North Carolina
Alabama
UNC Softball Falls to Alabama, 8-0
March 1, 2002 | Softball
March 1, 2002
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.--The University of North Carolina softball team opened a weekend of play in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Friday night with an 8-0 loss to host University of Alabama. The Tar Heels fell to 7-6 on the season with the loss, while the Crimson Tide improved to 13-9.
Winning pitcher Shelley Laird struck out 12 in the shutout, Alabama's seventh of the season. UNC managed just two hits, both singles by junior outfielder Tiffany Tolleson.
Alabama, which totaled 10 hits, opened with two runs in the first inning then added single runs in the bottom of the third and fourth. The Crimson Tide's Jackie McClain led off the fifth with a solo home run and Alabama added three more runs to end the game after five with the eight-run rule.
Senior pitcher Shannon Walsh started and took the loss for UNC. She gave up seven hits and five earned runs in just over four innings of work. Freshman Erica Ennis relieved her three batters into the fifth inning and gave up three hits and one unearned run.
The Tar Heels begin play in the Crimson Classic Saturday at noon, facing Western Kentucky (8-3). Alabama and Western Kentucky play at 2:30 in the round robin format and Carolina gets a rematch with Alabama at 5. Each team will face the other two again on Sunday.
Alabama 8, North Carolina 0, 5 innings
UNC 000 00 -- 0 2 2
UA 201 14 -- 8 10 0
WP: Shelley Laird (6-5), LP: Shannon Walsh (3-4)
