charlotte. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Anderson Stadium, and both games will be videostreamed live on the Internet on ACC Select.
