University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Indiana
Tar Heels Continue To Roll With 7-5 Win Over Indiana
March 5, 2010 | Softball
March 5, 2010
Fullerton, Calif. --- A fabulous game from Amber Johnson, led the No. 20 (12-3) North Carolina Tar Heels to a 7-5 victory over the (5-8) Indiana Hoosiers. Johnson pitched a great game for Carolina as the Tar Heels won its second game in the DeMarini Invitational on Friday. Indiana trailed most of the game, but crawled back with a four-run fifth inning. In the end, it was not enough as Carolina continued its 11 game winning streak.
Carolina jumped on the Hoosiers early courtesy of small ball. Christine Knauer manufactured a run by getting on base with an infield hit, stealing second and then scoring on a throwing error by the first baseman to third after Dani Manko retired at first on a grounder to shortstop. The overthrown ball went over the third baseman's head and allowed Knauer to score easily. Knauer's stolen base is her 14th this season, which leads the ACC. The run gave Carolina an early 1-0 lead.
The Tar Heels kept the foot on the pedal in the second inning. Anna Roberts started the run with singling to center field. Next up, Brittany McKinney reached by a walk. Kelli Wheeler singled to left field to load the bases for Kelsey Green. Green, the Tar Heels number nine hitter singled to right to score Roberts. An illegal pitch scored McKinney to give the Heels a 3-0 lead. Head Coach Donna Papa called on for hot-hitting pinch hitter Cara Vitale to face the new Hoosiers' pitcher Monica Wright. Wright scored the two runners on another two illegal pitches to further the Heels' lead to 5-0. Vitale would go on to walk and be replaced with a re-entering Christine Knauer. Knauer would take off and steal another bag, her 15th on the year. Knauer would advance to third on a Danielle Spaulding infield hit. Knauer scored on a double steal as freshman pinch runner Elisha Elliot stole second base and Knauer took off for home to continue to further the Tar Heels' to 6-0.
Christine Knauer continued to have a great game, with a great play in the field, robbing the Hoosiers of a hit when on a line drive she jumped and at full extension hauled in the ball.
Amber Johnson received the start for Carolina fresh off of her no-hitter last weekend vs. Pittsburgh. She would continue her no-hit streak to 13 innings before allowing a hit by Indiana up the middle, which scored the Hoosiers' run. The run put the Hoosiers on the board and brought the score to 6-1 at the end of the third inning.
Carolina responded to the Hoosiers' run when Dani Manko knocked in Kelsey Green on a line drive over to right-center field. The RBI brought the Tar Heels' lead back up to six, with a score of 7-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, Johnson struck out the first two Hoosier batters she faced and popped out the third to shut down the side one-two-three.
In the fifth inning, Constance Orr came into pitch for the Tar Heels. It is only the second appearance for Orr, who previously faced LSU earlier this season. Two Carolina infield errors continued the inning and Constance Orr allowed a three-run home run to Cassie Gogreve. At the end of the inning the Hoosiers climbed back to trail, 7-5. Amber Johnson re-entered the game at pitcher and got the third out of the inning on a strike out.
The Hoosiers continued to build momentum starting off the bottom of the sixth inning with a double over left fielder Kelli Wheeler's head. Johnson stayed composed in the circle, striking out the next two batters and popping out the third to keep the Heels' lead, 7-5.
The Tar Heels failed to score in the top of the seventh despite loading the bases with Christine Knauer, Dani Spaulding and Ally Blake.
In the bottom of the seventh, Johnson retired the first batter on a comebacker up the middle. Two Hoosier strike outs sealed the win for the Tar Heels.
Carolina next takes the field tomorrow at 12 EST against Pacific. Carolina then plays No. 10 Stanford at 4:30 p.m. EST at Anderson Family Stadium Field Two in Fullerton, Calif.
