University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Maryland
Carolina Falls To Maryland 2-0
April 26, 2003 | Softball
April 26, 2003
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The University of North Carolina softball team dropped the opening game of an Atlantic Coast Conference doubleheader to Maryland 2-0 at the Terrapin Softball Complex. The Tar Heels out-hit the Terps 8-3 but stranded six runners in the first four innings, including a total of four at second or third base to fall to 38-18-1, 3-3 ACC. Maryland improves to 18-15, 1-6 ACC.
Freshman second baseman Megan Welch (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) singled up the middle to give Carolina its first base runner in game one. Welch advanced to second on a passed ball and moved to third base on an error off the bat of senior left fielder Quinn Porter (Wesley Chapel , Fla.). The Terps got out of the inning without any damage thanks to two strikeouts by UNC.
The Tar Heels put their first two runners on to start the second inning but were unable to execute a bunt and Maryland pitcher Monica Cyphert struck out two more Tar Heels as the Terps kept UNC off the scoreboard through two innings of play.
Freshman first baseman Jaclyn Holden (Santa Clarita, Calif.) broke the single-season school record with her 22nd double of the season in the third inning to give the Tar Heels their third runner in scoring position in as many innings. Once again, Cyphert kept Carolina scoreless with another big strikeout.
Junior third baseman Dionne Streete (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) led off the fourth inning with a base hit up the middle. UNC then popped up a bunt and the Terps turned a double play to sit down the Heels in the fourth inning as zeros remained on the scoreboard.
UMD's Samantha Sweeney broke up freshman pitcher Crystal Cox's (Harrisburg, N.C.) perfect game in the bottom of the fourth with a bunt single to the mound to start the inning for the Terps. After a sacrifice bunt, Jillian Callaway drove in the game's first run with a bloop single to left field. Maryland added a second run on a bases loaded walk as UNC trailed 2-0.
Junior right fielder Natashalyn Snipes (Durham, N.C.) led off the fifth inning with a slap single to the short stop. UNC then popped up its fourth bunt of the game for the first out of the inning. Cyphert struck out her seventh Tar Heel hitter of the game for the second out of the inning and Porter smacked a deep fly ball that was caught by the Terp center fielder up against the fence as Carolina trailed by two after five at bats.
Streete singled for the third time in the game to give UNC a base runner in the sixth inning, but the Terrapins continued to keep UNC scoreless heading to the seventh inning. Sophomore Jessica Young (Santa Ana, Calif.) led off the seventh with a walk. Snipes then popped out to short for the first out. Senior Tiffany Tolleson (Winter Haven, Fla.) then flied out to left field as UNC was down to its final out. Welch doubled off the right field fence and freshman Tiffany Stewart (Odessa, Fla.) was thrown out at the plate 9-4-2 to shut out the Tar Heels in game one.
Carolina had no runs, on eight hits and no errors, while Maryland scored two runs, on three hits and two errors.
Cox falls to 23-10 on the season. She pitched all six innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs and struck out 10.
The Tar Heels will face Maryland in game two at approximately 5:30 p.m.
