North Carolina
Virginia
Carolina Softball Drops Virginia, 3-1
April 1, 2000 | Softball
April 1, 2000
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - North Carolina scored a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning to defeat Virginia 3-1 in collegiate softball action Saturday afternoon, April 1, at The Park in Charlottesville. The game was the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams. With the loss, UVa falls to 15-26 on the season, while the Tar Heels improve to 30-13.
The Tar Heel's Radara McHugh earned the win as she allowed just one run on six hits. She walked two batters and struck out two in improving her record to 14-4. Virginia second-year Kristen Dennis (Encinitas, Calif./ La Costa Canyon) was the tough-luck loser as she allowed three runs, two of which were earned, on seven hits. Dennis (3-9) struck out 10 batters and walked just one.
With the game tied at 1-1 after seven innings, North Carolina scored a pair of runs, one earned, one unearned, in the first extra inning. With one out in the eighth, UNC's Michelle Semmes hit an infield single and scored the game-winning run on a triple to right center by Natalie Anter. With two outs, Beth Olen reached on a Virginia error which scored Semmes to make the score 3-1. UVa third-year right fielder Meaghan Young (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) led off the bottom of the eighth with a single to center, but a fly out and a double play ended the game.
The Tar Heels took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Kelly Ramsey led off the inning with a single to right and was pinch run for by Lauren Parker. Parker advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and moved to third on McHugh's single to left. Parker was able to score when she avoided the tag of UVa third baseman Karen Breshears (Camarillo, Calif./Cornerstone Christian) on Quinn Porter's grounder down the third base line.
The Cavaliers' tied the game at 1-1 when Young led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo home run to right center. It was Young's second homer of the season.
Young and fourth-year left fielder Jen Krill (Huntington Beach, Calif./Huntington) both had two hits for the 'Hoos.
Virginia returns to action on Sunday, April 2 when it hosts North Carolina in the second and final game of the series at 1:00 p.m. at The Park. DC)
