University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Florida State
No. 25 Carolina Takes Series From FSU With Sweep
March 14, 2006 | Softball
March 14, 2006
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. --- No. 25 North Carolina recorded its first two regular-season wins at Florida State since 1989 and its first series win against the Seminoles since 1996 with a two-game doubleheader sweep Tuesday night at JoAnne Graf Field. Senior pitcher Crystal Cox picked up her first career win over FSU in the 5-3 opener, while freshman pitcher Lisa Norris allowed just one run in five innings of relief to win game two, 3-1.
Game one started much like Monday night's matchup. Sophomore second baseman Cassie Palmer led off with a single, stole second and took third on a throwing error. Sophomore first baseman Jennifer Jacobs then lifted a sacrifice fly to left center, allowing Palmer to score an unearned run for an early 1-0 lead.
Unlike Monday night, however, the Tar Heels (21-7, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) were able to keep the momentum going in the second. Freshman center fielder Breanna Brown used her speed to disrupt a close play at first, reaching on an error with one out. Junior third baseman Joslin Higgins then followed with a double down the left field line. After a sharp lineout by Erin Dudley, junior catcher Whitney Gelin walked to load the bases with two outs. Palmer promptly unloaded them, ripping a 3-1 pitch to the gap in right center to clear the bases and give UNC a 4-0 lead.
But the Seminoles (19-11, 1-2 ACC) would make it interesting. The hosts got one run back in the fourth on a sacrifice fly and threatened to tie it in the sixth. Whitney Buckmon led off with a double down the left field line and advanced to third on a flyout. She then scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-2. After a groundout for the second out of the inning, the Tar Heels appeared to be out of trouble when Yuruby Alicart hit a line drive at shortstop Anna Evans. But Evans dropped the liner, extending the inning. Kim Hoffer then hit a weak grounder to Evans, who threw wild of first to score Alicart. Cox (8-5) would finally stop the bleeding one batter later, when BillieAnne Gay flied to center.
Carolina picked up a huge insurance run in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Jacobs. Palmer reached on a two-base error with one out and advanced to third on Ashley Oxendine's infield single. Jacobs then took the first pitch and drove it to the opposite field, scoring Palmer.
Cox shut the door in the seventh, allowing just a one-out walk before retiring the side to secure the win.
UNC got the scoring started in the third inning of game two. Palmer once again sparked the offense, reaching on a one-out single. After she was erased on Oxendine's fielder's choice, Jacobs reached on a error by FSU pitcher Tiffany McDonald (12-6). Sophomore Casey Testa then ripped a single to left, scoring Oxendine.
Florida State quickly pulled even in the bottom of the frame. The Seminoles strung together three consecutive singles, the last a bloop just over shortstop that scored Buckmon. Freshman Lisa Norris, who started the third in relief of Amber Johnson, induced a pair of groundouts to escape further damage.
The Tar Heels regained the lead in the fifth with a solid piece of hitting by Jacobs. Norris led off with a walk and took second on Palmer's sacrifice. Oxendine then reached on an error, and Norris advanced to third. That brought Jacobs to the plate. The Tampa, Fla., native fought off an 0-2 pitch before dropping a ball into shallow center for an RBI single. McDonald retired the next two batters in order to strand Norris and Jacobs.
FSU threatened in the fifth, but Norris (8-2) came up with a big groundout to leave the bases loaded. After back-to-back two-out singles, Norris allowed a walk Vericona Wootson to fill up the bases. But Evans made a solid pickup of a slow grounder to throw out Brittany Osmon and retire the side.
Just as in game one, Carolina picked up a crucial insurance run in the seventh. Norris led off with a walk, moved to second on a Palmer sacrifice and to third on an Oxendine groundout. A four-pitch walk to Jacobs brought up Testa, who hit a grounder through the legs of third baseman Michelle Snyder, scoring Norris.
A day after surrendering two runs in the bottom of the seventh, Norris was at her best in the last half-inning. The Snellville, Ga., freshman retired the Seminoles in order to seal the 3-1 win.
Palmer led the offense with three hits and three RBIs on the day, while Cox, Norris and Johnson allowed just three earned runs over 14 innings.
Carolina will now travel down the state of Florida to Boca Raton, where the Tar Heels will begin play in the FAU Parents' Weekend Invitational Friday afternoon.
