University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Campbell
Palmer, Johnson Help Tar Heels Put Away Campbell, 3-1
April 24, 2007 | Softball
April 24, 2007
UIES CREEK, N.C. --- Cassie Palmer went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored to factor in all three North Carolina runs and Amber Johnson turned in a one-hit outing in the circle as the Tar Heels secured a 3-1 victory against Campbell Tuesday afternoon at Eakes Complex. The win broke a three-game losing streak for Carolina - its longest of the season - and moved UNC's record to 42-15 on the year. Campbell fell to 25-38-1 with the loss.
The Tar Heels used a two-run third inning to break out of a 30-inning scoreless slump, gaining an early 2-0 lead in the process. Catcher Whitney Gelin was issued a leadoff walk to start UNC's charge, and pinch-runner Christine Knauer came around to score on a one-out RBI-double from Palmer. Palmer herself made it all the way home on the play when Fighting Camel leftfielder Courtney Quinn committed a two-base error.
Meanwhile, Johnson was extremely effective in the circle for Carolina, taking a no-hitter into the fourth. An error by Carolina third baseman Stephanie Murad gave Campbell its first baserunner, and after a sacrifice bunt moved the runner over, the Fighting Camels used their only hit of the game, an RBI double to left center, to score an unearned run and cut the Tar Heels' lead in half.
Carolina wasted little time in getting the run back, however, getting a leadoff bunt single and a stolen base from Breanna Brown to put her in scoring position in the top of the fifth inning, where Palmer again came through with an RBI-single to right center. That made the score 3-1 UNC, and Johnson took over from there, continuing her dominating performance to make sure she wrapped up the win.
In addition to yielding just one hit in her gem, Johnson fanned 11 Fighting Camels while walking none in facing just two batters over the minimum. She set the last 10 Campbell hitters down in order to pick up her 14th win of the season. Lauren Caviness was handed the loss for the Fighting Camels despite giving up just four UNC hits, dropping her record to 12-22.
Carolina will next play at home this weekend in its final regular-season Atlantic Coast Conference series against Florida State. Games one and two will be on Saturday with the first game of the doubleheader going off at 1 p.m. Sunday's 1 p.m. game will mark Senior Day for UNC's six-member Class of 2007.
