University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Coastal Carolina
No. 15 Carolina Takes Two From Lady Chanticleers
April 16, 2008 | Softball
April 16, 2008
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score |
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The 15th-ranked North Carolina softball team picked up wins number 41 and 42 on Wednesday as the Tar Heels swept a midweek series from visiting Coastal Carolina (18-30). Jennifer Jacobs connected on a three-run home run in the first game to provide all of the Tar Heels offense in the 3-0 opening game win before the Tar Heel bats came to life in game two and Carolina cruised to an 8-0, five-inning win. The Tar Heels (42-8-1) will host NC State this weekend in a three-game ACC series at Anderson Stadium.
Jacobs would put Carolina ahead midway through game one when she connected on her team-leading ninth home run of the year, a three-run shot to left center that gave starter Lisa Norris a 3-0 advantage. Breanna Brown led off the inning with a single back up the middle before she was caught stealing. Cassie Palmer put another runner on for the Tar Heels when she hit a high chopper over the third baseman's head and into left field. A fielding error by the Coastal Carolina shortstop put a pair of runners on base with just one out. After a fly out put the chances of scoring in jeopardy, Jacobs stepped to the plate. Alyssa Pederson delivered a ball before Jacobs connected on her 30th career home run, the third-most in school history, to put Carolina ahead 3-0.
Norris would cruise from that point as she allowed just three hits on the day and struck out 12 for her sixth shutout of the year. Norris lowered her team-leading ERA to 0.91 on the year, which currently ranks second in the ACC. With the win Norris goes to 15-3 in 2008.
The bats came to life in game two as the Tar Heels tallied eight runs on 10 hits in the five-inning affair. It took three innings to get on the board once again as Carolina posted a five-spot in the bottom of the third inning. Alyssa Francona led off the inning with a single back up the middle before being replaced on the base paths by Dani Manko. The speedy freshman swiped second for her ninth stolen base of the year before Breanna Brown laced a ball past the third baseman to score Manko and get the inning rolling.
Cassie Palmer followed Brown's double with one of her own, this time to left center to give Carolina a 2-0 lead. Following a Danielle Spaulding walk, Emily Troup made it 3-0 when she singled back up the middle to score Palmer. A groundout put both runners in scoring position for Brittany McKinney. The freshman backstop saw just four pitches, all balls, to load the bases for Sam Ingersoll who saw four more balls to drive in a run and keep the bases full. A passed ball would allow Spaulding to trot in from third to give starter Amber Johnson a 5-0 lead to work with.
Johnson would cruise through the fourth getting a little help from her defense. A strikeout set the first batter down before Johnson hit the second hitter. The very next play would end the inning as Johnson forced a double play ball to second to end the threat and get the Tar Heel bats back to the plate. Ashley Oxendine led off the inning with a double to the left center gap and moved to third when Breanna Brown followed with a single. Palmer, the reigning ACC Player of the Week, delivered once again as she laced a two-run double to right center to put Carolina ahead 7-0. The very next pitch would provide the final margin as Palmer scored all the way from second on a passed ball to put Carolina ahead 5-0. Freshman Faith Sutton came in for Johnson in the top of the fifth and provided an inning of hitless relief as the Tar Heels improved to 42-8-1 on the year.
Carolina will celebrate senior day this Saturday as the Tar Heels will host rival NC State in a three-game series at Anderson Stadium.
