University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia Tech
No. 22 Carolina Secures Series Win At Virginia Tech
April 16, 2006 | Softball
April 16, 2006
LACKSBURG, Va. --- Cassie Palmer hit a game-winning two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to give No. 22 North Carolina a 2-0 win over Virginia Tech Sunday afternoon at Tech Softball Park. With the win, Carolina wins its fifth consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference series and regains sole possession of first place in the league. Amber Johnson pitched 6.2 scoreless innings to get the win, while Crystal Cox struck out the only batter she faced to pick up the save.
As was the case all weekend, neither team could muster much offense in a matchup of the top two pitching staffs in the league. Carolina (42-12, 11-4 ACC) had the first good opportunity of the game, leaving the bases loaded in the top of the first. Palmer led off with a single before Anna Evans and Casey Testa reached on one-out walks. Palmer was then retired on a fielder's choice, and Virginia Tech starter Angela Tincher (18-6) struck out Alyssa Francona for the third out.
The Hokies (30-13, 8-6 ACC) put two on with one out in the third. Alisia Narodowski started things off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Erin Ota then singled to center, but Johnson (8-2) got a strikeout and a fly out to avoid any damage.
The next chance to break the scoreless tie came in the top of the fifth, when Lisa Norris reached on a leadoff walk. Palmer reached on a one-out error to put two on for Breanna Brown. Brown singled to center, but Norris was retired at the plate on a nice throw by Jessica Everhart.
Ashley Oxendine opened the deciding seventh inning with an infield single. After Erin Dudley lined out to third while attempting to bunt, pinch-hitter Emily Troup flied to center for the second out of the inning. That brought Palmer to the plate, and the Weddington, N.C., sophomore lifted an 0-1 pitch over the fence in left center for the only two runs of the game.
Johnson took care of the first out of the seventh herself, fielding a grounder and throwing to first to retire Stephanie Savre. After a one-out walk, Johnson induced a fly to center for the second out of the frame. Beth Walker then put the tying run on base with a pinch-hit single to left. That would be the last batter Johnson would face, as the Tar Heels went to the senior Cox for the final out of the game. Cox, who had her 15-game winning streak snapped in Saturday's second game, got Caitlin Murphy looking for her third save of the season.
The win, coupled with NC State's loss at Florida State, put Carolina back into first place in the ACC. The Tar Heels will play their final non-conference games of the season Thursday with a doubleheader at Gardner-Webb. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
