University of North Carolina Athletics
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NC State
Norris Notches One-Hit Shutout Against NC State
April 5, 2009 | Softball
April 5, 2009
RALEIGH, N.C. - Senior Lisa Norris matched Danielle Spaulding's one-hit performance on Saturday with one of her own as the No. 15 Tar Heels notched a 4-0 win to sweep the Saturday doubleheader over NC State in Raleigh. Emily Troup connected on a solo home run before Danielle Spaulding added a three-run shot of her own to pace the Tar Heel offense. The third and final game of the series will take place at 1 p.m. on Sunday as Carolina looks for its 13th straight victory.
A one-out single by NC State in the bottom of the first inning set Lisa Norris on track as she retired the next nine batters that came to the plate as she single-handedly kept the Tar Heels in the game as Carolina was held hitless through the opening four innings.
The Tar Heel offense finally struck in the top half of the fifth when Emily Troup battled to a full count before driving a pitch over the right field fence putting Carolina in front 1-0. The lead would grow in the next frame when the Tar Heels busted out for three more runs thanks to a long ball off the bat of Danielle Spaulding. A lead off single by Christine Knauer got things going for Carolina. A sacrifice bunt by Breanna Brown moved Knauer into scoring position for Whitney Allen who battled to a full count before drawing a free pass. Pinch runner Kelsey Green would come on for Allen but she would not be on the bases long as Spaulding lifted a pitch to left center for a home run giving Norris a four-run cushion to work with.
Norris would cruise through the sixth inning putting Carolina just three outs from a doubleheader sweep. Alyssa Allbritten would lead off the bottom half of the seventh by reaching by an error on the Tar Heels. A fielder's choice followed by Norris' ninth strikeout of the day and a pop out would end the inning and the contest.
The Tar Heels extended their season-long winning streak to 13 games with the win as Norris improved her record to 15-4 on the year. Carolina and NC State will face off one more time on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Raleigh as the Tar Heels look for the series sweep.
