University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Baylor
UNC Falls 1-0 to Third-Seeded Baylor in 16-Inning Marathon
May 20, 2004 | Softball
May 20, 2004
Waco, Texas - The North Carolina softball team played even with host and third-seeded Baylor for 15 innings, before finally falling 1-0 in 16 innings Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. UNC's Crystal Cox pitched the entire game, allowing just four hits and shutting out Baylor until the final inning. Baylor's Cristin Vitek pitched 16 innings of shutout ball and struck out a NCAA all-time record 28 batters.
aylor's Melissa Maler hit a one-out double in the 16th inning to win the game for Baylor as she knocked in Kim Wilmoth. The game was the longest in Baylor's history and the second -longest in UNC softball history. The longest was played in 1988 when UNC lost at Virginia 4-3 in 17 innings.
UNC managed just three hits on the day, relying on Cox, a sophomore from Harrisburg, N.C., to keep them in the game. Cox pitched 15 1/3 innings, striking out 11 batters. Baylor's Vitek pitched 16 innings, striking out 28 and allowing just 3 hits and two walks.
UNC The Tar Heels switched up their batting order, moving Dionne Streete from first in the order to third, while moving up Natashalyn Snipes to leadoff and Marissa May to second in the order. In the top of the first, Baylor's Cristin Vitek shut down the UNC bats as she forced two groundouts and a strikeout.
UNC's Crystal Cox got the first two Baylor hitters out in the bottom of the first, but then hit Kelly Osburn with a pitch and on the next batter had an error throwing to first base, putting runners at first and third with tow outs. Cox got the next batter out though, as she lined out to the shortstop.
The Tar Heels continued to struggle to put runners on base as they went down 1-2-3 again in both the second and third innings. Vitek struck out four UNC batters in the first three innings. Cox kept Carolina tied at zero with the Lady Bears, as she allowed just one hit through three innings.
Carolina finally got runners aboard in the top of the fourth inning. Snipes led off by getting on base on an error. May followed with a sacrifice bunt and reached on a fielder's choice as Snipes slid safely into second base. Streete then sacrificed May and Snipes over to second and third. With one out and first base open, Baylor chose to intentionally walk UNC's top hitter Emily Price to load the bases. Vitek responded by striking out the next two batters to keep the Tar Heels off the scoreboard and keep her no-hitter alive.
aylor threatened again in the bottom of the fourth as Cox hit Stephanie Pomes with a pitch with one out. Snipes tracked down a fly ball to make it two outs and then UNC catcher Theresa Nicholas displayed her strong arm by throwing out pinch-runner Amber Daniel trying to steal.
Vitek continued to silence Carolina's bats as she struck out eight straight batters in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Cox kept up her strong pitching performance, as she continued to shutout Baylor, allowing just one hit through six innings.
Vitek kept striking out UNC batters, as she broke the Baylor single-game strikeout record in the seventh inning and kept her no-hitter through eight innings. Cox stayed right with her, retiring ten-straight batters through the eighth inning and keeping it tied at zero.
Carolina tried to mount a rally in the ninth inning as Dionne Streete reached second base with two outs on an error by the right fielder. Baylor intentionally walked Price again, putting runners on first and second with two outs. A pass ball allowed Price and Streete to advance to second and third, but Jessica Young couldn't connect on a Vitek changeup, ending the threat.
After Vitek tied the NCAA Tournament single-game strikeout record, UNC finally got their first hit in the top of the 11th inning when Snipes hit a liner to right field. Carolina couldn't take advantage though as May pooped up on a bunt and Streete flied out to right field.
The teams continued to be shut down by the opposing pitcher all the way until the 16th inning when Baylor finally broke through for the win.
UNC next plays the loser of the Illinois/Texas-San Antonio game. The game is scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. tonight, but will be pushed back due to the length of the UNC/Baylor contest.
