University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
George Mason
Tar Heels Take Two At Triangle Classic
February 15, 2002 | Softball
Feb. 15, 2002
RALEIGH, N.C.-The University of North Carolina softball team opened play in its own Triangle Classic tournament Friday afternoon with a pair of wins, 5-1 over George Mason and 3-0 over UMBC. The Tar Heels improved to 3-4 on the season and moved on to play in the tournament's Gold Bracket, in which they'll face Miami (Ohio) Saturday at 1 p.m.
At Walnut Creek Park, the Tar Heels fell behind early in their first game as George Mason scored a run in the top of the third. Junior Natasha Galecki reached first on an error, advanced to second on a single by freshman Stacy James and scored on an RBI single by senior Linda Young.
UNC scored all five of its runs in the fifth inning on four hits and an error. Senior Rosie Gustavson opened the inning with a triple down the left field line and went on to score on an error. Junior Tiffany Tolleson, who was 6-for-8 on the day, scored on a double by senior Kelly Ramsey to give UNC the lead for good. Senior Natalie Anter then singled to score junior outfielder Quinn Porter. Freshman Jessica Young finished off the scoring with a two-RBI single to right that scored Ramsey and Anter.
Senior pitcher Shannon Walsh struck out 10 and gave up three hits and one unearned run to earn her first win of the season.
In its second game of the day, UNC got on the board early as Tolleson, Carolina's leadoff batter, reached base on a bunt single, stole second, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Porter. She scored on a single by Ramsey, who was 3-for-5 on the day with two RBI.
The Tar Heels, playing as the visiting team, scored another run in the top of the sixth when Tolleson reached on an infield single, stole second and scored on a double by Porter. In the top of the seventh, sophomore outfielder Natashalyn Snipes led off the inning with a single to center, reached second on a bunt single by Tolleson, stole third and scored on a wild pitch.
Tolleson, who is playing her first season for UNC after transferring from Stetson University, went 4-for-4 against UMBC. In the two games, she had five stolen bases and scored three runs.
Freshman Ashley Allen pitched a complete game shutout for the Tar Heels, striking out three.
North Carolina 5, George Mason 1
GMU 001 000 0 - 1 3 1
UNC 000 050 X - 5 8 3
WP: Shannon Walsh (1-2), LP: Rene Leveque
North Carolina 3, UMBC 0
UNC 100 001 1 - 3 9 1
UMBC 000 000 0 - 0 3 0
WP: Ashley Allen (1-1), LP: Linsi Moy
