University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Florida State
Tar Heels Claim ACC Softball Championship
May 13, 2001 | Softball
May 13, 2001
RALEIGH, N.C.--North Carolina claimed its first Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Championship Sunday afternoon with a 4-1 win against Florida State at Walnut Creek Softball Complex. Tar Heel pitcher Radara McHugh earned the win and tournament MVP honors, yielding just one unearned run and six hits while striking out eight.
"This is a feeling of total elation," said UNC coach Donna Papa, who is in her 16th season as the Tar Heels' coach. "I'm so excited, especially for our seniors. No UNC team has ever won the ACC championship, and I'm so happy that our seniors--Carrie Bates, Radara McHugh, Beth Olen and Michelle Semmes--get to enjoy this."
The Tar Heels scored two runs in the top of the first and never trailed in the game. Leadoff batter Quinn Porter reached on an error and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rosie Gustavson. After Michelle Semmes singled to advance Porter to third, Natalie Anter singled down the left field line to bring Porter home. Semmes then scored on an RBI single by Beth Olen.
In the bottom of that inning, FSU leadoff batter Serita Brooks reached base on a bunt single, stole second then third, and scored on a error for the Seminoles' only run of the game.
Carolina saw its lead extended into more comfortable territory in the top of the sixth when freshman Dionne Streete hit her second home run of the season. After Emily Price reached first on an error to lead off the inning, Streete sent the ball over the left field fence to put UNC up 4-1.
"I think we played like a championship team this weekend," Papa said. "I just hope we have some softball left to play."
The Tar Heels will find out this evening whether they achieve another program first: an NCAA tournament bid. The field of 48 will be announced Sunday evening beginning at 8:30 and UNC is hoping for an at large bid.
FSU, which earned the conference's at-large NCAA bid based on its regular-season play, advanced to its 10th consecutive ACC championship game with a 4-0 win over Maryland Sunday morning. The Seminoles got home runs by Monique Marier and Natalie Bennett as Leslie Malerich claimed the win.
In the title game, Brooks and freshman Jessica van der Linden each had two hits for the Seminoles, who left 11 runners on base. FSU was the top seed in the tournament and had won or shared the last six conference titles.
Atlantic Coast Conference Championship
Game 8: North Carolina 4, Florida State 1
UNC....200 002 0 - 4 10 3
FSU....100 000 0 - 1 6 2
WP: Radara McHugh (23-10), LP: Jen White-Stokes (19-4)
HR: Dionne Streete (UNC)
All-ACC Tournament Team: North Carolina--Natalie Anter, Radara McHugh (MVP), Beth Olen, Emily Price, Florida State--Natalie Bennett, Serita Brooks, Leslie Malerich, Monique Marier, Maryland--Amanda Bettker, Michelle Burrell, Virginia--Meaghan Young
