University of North Carolina Athletics
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UNC Softball Wins Tar Heel Invitational
April 8, 2001 | Softball
April 8, 2001
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.- The University of North Carolina softball team claimed the championship of its own Tar Heel Invitational on Sunday, finishing tournament play with a record of 2-1. North Carolina edged Florida State, also 2-1, in the tiebreaker by virtue of a 3-2 eight-inning win when the teams met head-to-head on Sunday. Florida Atlantic and East Carolina both finished 1-2.
UNC and Florida State, which swept an Atlantic Coast Conference doubleheader from the Tar Heels on Friday, met in Sunday's second game of the day to decide the tournament championship. Designated player Kelly Ramsey put UNC on the scoreboard first with a solo home run, her fifth of the season, over the centerfield fence in the bottom of the second inning. FSU tied it up in the top of the third when centerfielder Serita Brooks scored on an error. Carolina jumped back on top in the bottom of that inning when centerfielder Natashalyn Snipes reached on a bunt and scored on an RBI single by left fielder Emily Price. The Seminoles evened the score in the top of the fourth when second baseman Brandi Stewart reached on an infield single, stole second and third and scored on a Tar Heel error.
North Carolina won the game with a run in the bottom of the eighth. According to international tiebreaker rules, right fielder Rosie Gustavson began the inning on second base. She advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by catcher Natalie Anter and scored on a single by shortstop Michelle Semmes.
The Tar Heels totaled seven hits, two by Snipes, in the non-conference win. Senior Radara McHugh struck out four and gave up just four hits to improve to 15-9 on the season. Jessica van der Linden (11-3) took the loss for FSU.
In UNC's second game of the day, the Tar Heels fell 4-1 to East Carolina, which earned its first win of the weekend. The Pirates went up in the bottom of the first when second baseman Keisha Shepperson tripled to left and scored on a sacrifice by right fielder Beth Bridger. Carolina scored its only run of the game in the top of the second when Ramsey walked and was replaced by pinch runner Lauren Parker. Parker moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by first baseman Beth Olen then scored on a double to center by pitcher Michael Parrott.
ECU scored the rest of its runs in the bottom of the fifth. Catcher Addie Chlebnikow reached base on a single to right and centerfielder Jessica Critcher got on with a fielder's choice. Both runners scored on a double by Shepperson, who then scored on a fielder's choice.
In the first game of the day, Florida Atlantic pitcher Nicole Myers struck out 17 as her team beat East Carolina 4-0. Myers gave up just one hit, a seventh inning single by designated player Kristen Johnson. The Owls totaled nine hits in the win, including three by Myers.
Carolina (24-16-1) returns to action Wednesday with a doubleheader at Liberty.
Tar Heel Invitational, April 8
Game 1: Florida Atlantic 4, East Carolina 0
ECU......000 000 0 - 0 1 1
FAU......000 301 X - 4 9 2
WP: Nicole Myers, LP: Hillary Halpern
Game 2: North Carolina 3, Florida State 2, 8 inn.
FSU......001 100 00 - 2 4 1
UNC......011 000 01 - 3 7 3
WP: Radara McHugh (15-9), LP: Jessica van der Linden (11-3)
Game 3: East Carolina 4, North Carolina 1
UNC......010 000 0 - 1 3 1
ECU......100 030 X - 4 5 1
WP: Laurie Davidson (19-7), LP: Michael Parrott (9-7)
