University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Texas
Carolina Falls To Texas 1-0 As Freshman Luna Pitches No Hitter
February 12, 2010 | Softball
Feb. 12, 2010
AUSTIN --- On a chilly night in Texas hits were hard to come by for both the No. 19/22 North Carolina Tar Heels and Texas Longhorns. Texas freshman Blaire Luna no-hit the Tar Heels in her first collegiate game. The pitcher's duel culminated with Texas victorious on a 1-0 win. The loss makes Carolina 1-1 on the year.
Senior Amber Johnson started her first game in over a year for the Tar Heels, after red-shirting in 2009. Johnson returned to the circle to face the Texas Longhorns (1-0) in the Texas Invitational. Johnson started off shaky allowing Texas center fielder Courtney Craig to take a fastball down the right field line for a single. After sophomore catcher Ally Blake threw out Craig on a stolen base attempt Johnson quickly settled down. The hard-throwing right hander then struck out Taylor Hoagland and threw out Loryn Johnson at first on a ball fielded by the pitcher.
Despite being a native of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Johnson seemed at home in the cold, consistently placing the ball in the right spots.
As masterful as Amber Johnson was on this night, she was matched by Texas freshman Blaire Luna. Luna had her way with the Carolina hitters - not allowing a baserunner until Ally Blake was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning. Luna no-hit the Tar Heels for her first collegiate win.
Carolina had trouble getting the bats warmed up in the cold Texas air that stayed in the 30s the entire game.
Dani Manko reached first on a walk in the bottom of the seventh, but Carolina could not advance her and the game was sent into extra innings.
Beginning in the eighth inning International Tie Breaking Rules were in effect placing Nadia Taylor at second base. A Raygan Feight bunt moved Taylor over to third. A wild pitch scored Taylor to give the Longhorns a 1-0 lead.
Carolina started the eighth with Chelsea Butler on second. A Brittany Robinson bunt moved her over to third. Anna Roberts hit a line drive to third baseman Nadia Taylor who caught the ball and applied the tag on Butler to seal the no-hitter.
North Carolina was victorious earlier in the day besting LSU 1-0 on a Brittany Robinson home run. Danielle Spaulding turned in a spectacular performance striking out seven batters in the complete game shutout.
The Tar Heels return to action tomorrow facing No. 20/21 DePaul at 11:00 a.m. (CT).
