University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Texas
Tar Heels Take Down Longhorns
March 12, 2008 | Softball
March 12, 2008
HONOLULU, Hawai'i - Junior Lisa Norris got the start in the circle for Carolina on day one of the Spring Fling Invitational in Honolulu, Hawai'i and delivered a dominant performance as she allowed just one hit and drove in the game's winning run helping the Tar Heels claim a 2-1 victory on Wednesday. Carolina will now face off against Maine at 10 p.m. ET.
The Tar Heels and Longhorns battled to a scoreless tie through the opening three innings before Texas took a 1-0 lead with a home run by Tallie Thrasher. Carolina looked to answer the run in the bottom half of the fourth as it loaded the bases with nobody out. Ashley Oxendine started things off with a bouncing single through the left side and then reached second safely when a ball hit by Cassie Palmer was dropped by the left fielder. Jennifer Jacobs was able to work to load the bases for Danielle Spaulding. The sophomore first baseman hit into a fielder's choice as the second baseman fired home to cut down the lead runner. A strikeout and a flyout would end the Tar Heel threat and keep the Longhorns on top 1-0.
Carolina put runners on second and third with one out in the bottom of the fifth and did not let the opportunity slip past once again. Alyssa Francona led things off with a ground ball that one-hopped over the third baseman's head and into left field. Bree Ensminger was looking to move Francona to second with a sacrifice bunt but Texas' Meagan Denny could not find the strike zone and walked the freshman backstop. Breanna Brown followed with the sacrifice bunt that head coach Donna J. Papa was looking for and moved runners to second and third. Anna Roberts came into the game to pinch hit and quickly delivered with a single through the left side that scored Francona from third and tied the game.
The leadoff batter reached base once again in bottom of the sixth as Jacobs lined a single to left to get the inning started. Danielle Spaulding with a single to right center that gave Carolina a chance to take the lead. Following a foul fly to left field, pitcher Lisa Norris hit a seeing-eye single through the right side that Jacobs was able to score from second on and give Carolina a 2-1 lead. The Tar Heels would leave the bases loaded once again and had to hope that Norris would close the door for the win.
The junior right-hander closed out her one-hit performance by allowing a one out walk before striking out the next batter and getting a tremendous defensive play by Danielle Spaulding who laid out for a liner to end the game.
Carolina left eight runners on base in the game but Norris kept the Tar Heels in the game throughout as she allowed the lone hit, a home run, and struck out six batters on the day to go along with her game-winning RBI.
Carolina and Maine will do battle tomorrow as the two teams meet at Rainbow Wahine Stadium for a 4 p.m. local time game (10 p.m. ET).
