University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Tennessee Tech
Tar Heels Fall To Eagles, Bounce Back Against Huskers
March 1, 2008 | Softball
March 1, 2008
Tennessee Tech Box Score | Nebraska Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ga. - The North Carolina softball team tallied its second split in as many days as they opened the day with a 3-1 loss against Tennessee Tech before beating Nebraska 6-3 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. Carolina will close out tournament play on Sunday when it faces off against Illinois State at 10 a.m.
A three-run home run by Tennessee Tech in the bottom of the fifth did the Tar Heels in on day two of the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Carolina opened the scoring in the top of the fourth as Jennifer Jacobs led off with a single. Danielle Spaulding dropped down a sacrifice bunt that was misplayed by the first baseman that put runners on first and second. Emily Troup followed with a fielder's choice to the shortstop who committed the second consecutive Eagles error, loading the bases for Cassie Palmer. The senior second baseman was unable to drive in the go-ahead run as she popped out to second base. Whitney Allen followed with a fly ball to left field that scored pinch runner Dani Manko from third to give Carolina a 1-0 lead.
The Eagles would put a pair of runners on base in the bottom of the fifth with two out and with one swing of the bat would take a 3-1 lead over Carolina with a three-run homer. The Tar Heel attempts to even the score would come up short as Tennessee Tech set down the side in order in both the sixth and seventh innings.
Similar to Friday Carolina would have an opportunity to bounce back right away as they took on Nebraska following the loss. Lisa Norris got the call for the Heels in the circle and delivered seven solid innings.
Carolina fell behind early as Nebraska pushed across a run in the second inning when Norris hit the leadoff batter, allowed a bunt single and hit another Husker to load the bases. A fielding error by Norris allowed Nebraska to score before the junior settled down and struck out the next two batters she faced to get out of the jam.
The Tar Heel bats responded in the bottom half with a run of their own when Brittany Robinson singled to right center to score Whitney Allen and even the game at one. Carolina would keep the rally going in the bottom of the third as the Tar Heels pushed across two more runs. Nebraska committed a pair of errors in the inning and Carolina was more than able to take advantage of them as UNC used an RBI single from Emily Troup and a throwing error by the catcher to take a 3-1 lead.
Nebraska returned the favor in the top of the fourth with an unearned run of its own to narrow the margin to 3-2. Another Nebraska error in the bottom of the fourth allowed Carolina to extend its lead to 5-2 as Jacobs picked up an RBI single and Bree Ensminger scored on a bad throw by the pitcher.
Lisa Norris made it 6-2 after five when she doubled to center field before scoring on a pair of errors by the Huskers. Norris allowed her third unearned run of the game in the sixth before shutting the door in the seventh for Carolina's 14th win of the year.
The Tar Heels will return to action at 10 a.m. on Sunday when they close out the NFCA Leadoff Classic against Illinois State.
