University of North Carolina Athletics
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South Carolina
Tar Heels Scrape Out Victory Against Gamecocks
April 18, 2007 | Softball
April 18, 2007
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Breanna Brown brought pinch-runner Christine Knauer home on an RBI groundout in the top of the sixth inning to break a scoreless tie and Lisa Norris, Danielle Spaulding and Amber Johnson combined for a five-hit shutout as North Carolina claimed a 1-0 victory over South Carolina Wednesday evening at Beckham Field.
Neither the Tar Heels (41-12) nor the Gamecocks (29-16) could find a way to push a run across in the first five innings as the pitchers controlled the action. But UNC turned to some small ball in the sixth to manufacture what proved to be the game-winning run.
Joslin Higgins lead off the frame with a single to centerfield - the only hit Carolina recorded in the game other than an Anna Evans base knock in the second. The Tar Heels made good use of it, though, as pinch-runner Knauer advanced to third on an Erin Dudley sacrifice bunt and a passed ball. That's when Brown's one-out grounder to second was enough to bring Knauer home, putting UNC up 1-0.
The lone run was all Carolina would need as all three UNC pitchers contributed to the shutout. Norris started the game and pitched three innings, giving up just two hits to the Gamecocks. Spaulding came on in relief and pitched two innings of one-hit ball, picking up her fifth win of the season in the process. Johnson relieved Spaulding after Carolina grabbed the lead, working out of a jam in the sixth before closing South Carolina out in the seventh to collect her second save.
Melissa Hendon pitched the complete game for the Gamecocks, yielding one unearned run on two hits but picking up the loss to take her to 14-11 on the year.
Carolina next faces rival NC State for a weekend series in Raleigh starting Saturday at 1 p.m.
