University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Georgia Tech
No. 12 Tar Heels Fall 3-2
April 26, 2009 | Softball
April 26, 2009
ATLANTA - Georgia Tech's Jen Yee connected on an 0-1 pitch in the bottom of the seventh and hit a solo home run to give the No. 20 Yellow Jackets (38-13, 15-3 ACC) a 3-2 win over No. 12 North Carolina (44-10, 15-5 ACC) Sunday in Atlanta. The setback for the Tar Heels is the third straight after winning 23 in a row before the weekend series. The Tar Heels will have a week off for final exams before heading to Raleigh for the ACC Tournament set to run May 8-10.
Georgia Tech struck for a pair of runs in the bottom of the first off starter Lisa Norris as the Yellow Jackets used a two-out rally. A walk put Kelsi Weseman aboard before Whitney Haller laced a ball to the left center field gap moving Weseman around third. As center fielder Breanna Brown's throw came in to third base Alyssa Francona fired home but her throw ricocheted off of Weseman's helmet and into the Tar Heel dugout not only scoring Weseman but also Haller to give Georgia Tech the 2-0 lead.
The Tar Heels used a two-out rally of their own in the top of the second as freshman Ally Blake drew a walk before Whitney Allen copied her with a walk of her own to put a pair of runners on for Norris. The Snellville, Ga., native ripped a single past the third baseman and into left field easily scoring pinch runner Kelsey Green from second and cutting the deficit to just one (2-1).
A 1-2-3 inning by Norris put the Tar Heels back up at the plate where Breanna Brown connected on a one-out double over the head of left fielder Christy Jones. A pair of ground outs to third base would end any threat of the Tar Heels knotting the game up.
Junior Danielle Spaulding quickly tied things up at 2-2 in the top of the fifth when she connected on her team-leading 10th home run of the year, a solo shot over the right center field fence.
The Yellow Jackets put a pair of runners on with just one out in the bottom of the fifth with a single and a base on balls before Blair Shimandle hit a sinking liner to left field that senior Whitney Allen made a sliding play on for the second out of the inning. Norris would come inside on the next batter, Weseman, and hit the freshman loading the bases for Whitney Haller. On a 2-1 count Norris missed high and wide and as the ball bounced off catcher Brittany McKinney's glove Christy Jones attempted to score from third but McKinney's relay to Norris at the plate cut down the run and ended the inning.
Norris found herself in trouble again in the bottom of the sixth when she walked the leadoff hitter, Haller, before hitting Tiffany Johnson with the very next pitch putting a pair of runners on with nobody out. A failed bunt attempt was grabbed by McKinney in foul territory for the first out before a come backer to Norris put two outs on the board when Norris went to Alyssa Francona at third cutting down the lead runner. A line drive right back at Norris bounced off her glove but the senior was able to regain her composure and fire the ball to first to end the inning and the Yellow Jacket threat.
Georgia Tech quickly ended the contest in the bottom of the seventh inning when leadoff hitter Jen Yee took the first pitch she saw over the right field fence giving the Yellow Jackets the 3-2 walk off win. The home run was Yee's 10th of the year and second of the series.
The three-game sweep is the first against the Tar Heels since NC State claimed three straight over the Tar Heels in the 2007 season and is just the second time since the ACC went to three-game series before the 2005 season.
Carolina will have the week off for final exams before heading to Raleigh for the ACC Tournament set to begin May 8.
