University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
East Carolina
No. 14 Tar Heels Score Late To Take Down ECU
April 8, 2009 | Softball
April 8, 2009
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Single runs in the sixth and seventh innings propelled No. 14 North Carolina (35-7, 10-2 ACC) to a 2-1 road victory over East Carolina (26-11) Wednesday. Relief pitcher Lisa Norris drove in the game-tying run in the sixth before Breanna Brown drove in the game-winning run with a single in the top half of the seventh to give Carolina the win.
East Carolina struck first in the bottom of the second inning on a fluky play taking advantage of a pair of Tar Heel errors. Angel Berrella led off the inning with a walk before back-to-back strikeouts put starter Danielle Spaulding an out away from getting out of the jam. Barrella attempted to steal second but catcher Ally Blake's throw was on target and as shortstop Christine Knauer caught the ball Berrella's cleats connected with Knauer's glove sending it and the ball towards third base. Barella rose to her feet and sprinted to third as Knauer chased down the ball. Knauer flipped the ball to Alyssa Francona at third base but in the rush to beat the runner the ball flew over Francona's head and into the dugout forcing Barrella home giving ECU the early 1-0 lead.
The Tar Heel offense took five innings to get going as Carolina stranded a runner every inning through the first five frames. Whitney Allen led off the top of the sixth inning with a single to left field as ECU's Toni Paisley appeared to be on her last legs. Emily Troup took a 1-2 pitch to dead center field off the base of the fence for a double that put runners on second and third with just one out. Lisa Norris came to the plate and dropped a ball between the left fielder and shortstop scoring an alert pinch runner Kelsey Green from third to tie the game.
The seventh inning started off with a bang as Ally Blake drove a pitch over the left fielder's head for a leadoff double. Christine Knauer dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Blake to third for Breanna Brown. The Durham, N.C., native took the first pitch she saw through the right side to score Blake and put the Tar Heels up 2-1 with three outs left. Norris struck out all three batters in the bottom of the seventh to earn her 17th win of the season.
Carolina will return to action on Friday in a single contest at 6 p.m. against Virginia before a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday against the Wahoos.
