University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Campbell
No. 13 North Carolina Drops 7-6 Decision To Campbell
May 16, 2008 | Softball
May 16, 2008
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Danielle Spaulding's two-run home run in the top of the seventh to put No. 13 North Carolina ahead 6-5 was not enough on Friday as Campbell fought back in the bottom of the seventh to push across two runs and knock the Tar Heels out of the NCAA Tournament by a 7-6 margin. North Carolina falls to 50-12-1 on the year, finishing with the most wins in school history.
With three outs remaining in the 2008 season sophomore Danielle Spaulding stepped into a pressure situation and delivered a momentum-changing hit in the top of the seventh inning in the Tar Heels' second game of the NCAA Tournament against Campbell. Spaulding hit a 1-1 pitch to the opposite field that cleared the fence to push the Tar Heels in front by a 6-5 margin.
Senior Cassie Palmer stepped to the plate to lead off the top of the seventh with the Tar Heels trailing 5-4 and worked the count full and fouled off multiple pitches before seeing ball four miss the zone putting the tying runner on base. Spaulding would follow with her 11th home run of the year that brought the girls in Carolina blue storming out of the dugout.
Lisa Norris would step into the circle needing just three outs to propel the Tar Heels into another elimination game. A hit by pitch put the lead runner on but a failed attempt at a bunt allowed catcher Brittany McKinney to pick off the leadoff batter at first for the opening out of the inning. Lizzie Goldbach reached base on the fifth Tar Heel error of the game to put the tying run on base. Norris was able to sit Courtney Quinn down on strikes but Katie Hinton came up with a hit just as big as Spaulding's as she doubled to left center to tie the game and move to third on a throwing error to be only 60 feet away from scoring the winning run. An intentional walk put runners at the corners but Shayla Cullum came up with the clutch hit, a single over Breanna Brown's head that scored the game-winning run.
The Tar Heels jumped out to a three-run lead in the top of the third when Whitney Allen tallied a bases-clearing double to the left center gap that scored Christine Knauer, Danielle Spaulding and Jennifer Jacobs. Allen's double came just before the sky opened up and sent the teams to their dugouts. A 2:24 rain delay ensued causing a restart with the game still in the top of the third inning.
Carolina would tack on another run in the top of the fourth when the Tar Heels loaded the bases again and Breanna Brown delivered a sacrifice fly to left field to up the Tar Heel lead to 4-0. The bottom of the fifth would quickly turn the momentum in Campbell's favor as the Camels were able to push across five runs and take the lead. Back-to-back singles led off the inning before starter Amber Johnson picked up a force out at third before an Alyssa Francona error loaded the bases for Katie Hinton who hit a single back up the middle to score the first run of the inning. On the play Cassie Palmer had the ball hit off of her glove and into left field allowing the Camels to push another run across. Amanda Littlejohn would follow with a shot to centerfield that would clear the fence and give Campbell a 5-4 advantage that would lead into the dramatic seventh inning.
Lisa Norris falls to 17-5 on the year but will return for the 2009 season along with a bevy of players for head coach Donna J. Papa. Seniors Cassie Palmer, Jennifer Jacobs and Ashley Oxendine ended their Carolina careers on Friday and will go down as the winningest class in school history.
