May 15, 2009

Box Score |  Quotes

CHAPEL HILL --- Georgia scored all of its runs in a six-run third and Christie Hamilton threw a two-hit shutout as the sixth-seeded Bulldogs defeated North Carolina, 6-0, Friday afternoon in the winner's bracket of the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional at Anderson Stadium. Kristin Schnake and Alisa Goler hit back-to-back home runs for Georgia (41-10), which advances to Saturday's regional final. Carolina (46-12) will face the winner of the elimination game between Radford and Campbell Friday night.

Carolina squelched an early Georgia rally in the first thanks to a strong defensive play from Whitney Allen and Brittany McKinney. After Taylor Schlopy reached first on an error and stole second, Brianna Hesson delivered a two-out single to left. Allen fielded the ball and fired a strike to McKinney covering at home to retire Schlopy and keep the Bulldogs off the board.

Georgia broke through in a big way in the third, however, with Schnake and Goler both going deep off UNC starter Lisa Norris (22-8). Lisaira Daniels led off the inning with a bunt single and moved to third on Schlopy's double down the left field line. Schnake then homered to left center to make it 3-0 before Goler delivered her team-best 21st long ball of the season deep to right.

A two-run single to the gap in right center by Tori Moody off Constance Orr closed out the scoring for Georgia, but that would be plenty for Bulldog starter Christie Hamilton. Hamilton (22-8) held the Tar Heels hitless for six innings before Danielle Spaulding led off the seventh with a single off the wall in right.

UNC loaded the bases with two outs thanks to a walk and a pinch-hit single by Stephanie Murad, but an Alyssa Francona pop out ended the game and sent Georgia into Saturday's regional final.

Orr was strong in relief for the second straight day, limiting the Bulldogs to just four hits in five scoreless innings.

Carolina now must await the winner of Friday's loser's bracket game between Radford and Campbell, with the UNC game set to begin at 6 p.m.