University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia
No. 23 Tar Heels Rally For Series Sweep
April 2, 2006 | Softball
April 2, 2006
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. --- No. 23 North Carolina completed a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference sweep of Virginia with a 5-4 comeback win Sunday afternoon at The Park. Carolina (33-10, 7-2 ACC) scored the game-winning run in the top of the seventh thanks to three consecutive two-out walks. Senior pitcher Crystal Cox won her ninth straight decision to improve to 16-5 on the season.
Carolina opened the scoring in the second. Sophomore first baseman Jennifer Jacobs led off with a single, and pinch runner Marissa May stole second. Freshman Lisa Norris then sacrificed May to third, and junior shortstop Anna Evans lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring May.
Virginia (18-15, 2-7 ACC) took a 4-1 lead in the fourth thanks to a pair of Carolina errors. Elea Crockett reached on a leadoff single and advanced to third when freshman third baseman Alyssa Francona threw wildly trying to retire Brooke Sorber, who had put down a sacrific bunt. After an intentional walk to Sara Larquier loaded the bases, Michelle Salmiery singled to score Crockett. Erin Horn then grounded to Cox, who also missed her mark on the throw, allowing Larquier and Sorber to score a pair of unearned runs. A Whitney Holstun sacrifice fly gave the Cavs their fourth run of the inning.
The lead would be short-lived, however, as the Tar Heels quickly tied the game in the fifth. Freshman Breanna Brown got the rally started with a leadoff single, and advanced to second on a Joslin Higgins sacrifice. After a line out by Whitney Gelin, it appeared that Virginia would get out of the inning unscathed when sophomore second baseman Cassie Palmer hit a foul pop. But Salmiery dropped the ball, extending the at-bat, and Palmer would later reach after being hit by a pitch. It would prove to be a costly mistake, as one batter later, freshman pinch hitter Emily Troup connected for a three-run home run to tie the game.
The seventh inning started quiety for the Tar Heels with two quick outs before sophomore left fielder Ashley Oxendine reached on an infield single. Virginia pitcher Erin Horn then proceeded to walk sophomore Casey Testa and Jacobs to load the bases. Norris then drew a third straight walk to force home Oxendine for the winning run.
Cox got three straight groundouts to end the game and move the Tar Heels into first place in the ACC.
Carolina, who has won 11 of its last 12 outings, will now return home for a Wednesday doubleheader with Elon.
