University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
California
No. 23 Carolina Downs No. 9 Cal
February 14, 2009 | Softball
Feb. 14, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - A pinch hit grand slam by Stephanie Murad in the bottom of the second was all the Carolina offense needed Saturday afternoon against No. 9 California as the Tar Heels used a combination of great defense and another quality outing by Constance Orr to claim a 4-3 win. Carolina will close out the Carolina Classic on Sunday when the Tar Heels take on Penn State at 3 p.m.
Cal struck first in the top of the first inning when the Golden Bears sent eight batters to the plate but were held to just a pair of runs. After a leadoff fly out Shannon Thomas dropped down a bunt single before Jamia Reid singled up the middle to put runners on first and second. A successful double steal put a pair of runners in scoring position for cleanup hitter Gina Leomiti who delivered a single back up the box to score a pair of runs and put the Golden Bears up 2-0. Later in the inning Constance Orr forced a grounder to third for out number two before Cal loaded the bases. A pop up that looked to drive in at least two run was lifted to right field and second baseman Brittany Robinson chased it down and made an impressive over the shoulder catch to end the inning.
Christine Knauer led off the bottom half of the first with a bunt single before advancing all the way to third base by swiping second and taking third on a throwing error. Back-to-back strikeouts and a fly out to left would end the Tar Heel threat in the inning. Orr settled down in the second as she set down the Bears in order getting the Tar Heel bats right back to work. California native Emily Troup led off the frame with a single back up the middle. An attempted sacrifice bunt by Brittany Robinson was unsuccessful as Troup was cut down at second for the first out of the inning. Anna Roberts would step to the plate next and delivered the second pitch she saw back up the middle before a strike out put two outs on the board for freshman pinch hitter Kelli Wheeler. The Marietta, Ga., native battled through an eight pitch at bat before drawing a walk to load the bases. Stephanie Murad would step to the plate next as a pinch hitter and after getting ahead in the count at 2-1, Murad delivered a ball over the right field fence for the first grand slam of her career. The homer put Carolina ahead 4-2 with five innings to play.
Cal put a pair of runners on with two outs in the top of the third before Orr fielded a grounder right back to her for the inning-ending out. Orr then sat the Bears down in order in the fourth as she appeared to be cruising after the shaky first. An impressive double play was turned in by Alyssa Francona in the top of the fifth when Cal put runners on first and second with one out. Francona fielded a sharp grounder stepped on third and fired to first to end the inning and keep Carolina in front 4-2.
The top of the sixth inning saw some fireworks as Cal's head coach Diane Ninemire was ejected from the game for arguing balls and strikes. The ejection seemed to spark the Golden Bears as Senoe Kekahuna crushed a 1-1 pitch over the centerfield fence to cut the deficit to just one at 4-3. Cal would nearly tie the game later in the frame after a pair of singles put runners on first and second with two down. Pinch hitter Bernice Masaniai took Orr's second pitch to left field and pinch runner Nikki Schrey came racing around third but Kelli Wheeler's throw from left field was on the money at the plate and cut down Schrey as Brittany McKinney blocked the plate for the final out of the frame.
California put the leadoff runner on in the top of the seventh and moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt before a ground out and a fly out would end the game. Orr improved to 3-0 on the season as she allowed three runs on the day. Anna Roberts turned in a perfect 3 for 3 day at the plate as Murad tallied the four RBIs in the game.
Carolina will close out the tournament on Sunday at 3 p.m. when the Tar Heels take on Penn State.
