University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Florida
Tar Heels Fall 1-0 In Extras
February 17, 2008 | Softball
Feb. 17, 2008
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - North Carolina's battle against No. 10/11 Florida lived up to its billing on Sunday as the Tar Heels and Gators battled for eight full innings before either team scored. Florida was able to push across a run as it claimed the 1-0 decision in nine innings over Carolina. Lisa Norris was dominant once again striking out eight and allowing the lone unearned run, while setting down 16 consecutive batters at one point in the game.
After both teams battled to a 0-0 tie after seven full innings everyone at Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium was awarded with free softball as the Tar Heels and Gators were forced to decide the contest in extra innings. Per tournament rules the international tiebreaker was implemented after the seventh by placing a runner at second base. Florida had the first chance to score, as they were the visitors, but Norris was equal to the task as she forced a pop out to second, a strikeout and got a nice defensive play from Christine Knauer as she was able to gun down the Florida batter at first for the third and final out.
In the Tar Heels' half of the eighth, back-to-back fly outs by Bree Ensminger and Breanna Brown put Carolina in a difficult position. Senior Cassie Palmer turned in another solid at bat as she battled Florida starter Stacey Nelson to get the count full before drawing a walk, but Emily Troup was unable to drive in the winning run as she grounded out to second to end the threat.
Florida was able to advance the runner to third in the top of the ninth as the Gators were the recipients of a sacrifice bunt. A double from Aja Paculba would drive in the lone run of the game as she laced a ball to right center before a perfect relay from Brown to Palmer to Alyssa Francona cut her down at third for the second out of the inning. A fly out would end the inning for Florida and give Carolina a chance at evening the score.
After two foul bunt attempts from Danielle Spaulding the Fontana, Calif. native was able to get a bat on the ball as she dropped a single into right field. Moving on the play from second base was pinch runner Christine Knauer who was cut down at the plate on a perfect throw from the right fielder. Whitney Allen drew a one-out walk to put a pair of runners aboard for Anna Roberts who drilled a ball to the third baseman who stepped on the bag but whose throw was off line allowing Roberts to beat the throw and keep the Tar Heels' hopes alive. Norris would then step to the plate trying to recreate her three-run home run from Friday. The Snellville, Ga. native sent a rocket to the left side of the infield that fell out of the glove of the third baseman but who was able to retrieve the ball and force out Norris at first to end the game.
Norris was dominant once again not allowing a single runner to reach first base for 16 consecutive hitters from the second batter of the second inning until the top of the seventh. She finished the tournament with a 1-1 mark, despite not allowing an earned run in 16 innings of work. She also allowed just our hits while striking out 20.
The Tar Heels will return home to take on Campbell in a midweek doubleheader scheduled for Wednesday at 3 p.m. at the Anderson Softball Complex.
