University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Louisville
Tar Heels Drop Season Opener, 1-0
February 6, 2009 | Softball
Feb. 6, 2009
MIAMI - One unearned run would be the difference Friday night in Miami, Fla. as the North Carolina softball team dropped its opening game of the 2009 campaign to Louisville, 1-0. The Tar Heels will look to bounce back right away as they take on tournament host FIU at 8 p.m.
Louisville picked up a pair of hits off of starter Lisa Norris in the bottom of the second inning and looked to claim an early lead but solid defense by the Tar Heels ended any threat. A leadoff single by Melissa Roth was quickly erased as catcher Brittany McKinney cut down the stealing Roth at second for the first out of the inning. Following a strikeout by Norris Louisville's Chelsea Bemis doubled to right center before Norris struck out another batter to end the threat.
Norris would settle down from that point not allowing another hit until the bottom of the fifth inning. Unfortunately for the Tar Heels, Kristen Wadwell was just as good keeping Carolina in check most of the game. McKinney picked up a two-out single in the top of the second for Carolina's first hit before the Tar Heels were held without a hit until their final at bat.
The fifth inning saw the Cardinals pick up a pair of two-out hits before Norris picked up a crucial strikeout to keep the game scoreless. Norris was not nearly as lucky in the bottom of the sixth, however. The Cardinals were able to get a runner on with a leadoff single before a fielder's choice forced out the runner at second giving the Tar Heels the first out of the inning. Norris nearly picked up out number two but an errant throw by Alyssa Francona sailed past Brittany Robinson into right field allowing the runner to score from first and give Louisville a 1-0 advantage.
Danielle Spaulding led off the inning with a single to the left side before she was replaced on the base paths by Kelli Wheeler. A strikeout preceded a Brittany Robinson single to right field that put Wheeler in scoring position. A Brittany McKinney ground out to shortstop moved the runners up to second and third but a groundout to the pitcher would end the season opener for the Tar Heels.
Carolina will look to bounce back right away in the FIU Combat Classic as the Tar Heels take on the host FIU Golden Panthers at 8 p.m.
