University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Long Island
Carolina Rolls Past Long Island 10-2 (5) At NCAA Regionals
May 16, 2003 | Softball
May 16, 2003
FRESNO, Calif. - The University of North Carolina softball team picked up its second win ever in the NCAA Tournament, winning 10-2 in five innings over No. 7 seed Long Island at Bulldog Diamond this morning. The Tar Heels scored six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and two more in the fifth to down the Blackbirds and advance in Region 2 for a game later tonight. UNC will face the loser of No. 2 UCLA (No. 1 seed) and No. 4 seed Fresno State at 8 p.m. PDT. The Tar Heels improve to 40-21-1 on the season, while LIU falls to 29-21.
"I thought we bounced back from yesterday," said head coach Donna Papa. "Anna (Tharrington) got us started with her home run in the fourth and we just rolled from there.
"Alison (Yin) pitched a great game, I thought she was hitting her spots. I was very pleased with our effort today and look forward to facing UCLA or Fresno State later tonight."
Freshman second baseman Megan Welch (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) started the bottom of the first inning with a line drive base hit to center field. Welch advanced to second base on a fielder's choice off senior left fielder Quinn Porter's (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) bat. With runners on first and second, freshman first baseman Jaclyn Holden (Santa Clarita, Calif.) drove a ball just short of the warning track but the LIU center fielder tracked it down and the Blackbirds got out of the first without allowing a run.
Long Island put runners on first and second with one out in the top of the second courtesy of two base hits by Sonia Zapata and Crystal Eubanks. The next Blackbird hitter grounded into a fielder's choice to the pitcher and the runner was called safe at third base due to interference by the Tar Heels. Carolina then tallied the second out at home plate on a grounder to third base and recorded the final out of the inning on a strikeout.
The Tar Heels threatened again in the bottom of the second putting runners at second and third with two outs courtesy of two walks and two stolen bases. Carolina loaded the bases up on the third walk of the inning and Welch lined out to center field as the game remained scoreless.
Holden lined one off the pitcher to put a runner on first. Junior short stop Emily Price (Decatur, Ill.) to the fence into center field (220) and Holden advanced to second on the tag up. Streete then grounded out to first base unassisted as the game headed to the fourth inning tied at zero.
The Blackbirds broke through first as senior center fielder Tiffany Tolleson was playing behind second base and LIU's Leah Glenn slapped it over her head with a runner on first to score the game's first run as UNC trailed 1-0.
UNC senior catcher Anna Tharrington (Rocky Mount, N.C.) responded for the Tar Heels with a home run to left field to tie the game at one. Junior right fielder Natashalyn Snipes (Durham, N.C.) and Tolleson had consecutive base hits as UNC had runners at first and second with one out. Welch then singled to center field to score Snipes and Tolleson scored on an error by the catcher. Porter walked to put runners on first and third and Holden drove a ball in the right-center gap to score two more runs and slide in with a triple as UNC led 5-1. Price singled up the middle for the sixth straight hit in the inning to score the final run as Carolina led by five, 6-1.
LIU answered right back in the fifth inning scoring one run on two hits and a walk to cut the deficit to four, 6-2. Rosette Rough doubled to right center field and Alissa Villanueva singled to score a run for the Blackbirds. LIU loaded the bases with one out, but UNC held them off the scoreboard to maintain a four-run lead.
Freshman Tiffany Stewart (Odessa, Fla.) led off the fifth inning with a single and Tharrington reached on an error by the short stop. Snipes then had a bunt single and Tolleson followed with a single to left center to score the first run of the inning. Welch smacked her third hit of the ballgame to score a run as UNC led 9-2. LIU intentionally walked Porter to load the bases with no outs and Holden hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Tolleson and end the game 10-2 in five innings of play.
Carolina scored 10 runs, on 12 hits and two errors, while Long Island scored two runs, on six hits and three errors.
Freshman pitcher Alison Yin (Glendale, Calif.) improved to 13-5 on the season, throwing all five innings, allowing two runs, six hits and struck out four Blackbird hitters.
Welch, Tolleson, Snipes and Holden led the Tar Heels offensively. Welch went 3-for-4, with two RBIs, Tolleson stole her 195th career stolen base (1 shy of tying the NCAA Div. 1 record) and went 2-for-3, Snipes ended 2-for-2 and Holden finished 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs.
