University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Georgia
UNC Softball Swept By No. 23 Georgia
April 3, 2002 | Softball
April 3, 2002
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--The University of North Carolina softball team dropped both halves of a doubleheader against No. 23 Georgia Wednesday, falling 12-3 in the first game and 10-5 in the second at the UNC Softball Complex. The Tar Heels, now 21-17, return to action Thursday with a 4:30 p.m. home doubleheader against Elon.
Georgia (39-8) led 9-0 in the first game before UNC got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs, pinch hitter Ashley Allen singled to center to score Quinn Porter and Natashalyn Snipes. After Georgia scored three more in the top of the seventh, senior Rosie Gustavson hit her second home run of the season to give the Tar Heels their third run of the game.
The Bulldogs totaled a school-record 20 hits in the first game to seven by UNC. Carolina starter Shannon Walsh took the loss after facing the game's first seven batters and giving up five runs. Freshman Erica Ennis pitched seven innings in relief, allowing seven more runs on 15 hits. Lacey Gardner earned the win for Georgia and improved to 17-5 on the season.
In the second game, UNC jumped out in front first with a run in the bottom of the first inning, when Quinn Porter scored on Natalie Anter's double to center. Georgia scored three in the top of the second and added six more in the top of the fourth, when the Bulldogs had two home runs. Julie Milner opened the inning with a solo shot and with two outs, Kristen Bell hit a grand slam.
Trailing 10-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth, UNC battled back to score four more runs. Two came in the fifth, on designated player Jessica Young's two-RBI double. Shortstop Emily Price led off the sixth inning with a solo home run, and centerfielder Tiffany Tolleson scored on an RBI single by left fielder Quinn Porter.
Starting pitcher Nichole Urban earned the win for Georgia in five and two-thirds innings. Rachael Hawkins closed out the game, allowing no hits in the final one and a third innings. Allen, the freshman starter, took the loss for UNC, giving up nine runs in five innings of work. Freshman Brandi Griffin closed out the game, allowing two hits and one run in three innings.
For UNC, Gustavson was 4-for-8 on the day and boosted her batting average from .258 to .276. Young was 3-for-6 with two RBI and is now batting .300 on the season, up from .273 heading into the games. Tolleson continues to lead the team and is now batting .477.
North Carolina continues its busiest home week of the year Thursday with the visit from Elon (9-21). "Tomorrow's a different day," UNC coach Donna Papa said. "We have to go out with a different attitude and learn from the games today. We've got a long week and we've got to get better."
On Friday, the Tar Heels open Atlantic Coast Conference play with a 4 p.m. doubleheader against Georgia Tech. On Saturday and Sunday, UNC will host Georgia Tech, Maryland and Virginia for the Tar Heel Invitational.
Game 1: Georgia 12, North Carolina 3
UGA 513 000 3 -- 12 20 1
UNC 000 200 1 -- 3 7 0
Win: Lacey Gardner (17-5), Loss: Shannon Walsh (9-8)
Game 2: Georgia 10, North Carolina 5
UGA 030 610 0 -- 10 12 1
UNC 100 022 0 -- 5 9 0
Win: Nichole Urban (6-1), Loss: Ashley Allen (8-5)
