University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
UNC Wilmington
Tar Heels Sweep Seahawks
March 1, 2006 | Softball
March 1, 2006
WILMINGTON, N.C. --- The No. 24 University of North Carolina softball team improved to 11-2 on the season with a doubleheader sweep of UNC Wilmington Wednesday at Boseman Field. Sophomore first baseman Jennifer Jacobs drove in four runs in an 11-1 game one win, while freshman Lisa Norris homered and got the win in relief in an 8-3 game two win.
Carolina manufactured a run in the first in game one, as sophomore second baseman Cassie Palmer led off by being hit by a pitch. After advancing to second on a sacrifice, Palmer scored on sophomore Casey Testa's RBI single. The Seahawks (7-5) got the run back when Crystal Cox hit her second batter of the frame to force in a run.
Palmer made sure the score would not stay tied for long. With two outs in the second, the Weddington, N.C., product doubled to left center, plating Jacobs and sophomore catcher Whitney Gelin. Palmer then scored one batter later on an Ashley Oxendine single.
Cox (4-2) would shut down UNCW the rest of the way, allowing just one hit over the final four innings.
UNC blew it open in the fourth, as Jacobs drove a grand slam down the right field line to make it 11-1. The Tar Heels were aided by a total of five Seahawk errors that led to six unearned runs.
Game two was decidedly more competitive. With a 2-0 lead in the sixth, Carolina starter Amber Johnson gave up a one-out, two-run home run to tie the game. After a walk, Johnson was lifted in favor of Norris. She allowed another walk and a double, giving UNCW a 3-2 lead. But Norris stopped the bleeding with back-to-back strikeouts, setting up a seventh-inning rally.
Jacobs got it started with a one-out double and pinch-runner Theresa Nicholas advanced to third on a single by junior shortstop Anna Evans. Freshman center fielder Breanna Brown then tripled to drive home Nicholas and Evans and scored herself on a throwing error, giving Carolina a 5-3 lead. But the Tar Heels weren't done, as junior third baseman Joslin Higgins walked and junior outfielder Erin Dudley singled. That brought Norris to the plate, who drove her first career home run over the wall in center to make it 8-3.
Norris (4-0) would scatter a double and a walk in the seventh to pick up the win.
Carolina now returns home for the Tar Heel Invitational Friday-Sunday at Anderson Stadium.
