University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Ohio State
No. 18 Tar Heels Take Down No. 13 Ohio State, 1-0
March 24, 2009 | Softball
March 24, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - One run was all the No. 18 Tar Heels (27-7) needed on Tuesday as they picked up a pair of dominant pitching performances by Danielle Spaulding and Lisa Norris in a 1-0 win over No. 13 Ohio State (22-4). Norris notched the victory as she tossed four hitless innings to earn her 13th win of the season. Carolina will take on Campbell in a midweek clash at 6 p.m. in Buies Creek, N.C. on Wednesday before hosting Boston College in a three-game series starting on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Danielle Spaulding got the call in the circle for the Tar Heels in the top 25 matchup and delivered three scoreless innings as she allowed just one hit, while striking out three. Spaulding set down the Buckeyes in order in the first and second before Dee Dee Hillman broke up the no-hit bid with an infield single. The junior left-hander retired the next batter to end the inning.
After being held hitless through the first two frames, Carolina took advantage of an Ohio State error in the third to plate a run that would prove to be the deciding run. Constance Orr started things off with a one out single that skipped over the pitcher's head as Orr picked up the first hit of the game for the Tar Heels. Kelsey Green followed with a sharp grounder to short that Orr was able to beat out to put a pair of runners on with one out.
With the two runners on, leadoff hitter Christine Knauer strolled to the plate and hit a shot up the middle that was snared on a diving play by the Buckeye shortstop loading the bases for Breanna Brown. Sam Marder attempted to pick off Orr at third but her throw sailed and went into left field allowing Orr to score easily and put Carolina in front 1-0. A line out and a ground out would end the threat of Carolina adding to the lead.
Lisa Norris came on in the top of the fourth to give Ohio State a different look and picked up right where Spaulding left off by setting the side down in order, the last two via strikeout. Norris rang up three more strikeouts in the fifth and one each in the sixth and seventh as she kept the Buckeyes off the bases and earned her 13th win of the year. Norris struck out seven in the contest during her four innings of work.
Carolina will return to action at 6 p.m. on Wednesday when the Tar Heels travel to Buies Creek, N.C. as they look for revenge against Campbell, the squad that knocked them out of the NCAA tournament a year ago.
