University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Boston College
No. 22 Carolina Downs Boston College, 3-0
April 9, 2006 | Softball
April 9, 2006
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. --- No. 22 North Carolina secured its fourth consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference series win with a 3-0 victory over Boston College Sunday afternoon at Shea Field. Crystal Cox tossed a complete-game two-hitter for her 13th straight win and 20th overall. Cox (20-5) also became the first player in school history to record 20 wins in four straight seasons.
Carolina (37-11, 9-3 ACC) had a golden opportunity to take an early lead in the first, but the Tar Heels were unable to capitalize. Cassie Palmer led off with a solid single, and Ashley Oxendine reached on a sacrifice bunt when Renee Ramos muffed the throw from Brittney Thompson while covering first. Casey Testa then moved the runners up to second and third with a groundout. But Jennifer Jacobs lined out to third and Anna Evans grounded out to short, ending the inning.
After stranding single runners in each of the next three innings, the Tar Heels broke the tie in the fifth thanks to an unlikely power source. Erin Dudley, who entered the game with just two home runs in almost 200 career at-bats, lifted a 1-2 pitch from Thompson (7-8) over the wall in left center for the first run of the game.
UNC added a pair of insurance run in the sixth and seventh. Evans deposited her first homer of the season over the wall in right center to lead off the sixth, making it 2-0. Jacbos added an RBI double in seventh to score Oxendine.
Three runs would be more than enough for Cox. After struggling at times in the cold conditions Saturday, Cox was in control throughout Sunday. The Harrisburg, N.C., senior allowed just three baserunners through seven scoreless innings, and no BC player advanced beyond second base.
With the win, Carolina matched its ACC win total from 2005 with nine league victories. UNC's next win will give the Tar Heels 38 for the season and match last year's output.
Carolina returns to action Tuesday afternoon with a doubleheader at UNC Greensboro.
