North Carolina
Georgetown
Norris Rings Up 16 In 4-0 Win
March 6, 2009 | Softball
March 6, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Senior Lisa Norris struck out 16 batters as she helped lead No. 15 North Carolina past Georgetown in the second game of the Tar Heel Invitational Friday afternoon in Chapel Hill. Christine Knauer led the Tar Heel offense as she went 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI single to lead the Tar Heels past the Hoyas.
The Tar Heels put the first run on the board in the top of the first when Knauer led off the game by beating out a single to the shortstop before swiping her 14th base of the season. An error by the shortstop put runners on the corners with one out as Kelsey Green came on to pinch run for Danielle Spaulding at first base. Green quickly stole second and as the throw went down to second Knauer raced home from third to put Carolina on top 1-0.
Norris found herself in a bit of trouble in the bottom half of the first as Georgetown put the first batters on first and second. The senior right-hander settled down by striking out the next six batters as she cruised from that point. Norris struck out a pair of batters in every inning after the second as she quickly racked up 16 strikeouts to tie a career high.
The Tar Heels tacked on another run in the top of the second when Anna Roberts led off with a single before stealing second with two down. Knauer would come through once again as she singled back up the middle to score Roberts from second and give Carolina a 2-0 advantage.
Carolina tacked on single runs in both the fifth and seventh to provide the 4-0 final tally. Emily Troup drove in a run with a single in the fifth before Whitney Allen, seeing her first action at the plate in 2009, drilled a double to center field to score Troup in the seventh.
Norris improves to 6-2 on the year after her 16 strikeout performance as the Tar Heels improved to an ACC-best 15-3 on the year.
