University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
USF
No. 22 Carolina Falls To No. 25 USF, 2-1
May 19, 2006 | Softball
May 19, 2006
GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- No. 22 North Carolina fell into the loser's bracket of the Gainesville Regional with a 2-1 loss to No. 25 South Florida Friday afternoon at Florida Softball Stadium. Carolina will now face the loser of Florida and Florida Atlantic Saturday afternoon at 2:30.
For the fifth time in their last six games, the Tar Heels (48-18) allowed their opponent to score in the first inning. After a hit batter and two walks loaded the bases with one out, Krista Holle blooped an 0-2 pitch off the right field line for an RBI single. Starter Crystal Cox then struck out Ashley Bullion for the second out of the inning. But another hit batter forced home a run, giving the Bulls a 2-0 lead before UNC came to bat.
Carolina threatened for the first time in the second. Breanna Brown led off with an infield single, and Joslin Higgins' sinking liner fell for a double to put two on with no one out. But the Tar Heels were unable to capitalize, as Erin Dudley grounded out to short, pinch-hitter Alyssa Francona struck out and pinch-hitter Lisa Norris popped out.
After Cox (27-9) retired the Bulls in order in the third, UNC finally broke through. Casey Testa, who had not homered since April 8 at Boston College, sent a 2-1 pitch over the wall in center field to cut the USF lead in half. Jennifer Jacobs then worked a 10-pitch walk, ending the day for USF starter Bree Spence. But reliever Cristi Ecks limited the damage, recording three quick outs on a sacrifice and a pair of strikeouts to end the inning.
Ecks (22-11) proved to be the difference. The freshman right-hander pitched five scoreless innings and allowed just one baserunner on a sixth-inning walk to Higgins.
Cox struck out six in the losing effort, moving to 1,999 career strikeouts. With one more punchout, Cox will become the 18th player in NCAA history to reach 1,200 strikeouts.
