North Carolina
Missouri
No. 15 Carolina Comeback Bid Falls Short
March 14, 2009 | Softball
March 14, 2009
CONWAY, S.C. - The No. 15 North Carolina softball team found itself in a quick hole Saturday afternoon against No. 14 Missouri at the Coastal Carolina Tournament in Conway, S.C. as the Tigers scored six runs in the opening two innings en route to the 9-6 win. The Tar Heels pulled within two at 8-6 in the fifth inning but were unable to even things up. Carolina will take on host Coastal Carolina at 5 p.m. in the second game of the day for the Tar Heels.
Missouri pushed across four runs in the top of the first inning thanks in large part to a Micaela Minner three-run home run off of starter Lisa Norris. The Tigers struck for two more runs in the top of the second with another home run, this time of the two run variety. The six runs would end Norris' day in the circle after just two innings.
Constance Orr came on to throw for the Tar Heels and the Tigers continued their hot hitting picking up three hits, while driving in a run to take a 7-0 lead. The Tar Heel bats came to life in the bottom of the third as Breanna Brown picked up a two-run single before Whitney Allen and Emily Troup added RBIs to pull Carolina back within three at 7-4.
A single run by Missouri in the top of the fifth extended the Tiger lead to four before Carolina attempted to get back in the game once again. The Tar Heels took advantage of a Missouri miscue with two outs to push across a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the deficit to 8-6.
Two runs would be as close as Carolina would come to the Tigers as they added another run in the top of the seventh to secure the 9-6 win.
Christine Knauer paced the offense with a 2 for 4 day at the plate with a run and a stolen base, while Breanna Brown and Emily Troup added a pair of RBIs in the defeat.
Carolina will look to bounce back right away as the Tar Heels take on host Coastal Carolina at 5 p.m.
