University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Gardner-Webb
Doubleheader Sweep Makes It 27 Straight Wins
March 28, 2007 | Softball
March 28, 2007
CHAPEL HILL --- No. 25 North Carolina's school-record winning streak now stands at an NCAA-best 27 straight games as the Tar Heels edged Gardner-Webb 1-0 and 5-4 in a Wednesday doubleheader at Anderson Stadium. Amber Johnson was the star for UNC (34-8) in game one, holding the Runnin' Bulldogs scoreless, while game two saw Erin Dudley collect two RBI and Lisa Norris earn her 20th win of the season.
Johnson's complete game shutout in the opener was her third this season and the sixth of her career. She stymied Gardner-Webb (23-18) the whole way, fanning 12 Runnin' Bulldogs. She gave up seven hits and walked no one in a coolly effective performance that moved her record to 12-2.
It was wholly necessary, too, as Gardner-Webb starter Taryn Beck was impressive in the circle as well, limiting the Tar Heels to just one run. UNC put up the lone score of the game in the bottom of the fourth. Breanna Brown used an infield single with one out to give the Tar Heels their first baserunner of the game, and Carolina took advantage. A passed ball put Brown in scoring position, and Jennifer Jacobs delivered with a two-out RBI single to right field that proved to be the game-winner, scoring Brown to put the Heels up 1-0.
Johnson made sure it stayed that way, allowing just two Runnin' Bulldog baserunners the rest of the way, including a 1-2-3 top of the seventh to finish off Gardner-Webb.
In the nightcap, UNC put up a run in the second inning courtesy of an Erin Dudley RBI single to grab an early 1-0 lead, but Runnin' Bulldog second baseman Melody Harrell answered with a three-run home run that hugged the left field foul pole in the top of the third to put the Tar Heels in a 3-1 hole.
UNC loaded the bases with one out in its half of the fourth but managed only one run in the frame as Marissa May scored on a fielder's choice. Still, the Tar Heels cut their deficit in half and trailed by only one entering the fifth.
An Ashley Oxendine single to lead off the bottom of the fifth for UNC and two Gardner-Webb errors in the frame proved to be the difference in the game as Carolina plated three runs in the inning to re-take the lead, 5-3. Oxendine, Palmer and Brown all crossed home for the Tar Heels and Anna Evans picked up an RBI, staking the Heels to a two-run advantage.
The lead of two proved to be just enough as Gardner-Webb scratched out a run in the seventh to narrow the gap to one before Norris closed the door on the doubleheader sweep. She pitched three innings in relief of Danielle Spaulding, allowing one run on two hits and no walks.
Carolina now heads to Atlanta for an Atlantic Coast Conference weekend series with Georgia Tech starting Saturday at 1 p.m. UNC has not lost since they played No. 13 Michigan on Feb. 24.
