North Carolina
Western Kentucky
UNC Held To One Hit In 2-1 NCAA Regional Loss To WKU
May 15, 2015 | Softball
ATHENS, GA –It was a quiet day at the plate for the North Carolina softball team, as the Tar Heels were held to one hit in the 2-1 loss to Western Kentucky in the Athens Regional of the 2015 NCAA Softball Tournament.
The Lady Toppers were the first to get on the scoreboard after Shawna Sadler singled through the right side with the bases loaded to bring in two runs in the top of the third. Hannah Parker blooped a single into shallow right field with one out to start the WKU rally. After Kaylee Carlson's throw to second went wide of the bag on a fielder's choice on Larissa Franklin's at-bat, Kayti Hanson picked up an infield single to set the table for Sadler.
Western Kentucky's ace Miranda Kramer, the nation's strikeout leader, was perfect through four innings, fanning five, before Amber Parrish drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the fifth.
Katelyn Shifflett was brought in to pinch run for Parrish and Jenna Kelly moved her over to second with a sacrifice bunt. Kendra Lynch then hit a deep fly ball to that was caught by centerfielder Franklin, who rifled the ball to third base to nab Shifflett trying to tag up and end the inning.
The Tar Heel defense held strong throughout the game, not allowing a run outside of the second inning.
Carolina did not go down without a fight. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh Kristen Brown blasted her 23rd home run of the season for the first UNC hit of the day, making it a one-run game. The momentum would be short lived as Parrish struck out swinging on the next at bat to end the ballgame.
Kaylee Carlson pitched her 12th complete game of the year, striking out one and walking two while allowing nine hits and two runs, one earned. Western Kentucky's Kramer struck out seven in the win.
North Carolina drops to 36-15 and will face the loser of tonight's contest between Georgia and Central Connecticut State tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.
