Feb. 16, 2008

Box Score

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The North Carolina offense continued to post big numbers Saturday morning as the Tar Heels scored nine first inning runs en route to a 16-0 victory in five innings. Faith Sutton was dominant in her second start of the year as she allowed just two hits with nine strikeouts in five innings of work. Carolina will now take on No. 10/11 Florida at 1:30 p.m. in the marquee matchup of the Cox Communications Classic.

The first inning would set the tone for the game as Sutton struck out the side and was given instant run support in the bottom half as the Tar Heels' sticks came to play. After a Breanna Brown ground out, Cassie Palmer battled starter Shannon Howard to a full count and drew a base on balls to get everything going. Emily Troup and Danielle Spaulding connected on back-to-back hits to score Palmer as Troup singled up the middle and Spaulding placed a ball through the left side. After a Whitney Allen walk loaded the bases, Bree Ensminger hit a fly ball to right field that scored Troup from third on a sacrifice fly. A Sam Ingersoll walk loaded the bases before a wild pitch made the score 3-0. Alyssa Francona followed by lacing a ball to center that scored Allen.

Ashley Oxendine loaded the bases once again as she hit a ball that was misplayed by the third baseman. Brown had a chance to redeem herself later in the first and took full advantage of the opportunity when she placed a ball inside the third base bag and down the left field line that plated Francona and Ingersoll. The Cougars found themselves in even more trouble after Cassie Palmer connected on her second homer of the season. Palmer hit a ball down the left field line that hit the fair pole a few feet above the fence to score three more runs and cap off the 9-0 outburst.

Sutton put the Tar Heel bats back to work quickly as she set down the Cougars in order in the second. Allen kept things going with a double to the left center gap and moved to third on a single from Ensminger. Ingersoll walked to load the bases as Francona nearly took off the pitcher's head in her next at bat when she drilled a ball back up the middle to score two more runs. An RBI groundout by Brown and an error by the shortstop gave Carolina a 13-0 lead. The Tar Heels made it 15-0 later in the second when Danielle Spaulding just missed a home run as the left fielder was unable to make a play against the wall for a two-run double.

College of Charleston would break up Sutton's no-hit bid in the third when Kristi Woodall hit a two out double to right field. Sutton would get out of the jam when a ball that bounced off her leg was fielded by Brittany Robinson and fired to first for the third out. Robinson would tally her first career hit in the fourth when she drove in Breanna Brown, who ripped a triple to right center, with a single back up the middle.

The Tar Heels will now take on No. 10/11 Florida at 1:30 p.m. in the marquee matchup of the Cox Communications Classic.