University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Elon
Tar Heels Blast Elon 14-1 In Game One; Tie 3-3 In Game 2
April 15, 2003 | Softball
April 15, 2003
ELON, N.C. -- The University of North Carolina softball team tallied at least one run in all five innings in the opener to cruise 14-1 (5) over Elon, but left 10 runners on base in the nightcap to tie 3-3 (9) due to darkness at East Field Stadium this afternoon. The Tar Heels banged out 12 hits in game one and out-hit the Phoenix 9-5 in game two. UNC advances to 31-16-1 overall, while Elon moves to 13-18-1 on the season.
In the opener, the Tar Heels jumped on the Phoenix early scoring three runs in the top of the first inning on two hits and two Elon errors. Freshman Megan Welch (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) started the inning for UNC with a ground rule double and scored on a throwing error on the first baseman. Junior Emily Price (Decatur, Ill.) drove in a run with a single to left field as Carolina led 3-0 after one.
Welch delivered a triple in the second inning to score two Tar Heels as UNC increased its lead to six after two innings of play. Senior catcher Anna Tharrington (Rocky Mount, N.C.) singled to center field in the top of the third to score Price as the Heels led 7-0.
The Heels jumped out to an eight-run advantage as Tolleson scored in the fourth inning stealing two bases and moving home on a throwing error by the Phoenix.
Carolina added six more runs in the fifth inning highlighted by a three-run home run by freshman Jaclyn Holden (Santa Clarita, Calif.) and a two-run single by sophomore Jessica Young (Santa Ana, Calif.) as UNC rolled over the Phoenix 14-1.
Freshman pitcher Crystal Cox (Harrisburg, N.C.) pitched three innings for Carolina, retiring 9-of-11 batters and striking out five to improve to 19-8 on the season. Sophomore Ashley Allen (Houston, Texas) threw the final two innings, surrendering three hits, one run and struck out one.
Welch and Price led the Tar Heel attack with two hits apiece in game one. Welch had a double, triple and three RBIs, while Price ended 2-for-4 with one RBI. Holden finished 1-for-3 with her 10th home run and three RBIs.
Carolina scored 14 runs, on 12 hits and no errors, while Elon scored one run, on six hits and five errors.
UNC took the lead in game two scoring a run in the first inning as Holden singled with two outs to score Welch who reached on a single and stole second base. The Tar Heels added another run in the third inning as Tolleson led off with a single and stole second and third base, scoring on a sacrifice bunt by senior Quinn Porter (Wesley Chapel, Fla.).
Elon's Jenny Gustin ended UNC's Alison Yin's (Glendale, Calif.) perfect game in the bottom of the fourth inning with a double to right center. After a walk, the Phoenix's Dani Conception hit her first home run of the season for a three-run shot as the Tar Heels trailed for the first time, 3-2.
In the seventh, Welch singled with one out and Holden followed with a single to put runners on first and second with two outs. Price delivered with a two-out double off the right field fence to score Welch and Holden was thrown out at the plate 9-4-2. The Heels held Elon scoreless in the seventh and the game headed to extra innings (International tiebreaker/runner placed on 2nd base).
UNC sacrificed Price over to third base but Graziano flied out and Price was thrown out at home. Carolina took advantage of a missed squeeze play and held the Phoenix off the scoreboard in the first extra inning. The Tar Heels were unable to advance the runner to home from third base in the ninth inning as Elon came to bat in the final half inning. Yin buckled down and retired the Phoenix in the bottom half of the inning as the game was called after nine innings of play.
Yin pitched all nine innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits and struck out a season-high 10 batters.
Carolina scored three runs, on nine hits and no errors, while Elon scored three runs, on five hits and one error.
Holden and Price led the Tar Heels offensively in game two. Holden ended 2-for-2, with two walks and one RBI, while Price had the game tying double and finished 2-for-4 with one RBI.
North Carolina will travel to Atlanta, Ga., for an Atlantic Coast Conference doubleheader on Thursday, April 17. The games are scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. The Tar Heels will then head to Athens for the Georgia Invitational April 18-20.
