University of North Carolina Athletics
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Maryland
No. 22 Carolina Drops Extra-Inning Tilt Against Maryland, 3-2
April 7, 2007 | Softball
April 7, 2007
COLLEGE PARK, MD. --- Amber Jackson hit a game-winning walkoff home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Maryland Terrapins to a 3-2 victory over No. 22 North Carolina Saturday at Robert E. Taylor Stadium. Jackson's shot helped overcome an outstanding day in the circle for Lisa Norris and dropped UNC's record to 36-10 overall and 8-2 in the ACC. Maryland is now 22-13 on the season and 4-3 in league play.
Norris picked up her first loss in 19 decisions, despite giving up just five hits and posting 12 strikeouts - one short of her career high - in going the distance. She was dominant for the most part, yielding just two hits to the entire Maryland team apart from Jackson. But the Terrapins used a scrappy, two-run sixth inning to take the lead, and despite a late effort by UNC that tied things up, Maryland emerged on top thanks to Jackson's heroics.
Carolina wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Cassie Palmer was plunked by Terrapin starter Stacey Jennings to lead off the frame for the Tar Heels before advancing to third courtesy of a wild pitch and a Breanna Brown groundout. One batter later, Jennifer Jacobs came through with a clutch two-out hit to score Palmer and stake UNC to an early advantage.
UNC starter Lisa Norris was absolutely unhittable to start the game, picking up eight strikeouts in a flawless first trip through the Maryland lineup.
After a quiet second and third innings offensively, the Tar Heels threatened again in the fourth. UNC put runners on second and third with just one out, but Jennings proved up to the task, inducing a strikeout and an inning-ending foul out to keep the score 1-0 Carolina.
Maryland used a leadoff hit from Jackson in the bottom of the fourth to break up Norris' no-hitter, and after Jenny Belak reached safely on a fielder's choice, Norris faced her first danger of the game. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, but Norris responded with another strikeout and forced a pop-out to Anna Evans at shortstop to escape any damage.
The Terrapins finally got to Norris in the bottom of the sixth, scratching out two runs on three hits to grab the lead 2-1. Jackson started things off for Maryland with a bloop single that fell in between three Tar Heels, and she was awarded second base when the umpire ruled that first baseman Jacobs stepped into the dugout after catching a fouled bunt attempt. A diving effort by centerfielder Breanna Brown couldn't reel in a line drive off Jennings' bat, scoring Jackson to tie the game. Jennings later came around to score on a Jennifer Wellborn double that landed just fair down the left field line, and the Terrapins had their first lead of the game with just at-bat left for the Tar Heels.
Carolina mounted an attempt at a comeback charge courtesy of a leadoff walk and a two-out Brown single. That gave Carolina runners at first and third, and Casey Testa came through with UNC's second two-out RBI of the game, sending a liner over the shortstop to tie the game. The Tar Heels went on to load the bases in the inning but couldn't push another run across, taking it to the bottom half tied 2-2.
A 1-2-3 seventh from Norris sent the game to extra-innings, but it didn't go too long once it got there. A scoreless half from the Tar Heels brought Jackson to the plate to start the eighth, when her deep ball to left-center ended things.
The series will resume action tomorrow when the Terrapins and Tar Heels face off in a Sunday doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.
