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East Carolina
No. 22 Carolina Rallies To Beat ECU, 3-1
April 12, 2006 | Softball
April 12, 2006
CHAPEL HILL --- Breanna Brown hit a two-out bases-clearing double in the bottom of the fifth to lift No. 22 North Carolina past East Carolina, 3-1, Wednesday afternoon at Anderson Stadium. With the win, Carolina improves to 40-11, joining Texas as the second team in the nation to reach the 40-win plateau. Lisa Norris (12-4) allowed one run over five innings to pick up the victory, while Crystal Cox pitched two scoreless frames for the save.
ECU (29-20) opened the scoring in the third. Alison Monce led off with a single in the hole between short and third and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Vanessa Moreno then singled to left, putting Pirates on first and third with one out. During the next at-bat, Moreno stole second, and Monce scored when Whitney Gelin's throw sailed high of its target. The Tar Heels avoided further damage when, after Erin St. Ledger walked, Krista Jessup singled over Brown in center. Brown started a perfect relay, with Anna Evans throwing to Gelin to cut down Moreno at the plate. Norris then got a big strikeout of Jessica Johnson to end the inning.
Before breaking through in the fifth, Carolina had squandered a number of opportunities. UNC stranded six runners in the second, third and fourth innings, including leaving the bases loaded in the third.
The fifth started with a Cassie Palmer single to left which was followed by an Ashley Oxendine sacrifice. Casey Testa then managed a seven-pitch walk before Jennifer Jacobs flew out to left. After Anna Evans walked on five pitches to load the bases, Brown came to the plate. The Durham, N.C., freshman quickly fell behind 0-2 before taking a ball and fouling off another pitch. With the count 1-2, Brown finally connected, lifting a ball over the head of Moreno in left to empty the bases and give Carolina a 3-1 advantage.
With the lead in hand, Carolina called on Cox, who is in the midst of one of the most dominant stretches in school history. The Harrisburg, N.C., senior, who has only allowed four earned runs in her last 58.2 innings, recorded the final six outs of the game for her second save of the season.
UNC will now travel to Blacksburg, Va., for a key ACC series at Virginia Tech Saturday and Sunday. First pitch for Saturday's doubleheader is set for noon.
