University of Tennessee Athletics
NORTH CAROLINA OUTLASTS WINTHROP IN KNOXVILLE REGIONAL OPENER, 4-3
May 18, 2007 | Softball
May 18, 2007
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The North Carolina Tarheels (46-19) advanced on to Saturday's 1:30 p.m. ET winner's bracket match-up in NCAA Knoxville Regional play by outlasting the Winthrop Lady Eagles (48-17), 4-3, on Friday afternoon at Tyson Park.
UNC pitcher Lisa Norris improved her record to 25-12 on the campaign after allowing seven hits and three runs over six innings of work with six strikeouts. Tarheel designated player Casey Testa went 2-for-2 at the plate with two-RBI and a solo home run, while center fielder Ashley Oxendine (2-for-2) and pinch hitter Anna Roberts (1-of-1) each knocked in a tally in the triumph, with the latter recording the game-winner in the bottom of the sixth.
Winthrop hurler Cari Woolridge permitted nine hits and four runs over five frames of effort with one K to take the loss and fall to 15-5 on the season. Center fielder Tessa Thomas led the Winthrop offensive attack with a 3-for-4 performance and an RBI.
Thomas gave North Carolina's Norris a rude greeting to start the NCAA Regional by lacing the very first pitch of the contest to deep center field and off the wall for a lead-off double in the first. Lady Eagle right fielder Lisa Kingsmore walked to place two aboard with no one retired. Shortstop Stephanie Reid grounded into a fielder's choice to cut down the lead runner at third and catcher Jenny Scrymgeour struck out to get UNC closer to escaping the jam. Lady Eagle first baseman Hilary Peacock drew the second free pass of the inning to load the bases, but WU stranded three on the base paths as designated player Laura Hill fouled out to Tarheel catcher Whitney Gelin.
Having managed to keep the Garnet and Gold off the scoreboard in the top of the first, North Carolina put the first tally on the scoreboard against Winthrop's Woolridge in the bottom half of the opening frame. UNC second baseman Cassie Palmer opened the frame with a single, advanced up 60 feet to second on a walk to center fielder Oxendine and came around to score on a double off the bat of Testa for a 1-0 advantage.
The Lady Eagles answered right back against the Tarheels in the top of the second inning as Winthrop second baseman Sarah Magee started a scoring threat against UNC pitcher Norris with a one-out base hit up the middle. Left fielder Lauren Blaser walked to place two aboard for Thomas who came through with an RBI single to plate Magee and deadlock the contest at 1-1.
A lead-off single to christen the bottom of the fifth from North Carolina's Gelin got another scoring rally started for the `Heels. With one retired, Oxendine ripped a single up the middle to bring home UNC's second run of the contest. On the throw to the plate, Oxendine was cut down attempting to advance to second on a perfect throw from catcher Scrymgeour to second baseman Palmer. Testa stepped to the dish with two down and blasted a towering solo shot to right center to stretch the count to 3-1 in favor of the Carolina Blue & White.
With opportunities to cut into the deficit growing scarcer by the minute, the Lady Eagles strung together an offensive attack of their own in the top of the sixth. Hill led off with a double to the left field wall and was followed immediately by a two-bagger down the left field line from third baseman Mallory Hogan to score pinch runner Erica Spradley and cut the gap to 3-2. A Blaser walk and two consecutive fielder's choices, including one on a failed play to third base that allowed everyone to reach safely, loaded the bases with two retired. With a chance to come through in a clutch situation, Winthrop shortstop Stephanie Reid bounced a ball into the hole at short and beat Anna Evans of UNC's throw to the bag at first to score Blaser and tie the match-up at 3-3. A Scrymgeour K ended the frame and left the bags juiced.
Woolridge walked North Carolina's Evans to open the bottom of the sixth and the free pass came back to haunt the Lady Eagles. Jacobs and pinch hitter Anna Roberts delivered back-to-back singles to break the tie as Evans raced home from second to make it 4-3 in favor of the Tarheels. With runners on first and third and still none down, third baseman Ciara Rimoldi and Gelin both struck out looking to record two quick outs. Palmer grounded out to first to end the sixth but not before UNC had regained its advantage.
Hill ripped a base knock to shortstop with one down in the top of seventh to grant Winthrop a base runner in its last chance in regulation. The Lady Eagles couldn't string together the rally they needed, however, as Hogan fouled out down the right field line and Magee struck out swinging.
