University of North Carolina Athletics
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UNC Softball Takes Second At Buzz Classic
March 24, 2002 | Softball
March 24, 2002
MARIETTA, Ga.--The University of North Carolina softball team reached the championship game of the Buzz Classic Sunday afternoon before falling to Ohio State 6-3 in eight innings. At Al Bishop Softball Complex, the Tar Heels (19-15) defeated Troy State 9-1 in five innings in the day's first game to reach the finals.
Against Ohio State, UNC led 1-0 heading into the top of the seventh, when OSU scored an unearned run to send the game into extra innings. Carolina's run came in the bottom of the third, when junior Tiffany Tolleson reached on a bunt single and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Quinn Porter.
The Buckeyes exploded for five runs in the top of the eighth. With two outs, Sarah West singled to right to score Jennifer Link. The next batter, Kristine Himes, hit a grand slam home run to put OSU up 6-1.
UNC got a dramatic home run of its own in the bottom of the eighth when senior Rosie Gustavson blasted a two-run shot to pull the Tar Heels within three. UNC couldn't come up with any more offense, however, and finished as the tournament's runner-up.
In the 11 a.m. win over Troy State, Carolina scored seven second-inning runs on four hits and totaled eight hits for the game. Porter, freshman Ashley Allen, junior Anna Tharrington and senior Tiffany Tolleson had RBI in the high-scoring inning and the Tar Heels added three runs on a Troy State error.
UNC put the game away with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Porter led off the inning with a solo home run and Allen doubled to score Natalie Anter and end the game. Allen earned the win, giving up five hits in five innings of work.
The Tar Heels return to action on Wednesday, hosting Tennessee-Chattanooga in their first home action since Feb. 23. The opening game of the doubleheader begins at 2:30 p.m. at the UNC Softball Complex.
UNC 9, Troy State 1, 5 innings
TSU 010 00 -- 1 5 5
UNC 070 02 -- 9 8 0
Win: Ashley Allen, Loss: Cassie Wilkenson
Ohio State 6, UNC 3, 8 innings
OSU 000 000 15 -- 6 4 3
UNC 001 000 02 -- 3 4 4
Win: Kristi DeVries, Loss: Ashley Allen
