University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Hawaii
Carolina Splits In Day One Of Tar Heel Invitational
March 29, 2003 | Softball
March 29, 2003
Hawaii Box Score
East Carolina Box Score
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The University of North Carolina softball team lost its opening game to Hawai'i, 5-3, but rebounded for a 7-0 victory over East Carolina to end day one of the Tar Heel Invitational 1-1 at the UNC Softball Complex this afternoon. The Tar Heels allowed three runs in the sixth inning to fall to the Rainbow Wahine, but out-hit ECU in the nightcap 10-3 to improve to 26-14.
Hawai'i struck first in the bottom of the first inning with an unearned run to take a quick 1-0 lead. UNC put runners in scoring position in the first three innings but could not take advantage as the game headed to the fourth with UH leading 1-0.
The Tar Heels tied the game with an unearned run in the fourth inning as senior Anna Tharrington (Rocky Mount, N.C.) drove in junior Emily Price (Decatur, Ill.) with a sacrifice fly to right field as the game was tied 1-1.
Senior Tiffany Tolleson (Winter Haven, Fla.) led off the fifth inning with a single to center field to give Carolina a base runner. Tolleson was then thrown out at second base trying to steal on the first pitch for the first out of the inning. Freshman Megan Welch (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) then smacked her fifth home run of the season to give Carolina its first lead of the game 2-1.
Hawai'i tied the game in the bottom of the fifth courtesy of two consecutive singles and a Tar Heel error in the outfield to allow the runners to advance two bases. UH's Trisha Romas put the Rainbow Wahine ahead with a two-out double to center field as the Heels trailed 3-2.
Marie Jackson extended the Hawai'i lead to two runs with a solo home run in the sixth inning and April Crowell delivered with her third hit of the game to drive in the second run of the inning as UNC trailed by three, 5-2. The Tar Heels managed one run in the seventh on a RBI single by Welch as the Heels fell by two, 5-3.
The loss was the first at home for the Tar Heels (11-1) and it snapped a school best 15-game winning streak heading into today. Freshman pitcher Crystal Cox (Harrisburg, N.C.) pitched all six innings, allowing nine hits, five runs, three earned runs, two walks and seven strikeouts to fall to 15-7 on the season.
Carolina scored three runs, on four hits and two errors, while Hawai'i scored five runs, on nine hits and two errors.
In the second game against East Carolina, freshman pitcher Alison Yin (Glendale, Calif.) fired six shutout innings for Carolina, surrendering three hits and struck out three to improve to 11-3 on the season.
UNC wasted little time giving Yin run support tallying three in the first inning. Tolleson, Welch and Porter began the inning with three straight singles as the Tar Heels led 1-0. Price doubled down the left field line after an UNC out to drive in two more runs as the Tar Heels led 3-0 after one.
UNC struck again in the bottom of the fourth inning as Tolleson singled to center field with the bases loaded as UNC grabbed a 4-0 advantage over the Pirates. UNC's Holden began the fifth inning with her eighth homer of the season and Tharrington and freshman Michelle Hoffmann (Huntington Beach, Calif.) followed with RBI singles as the lead was pushed to seven.
Sophomore pitcher Brandi Griffin (Wilmington, N.C.) pitched a scoreless seventh as the Heels rolled to improve to 1-1 in the tournament.
Carolina scored seven runs, on 10 hits and two errors, while ECU had no runs, on three hits and one error.
Tolleson and Welch led the Tar Heels offensively this afternoon. Tolleson went 4-for-7, with one run scored, one RBI and two stolen bases, while Welch went 3-for-7, with a home run and two RBIs.
North Carolina will face Virginia at 12 p.m. tomorrow at the UNC Softball Complex. The teams will be seeded after that game to determine the championship and consolation games at 2 p.m. Virginia stands at 2-0, while Hawai'i and Carolina are 1-1. East Carolina stands at 0-2.
Day 1 Results
Game 1: Hawai'i 7, Virginia 8 (8)
Game 2: Hawai'i 5, UNC 3
Game 3: UNC 7, ECU 0
Game 4: Virginia 5, ECU 2
* - Home teams are listed first.
