University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Florida
Tar Heels Drop 4-0 Decision To Florida
February 16, 2008 | Softball
Feb. 16, 2008
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - North Carolina fell behind 4-0 after the opening inning and were never able to battle back Saturday against No. 10/11 Florida in the Cox Communications Classic. The Tar Heels fell 4-0 in their first loss of the year. Carolina will have a chance to redeem the loss on Sunday when it faces the Gators at 11:15 a.m. in the Tar Heels' final contest of the tournament.
Carolina put runners on first and third with just one out to open the game but were unable to come up with a clutch hit as back-to-back strikeouts ended the first. Florida kept that momentum going into the bottom half as they rattled off six hits and scored four runs to jump out to the early lead.
From that point on the game turned into the predicted pitcher's duel as neither team moved a runner past second base until the top half of the seventh when the Tar Heels attempted to mount a comeback. Danielle Spaulding, who has turned in a solid tournament at the plate, led off with a single before she was replaced by speedy freshman Dani Manko. Whitney Allen followed with a single to right field that looked to put runners on first and second but Manko caught the Gators by surprise and rounded second and headed to third and beat the throw with a headfirst slide into the bag as Allen coasted into second behind the throw.
Despite the pair of runners in scoring position with nobody out, the Tar Heels were unable to push across a run as a pair of ground outs and a strikeout ended the contest.
After a shaky first inning, starter Amber Johnson settled down and allowed just one hit through her final five innings of work. The junior fanned seven batters on the day.
Carolina will meet Florida in the Tar Heels' final game of the Cox Communications Classic on Sunday at 11:15 a.m.
