Tar Heel Softball Cranks Up Offense For Wins
April 4, 2002
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--With a powerful offensive performance, the University of North Carolina softball team took both games of a doubleheader Thursday afternoon against Elon, 18-1 and 5-0. The Tar Heels are 23-17 on the season heading into Friday's Atlantic Coast Conference opener against Georgia Tech at the UNC Softball Complex. Carolina's 18 runs in the first game against Elon tied the school record for runs in a game, set in an 18-1 win over Virginia Tech in 1996. The Tar Heels scored 12 runs on 10 hits in the bottom of the first inning to put the game out of reach early. Senior Kelly Ramsey had a two-RBI double in the inning, and freshman Jessica Young hit a two RBI single. Elon (9-23) scored its only run of the game in the top of the second. Megan Borgaard led off the inning with a double and came home on an RBI single by Dana Richardson. UNC added four more runs on four hits in the bottom of the second. Quinn Porter hit a two-RBI single in the inning and Natalie Anter had an RBI double. The Tar Heels got two more in the bottom of the fourth when Anter blasted a two-run homer, her ninth of the season. Senior Shannon Walsh earned the win for UNC, giving up four hits and a run in three innings of work. Freshman Brandi Griffin pitched two innings in relief. Borgaard took the loss for Elon. She faced the game's first nine batters before she was relieved by Shannon Courtney. In Game 2, UNC once again got all the runs it would need in the first inning. Leadoff batter Tiffany Tolleson reached on a bunt single, stole second, reached third on a fly out to the outfield and scored on a sacrifice fly by Porter.
Two more Tar Heel runs came in the bottom of the second, when Natashalyn Snipes scored on an error and Dionne Streete reached home on Sarah Young's RBI single. With one out in the sixth inning and no one on base, Sarah Young blasted a home run over the centerfield fence. It was the first of her UNC career for the senior, who was 3-for-6 with four RBI on the day. UNC got its final run on an RBI double by Porter, who brought home Tolleson. The run was the fifth of the day for Tolleson, who went 3-for-5 at the plate and stole three bases. Porter, 3-for-3 in Game 1, finished the doubleheader with six RBI. Freshman Ashley Allen earned the win in Game 2, allowing four hits and no walks while striking out five to improve to 9-5 on the season. Amanda Zentner took the loss for Elon. The Tar Heels are back in action on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m., hosting Georgia Tech. The doubleheader is part of UNC's Women in Sports Spring Tour and the first 150 fans to arrive at the game will receive free t-shirts. On Saturday and Sunday, UNC will host Georgia Tech, Maryland and Virginia in the Tar Heel Invitational.
Game 1: North Carolina 18, Elon 1
Game 2: North Carolina 5, Elon 0
Tar Heel Invitational Schedule Saturday, April 6
Sunday, April 7
All games at UNC Softball Complex, off Raleigh Road/Highway 54 behind the General Administration Building. There is no charge for admission. |
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