University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
UNCG
Tar Heel Softball Sweeps UNC Greensboro
April 24, 2001 | Softball
*Game 2 Box
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.-The University of North Carolina softball team swept a pair of games from visiting UNC Greensboro Tuesday afternoon at Finley Field, winning 8-0 in the first game and 6-4 in the second to improve to 32-17-1 on the season. UNCG fell to 29-23.
Next up for the Tar Heels is a home doubleheader against UNC Charlotte on Wednesday. The games have been designated Senior Day, and Carolina will honor its four seniors prior to the first game, which begins at 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday, in her second-to-last afternoon of play at Finley Field, Tar Heel senior Michelle Semmes registered seven total bases to take over the top spot on the program's all-time list. She now has a career total of 343 total bases, surpassing the previous high of 337 by Lorin Slade from 1995-98.
Semmes went 4-for-4 with two doubles in the first game and 5-for-8 for the day to push her batting average over the 300 mark to .306. Catcher Natalie Anter was 5-for-7 on the day, 3-for-3 in Game 2, to boost her average to a team-best .336. They weren't the only Tar Heels with big offensive days as UNC totaled 28 hits for the afternoon, 15 in the first game and 13 in the second.
In Game 1, the Tar Heels scored all the runs they'd need in the bottom of the second when sophomore centerfielder Quinn Porter and Semmes reached on singles and scored on a two-RBI single by senior first baseman Beth Olen. UNC had five hits, all singles, in the first inning.
Carolina added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, when freshman third baseman Dionne Streete walked then scored on two-out single by right fielder Rosie Gustavson, who scored on a double by Semmes.
The Tar Heels ended the game in the bottom of the sixth with four runs on six hits. Semmes hit a two-RBI double and the Tar Heels got RBI singles from Gustavson and left fielder Emily Price.
Senior pitcher Radara McHugh earned the win for Carolina, striking out nine to improve to 19-10 on the season. She gave up just two hits, one in the second and one in the fourth. Amber Watson (15-10) took the loss for UNCG.
In Game 2, the Spartans opened with a pair of runs in the first inning. With two outs, second baseman Kristy Norton walked. Third baseman Penny Thompson, the cleanup hitter, followed her to the plate and hit a two-run homer over the centerfield fence.
UNC quickly regained the lead, however, as the first six batters singled. The Tar Heels batted around and finished the inning with five runs on eight hits. Carolina added another run in the bottom of the fourth when Gustavson led off with a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a single by Natalie Anter and scored on a wild pitch.
The Spartans challenged with runs in the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, UNCG shortstop Kim Benningfield reached on a single and scored on a double by first baseman Amanda Johnson. With one out and UNCG runners on second and third, Carolina pitcher Michael Parrott struck out the final two batters to get out of the inning. In the seventh, centerfielder Leigh Irwin led off with a single, advanced on a single by Norton and scored on a single by Thompson. McHugh then replaced Parrott and, after giving up a single to Benningfield, struck out the final two batters to preserve the win and earn the save.
Parrott got the win to improve to 13-7. UNCG starter Maureen Flynn (1-1) pitched five innings and took the loss.
Game 1: North Carolina 8, UNC Greensboro 0, six innings
UNCG.....000 000 -- 0 2 1
UNC......200 204 -- 8 15 2
Win: Radara McHugh (19-10), Loss: Amber Watson (15-10)
2B: Michelle Semmes, 2
Game 2: North Carolina 6, UNC Greensboro 4
UNCG.....200 001 1 -- 4 8 1
UNC......500 100 X -- 6 13 1
Win: Michael Parrott (13-7), Loss: Maureen Flynn (1-1), Save: Radara McHugh
HR: Penny Thompson, 2B: Amanda Johnson
