University of North Carolina Athletics
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Georgia Tech
No. 20 Carolina Tops Georgia Tech On Senior Day, 4-2
April 23, 2006 | Softball
April 23, 2006
CHAPEL HILL --- Crystal Cox won her 25th game of the season on her Senior Day Sunday as the No. 20 North Carolina softball team won its sixth straight Atlantic Coast Conference series with a 4-2 victory over Georgia Tech. On an afternoon that featured the dedication of Anderson Stadium and Williams Field, Carolina used a three-run second inning to take control of the game. Earlier Sunday, Georgia Tech won the completion of Saturday's halted game, 1-0.
The Yellow Jackets (40-16, 11-7 ACC) came out swinging in the series finale and threatened several times in the second. Amy Hosier led off the inning with a single to center and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Daisy Paez then singled to put runners on first and third with one out. With Blair Shimandle batting, pinch-runner Becky McCraw took off for second. Carolina catcher Theresa Nicholas then threw down, prompting Hosier to break for home. But Cassie Palmer cut off Nicholas' throw and nailed Hosier at the plate. Shimandle then singled through the right side, but a strong throw from Emily Troup and a great pick-up by Nicholas cut down McCraw trying to score.
UNC (46-13, 13-5 ACC) used the momentum created by the defense to take control in the bottom of the second. Jennifer Jacobs led off with a single to right before Anna Evans bunted into a fielder's choice. After a groundout moved Evans to second, Troup singled to right to score Evans. Joslin Higgins then drove the next pitch from Georgia Tech starter Whitney Humphreys (16-5) over the fence in center to make it 3-0.
As they have done all season, the Jackets used the long ball to cut the lead to one in the fourth. After Hosier reached on a one-out walk, Caitlin Lever lifted the first pitch she saw from Cox over the fence in left for a two-run home run.
Carolina added a huge insurance run in the fifth. Nicholas led off with a single inside the bag at third and took second on a sacrifice. That prompted Georgia Tech to lift Humphreys for Sarah Wood, who surrendered a bunt single to Breanna Brown. After Casey Testa reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases, Jacobs grounded to second to plate Marissa May, who was pinch-running for Nicholas.
Cox (25-6) cruised through the sixth before facing the tying run in the seventh. After two quick outs, Christine Sheridan singled sharply up the middle to bring Aileen Morales to the plate. But for the second day in a row, Cox retired Morales to leave Whitney Haller, the NCAA home run leader, in the on-deck circle.
Prior to the win, the Tar Heels and Jackets returned to complete Saturday's second game that was halted after four innings. It was a continuation of the pitcher's duel between Carolina's Lisa Norris and Georgia Tech's Wood (15-6). Norris (13-5) held the Jackets to just two hits through seven innings, the fewest allowed by any opposing pitcher this season. But the Tar Heels were unable to push across a run either, and Paez hit a solo home run in the top of the eighth for the game's only run.
Sunday was a big day for Tar Heel softball, as Eugene G. Anderson, the stadium's namesake, threw out the first pitch before the series finale. It was also Senior Day for Cox, the team's lone senior and the most decorated player in Carolina history. After the game, the UNC Athletic Department held a dedication ceremony for Anderson Stadium and Williams Field. Director of Athletics Dick Baddour, head coach Donna J. Papa and Cox each addressed the crowd.
With Sunday's win and NC State's loss to Virginia, Carolina will enter next week's series with the Wolfpack alone in first place in the ACC. First pitch for Thursday's doubleheader is set for 5 p.m.
