Tar Heels Continue Winning Ways

Thursday, March 8

Clearwater, Fla.

1:00 PM

North Carolina

Oklahoma State

March 8, 2007 | Softball

By: UNC Athletic Communications

March 8, 2007

Box Score

CLEARWATER, FLA. ---.Breanna Brown went a perfect 4-4 - setting a career-high for hits - and Lisa Norris pitched her second complete game shutout in a week's time to lead North Carolina to a 2-0 win over Oklahoma State Thursday at Eddie C. Moore Field. With the win, North Carolina's winning streak stretched to nine games, dating back to a victory over Mississippi St. on Feb. 25.

Two of Brown's hits came in the first three innings as the Tar Heels (16-8) managed to put three on in the first three frames. They couldn't bring anybody home, though, as OSU's Anna Whiddon and UNC's Lisa Norris established themselves as forces in the circle early on.

In fact, the game remained scoreless until the top of the fourth, when a Whitney Allen double got things started for the Tar Heels with one out. Anna Evans followed with a single and Joslin Higgins drew a walk, and the bases were loaded for Carolina. One out later, Norris came through with a clutch base hit through the left side, scoring two and giving the Heels a 2-0 advantage.

The Cowgirls (13-13) put runners on first and second with no out to start the bottom of the sixth as Norris ran into her first real trouble. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners over, Norris responded with back-to-back strikeouts to keep OSU off the scoreboard and send it to the seventh.

Norris pitched a 1-2-3 seventh to pick up her 10th win, scattering five hits and striking out ten over seven innings of work. She has a personal six-game winning streak during the stretch.

A date with South Florida is up next for Carolina. That game is scheduled to start Thursday at 6 p.m., but first pitch will likely be a bit later due to the tournament running slightly behind schedule.