University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Georgia Tech
No. 20 Tar Heels Rally Past Yellow Jackets, 5-4
April 22, 2006 | Softball
April 22, 2006
CHAPEL HILL --- No. 20 North Carolina scored two runs in the sixth to rally past Georiga Tech, 5-4, Saturday afternoon at Anderson Stadium. The Tar Heels (45-12, 12-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) weathered a quick start by the Yellow Jackets (39-15, 10-6 ACC) to claim the first game of the key league series. Game two was a scoreless tie through four innings before being halted due to lightning and rain. It will resume Sunday at noon before the regularly scheduled game at 1 p.m.
Georgia Tech, the league's top offensive team, lived up to its reputation early. Aileen Morales got things started against Carolina starter Crystal Cox with a one-out solo home run in the top of the first. Whitney Haller then followed with a solo shot of her own, her NCAA-leading 22nd of the season.
Carolina got a run back in the bottom of the first thanks to a leadoff double by Cassie Palmer. After advancing to third on a Breanna Brown groundout, Palmer scored on Casey Testa's RBI grounder.
But the Jackets kept the heat on in the second, adding two more runs for a 4-1 lead. Daisy Paez led off with a single and pinch-runner Becky McCraw moved up on a groundout. Christine Sheridan then singled home McCraw and took second on the throw. After a groundout, Haller struck again, singling home Sheridan to make it 4-1.
Once again, Carolina pulled within one in its half of the inning. Ashley Oxendine led off the second with a bunt single and advanced to second on Alyssa Francona's one-out single. After a Theresa Nicholas sacrifice bunt moved the runners up, Palmer reached on an infield single to score Oxendine. Brown then chopped a single over first base to score Francona and make it 4-3.
Both Cox and Georgia Tech starter Whitney Humphreys (16-4) settled down in the third. Niether team threatened until the home half of the sixth, when Carolina went ahead for good.
Jennifer Jacobs led off with a double down the right field line, and pinch-runner Marissa May advanced to third on an Anna Evans single to left. Pinch-hitter Lisa Norris then tied the game with a liner to center, though Evans was retired on a force at second after having to wait to make sure the ball had not been caught. Emily Troup then laced a one-out single to left center, and Oxendine, who had re-entered for Norris, headed to third. Left fielder Amy Hosier threw to third, where the ball hit Oxendine and bounced away from Blair Shimandle covering. That allowed Oxendine to scamper home with what would prove to be the game-winning run.
Cox retired the side in order in the seventh, leaving Haller in the on-deck circle and securing the win for Carolina. Despite giving up a season-high four earned runs, Cox improved to 24-6 on the year.
Game two will resume with none on and none out in the top of the fifth inning Sunday at noon. The series finale will follow as scheduled.
