North Carolina
Georgia Tech
Semmes' Slam Wins Game For UNC Softball
June 21, 1999 | Softball
April 25, 1999
ATLANTA - North Carolina's Michelle Semmes hit a two-out grand slam homerun in the top of the seventh inning to lift North Carolina to a 7-5 Atlantic Coast Conference softball victory over Georgia Tech Sunday at Glenn Field. The win moved the Tar Heels to 38-20 overall and 4-4 in the league, while the Yellow Jackets fell to 20-32 overall and 0-8 in the conference.
Tech led 5-1 entering the top of the last frame before North Carolina staged a comeback to go ahead for good. Two singles and a fielder's choice loaded the bases for the Tar Heels and pinch hitter Carrie Bates drew a RBI walk off of Jacket pitcher Mimi Utt to score the first run. Center fielder Crystal Henderson followed with a single to right field to plate Sarah Young and cut the lead to 5-3. After Utt got Colleen Lefferts to lineout to left field, Semmes, the UNC shortstop, followed with the game-winning blast to center field.
The Jackets jumped out to an early lead with a five-run, five-hit second inning. During the inning, shortstop Ellen Styer had a RBI double and third baseman Jamie Frost delivered a RBI single to stake Tech to a 2-0 lead. Center fielder Heather Sumrow and left fielder Lauren Schwartz each followed with infield singles to load the bases. Catcher Anne Knobbe then had Tech's fifth-straight hit with a three-RBI double to right centerfield to plate three runs for the Jackets.
Utt keep the Tar Heels at bay during the first six innings by yielding just four hits, including a RBI single to Henderson in the third inning. Radara McHugh came on to pitch for North Carolina in the fourth inning and allowed just two hits in four innings of work to move her record to 25-13 on the year. The loss dropped Utt to 11-23 on the season.
Henderson was 2-for-3 with a run scored and a RBI and Semmes had four RBI on her lone hit of the day to lead the Tar Heels. Schwartz was 3-for-4 with a run scored to lead Tech and Knobbe had three RBI with her only hit of the contest, and she reached twice on hit by pitches.
Carolina will close out its home season with two doubleheaders at Finley Field this week. UNC-Charlotte visits on Tuesday for a 3 p.m. start and East Carolina comes in on Thursday for a 2:30 p.m. start.
North Carolina 001 000 6 - 7 8 1 Georgia Tech 050 000 0 - 5 9 0
Erin Joseph, Radara McHugh (4) and Ramsey, Anter (7). Mimi Utt, Jamie Smith (7) and Anne Knobbe.
WP - McHugh (25-13). LP - Utt (11-23).
HR - UNC: Semmes, 7th, three on.
T - 1:45.
