University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Florida State
No. 14 Tar Heels Fall In ACC Semifinals
May 9, 2009 | Softball
May 9, 2009
RALEIGH, N.C. - The No. 14 North Carolina softball team dropped a hard-fought 4-1 decision in the Atlantic Coast Conference semifinals to No. 16 Florida State (43-13). The Tar Heels fall to 45-11 on the year and will now await their fate in the NCAA Tournament which will be announced Sunday at 10 p.m. on ESPNU.
The Tar Heels nearly struck for a run in the top of the first when Breanna Brown and Danielle Spaulding each drew free passes. Brittany McKinney moved the pair into scoring position with a ground out to the second baseman but the Tar Heels were unable to score as Emily Troup went down on strikes to end the inning.
rown drew another walk in the top of the third with two outs for Danielle Spaulding who laced a pitch down the left field line. The ball landed just foul before ACC Pitcher of the Year Sarah Hamilton got Spaulding to chase a rise ball for the third strike and third out of the inning.
Lisa Norris issued a two-out walk in the top of the first before ringing up Ashley Stager for the third out of the inning. She kept it going in the second when she struck out the side before retiring the Seminoles in order in the third.
The Seminoles put the first hit on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Shayla Jackson legged out an infield single to start things off. Kaleigh Rafter quickly made it a 2-0 ball game when she connected on a two-run home run to left field her 11th of the year.
Florida State loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth when Brittany Joseph was struck by a pitch with one out before Carly Wynn singled to center to put a pair of runners on. A grounder back to Norris in the circle moved both runners up for Rafter once again. With first base open the Tar Heels issued an intentional walk to face Ashley Stager who Norris set down on strikes to end the threat and put the Tar Heels back up to bat.
The Tar Heels cut the deficit in half in the top of the sixth with a single run but had an opportunity to knot things up. Pinch hitter Constance Orr led off the inning with Carolina's first hit of the game when she beat out a close play at first with a single to second base. Christine Knauer re-entered the game for Orr at first base and moved to second when Breanna Brown laced a single through the left side.
Danielle Spaulding battled to a full count before drawing a walk to load the bases against relief pitcher Terese Gober. Brittany McKinney followed by drawing another free pass to score Knauer from third and put Carolina within a run at 2-1. Starter Sarah Hamilton re-entered the game to face Emily Troup who was set down on strikes for the first out of the inning. Ally Blake fouled out down the first base line before Hamilton rang up Lisa Norris on strikes to end the threat and keep the Seminoles in front by the slim 2-1 margin.
The Seminoles tacked on some insurance runs in the sixth when they took advantage of a pari of Tar Heel miscues with two outs in the inning. With runners at first and second with two outs Brittany Joseph hit a ball to third base that Alyssa Francona was unable to handle allowing a run to score and putting runners in scoring position again. An intentional walk loaded the bases but another Tar Heel miscue, this time by Christine Knauer, allowed another run to score pushing the score to 4-1.
The Tar Heels put a pair of runners on in the top of the seventh but were unable to push across any runs as Florida State closed the door on the Tar Heels. Carolina will now await its fate for the NCAA Tournament which will be announced at 10 p.m. Sunday night on ESPNU.
