University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Pittsburgh
Amber Johnson No-Hits Pittsburgh As Tar Heels Roll 8-0
February 27, 2010 | Softball
Feb. 27, 2010
Chapel Hill, N.C.--- The No. 23/25 North Carolina Tar Heels (9-3) continued their winning ways during the Tar Heel Invitational Saturday evening, defeating the Pittsburgh Panthers (2-5) by the score of 8-0. The Heels rode the arm of senior pitcher, Amber Johnson to victory, as she tossed seven shutout innings, striking out ten Pittsburgh batters along the way.
Enter Tar Heel pitcher Amber Johnson. The senior looked masterful, as she flirted with perfection, completing the second no hitter of her career. The Panthers only reached base four times, on three walks and HBP respectively. Johnson dominated the Panther hitters, who had trouble keeping up with her blistering fastball, to the tune of ten strikeouts. This marks the third consecutive start for Johnson with at least ten strikeouts. The win brings her win total on the season to five, the most of any Tar Heel in 2010.
The no-hitter is the first for Johnson since the game on Feb. 17, 2006 against the Toledo Rockets. As a team Carolina has held the opposition to no hits four times already this season. In fact, in Carolina's last six games four have been no-hitters (three coming from fellow senior pitcher Danielle Spaulding).
The Heels were able to get on the board early, executing some small ball in the top of the first. UNC shortstop, Christine Knauer reached first with a leadoff bunt and then successfully stole second base. Left fielder Dani Manko then moved Knauer to third on a sacrifice bunt. Next, Brittany Robinson drew a walk from Pittsburgh pitcher, Alyssa O'Connell. Robinson then attempted to steal second base and appeared to be trapped by the Panthers' infielders, until Pittsburgh shortstop, Niki Cognigni, committed a throwing error. Cognigni's mistake allowed Robinson to reach second safely, scoring Knauer from third. The Heels left the first inning with a 1-0 lead.
North Carolina was then held scoreless until the fourth inning. UNC designated player, Ally Blake, got things started, drawing a walk to lead off the inning. The Tar Heels then inserted pinch runner, Tisha Mahon, for Blake. Mahon successfully stole second base and was able to score on a passed ball by the Panthers, extending the Tar Heels lead to 2-0 going into the bottom half of the fourth inning.
The Tar Heel bats really heated up in the top of the fifth, though, with four Carolina runners crossing home plate. Knauer again got the ball rolling for the Heels, this time reaching first on another error by Cognigni. Knauer then advanced to second with her second stolen base on the day. Next, Manko hit a line drive to Pittsburgh's third baseman and hustled to beat out the throw at first. Spaulding followed Manko with a single of her own. Chelsey Butler then came in to pinch run for Spaulding. Third baseman Brittany Robinson hit a blooper into shallow center field, bringing home Knauer and Manko, extending the Carolina lead to 4-0. Finally, Blake finished off the inning with a stand up double, scoring Butler and Robinson. The Heels took a 6-0 lead into the 6th inning.
The Heels scored their final two runs of the game in the top of the seventh. Pittsburgh substituted pitcher, Kayla Zinger, for O'Connell to begin the inning. Zinger had difficulty finding the strike zone as she walked five Tar Heel batters in the inning, resulting in two more runs for Carolina, extending their lead to 8-0 after the top half of the seventh.
The win gives the Tar Heels a 9-3 record on the season and marks the seventh consecutive victory for the No. 23/25 Heels. Carolina next faces off in the Championship Game of the Tar Heel Invitational tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. The opponent will be determined after the 10:00 a.m. Pittsburgh vs. James Madison game.
