KU Softball Downed By No. 20 North Carolina
Feb. 19, 2009
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. –
North Carolina’s Lisa Norris held the Kansas softball team (4-6) to one hit as the Tar Heels (9-2) defeated KU, 5-2, in both teams’ opening game of the Cathedral City Classic here Thursday.
North Carolina got off to a hot start gaining a quick 3-0 lead after its first at bat. The Tar Heels used four hits, two doubles and two singles, to score its trio of runs.
However, KU pitcher Sarah Vertelka, who fell to 1-2 from the circle, soon found her rhythm and limited North Carolina to just three hits over the next four innings, but the junior hurler was replaced by freshman Sarah Blair in the sixth inning. Blair completed the sixth inning with no UNC hits or runs.
Senior Dougie McCaulley broke up a Tar Heel no-hitter in the fourth inning with a single towards the shortstop but was stranded at second at the end of the inning.
KU would finally get on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning. Despite recording no hits, the Jayhawks scored two runs. Sara Ramirez got the inning started with a walk. Stevie Crisosto then stepped up to bat next and hit a fielder’s choice to third base. However, UNC’s third baseman made a bad throw to second allowing Ramirez to advance an extra bag. The Tar Heels chased both runners around the bases but could never quite catch either. When the dust finally settled, Ramirez had scored and Crisosto made it all the way to third.
Two batters later, senior Val Chapple hit a sacrifice fly to left field to give Crisosto time to tag up and then score.
North Carolina tacked on one more run in the sixth inning. After leading off with a double, the Tar Heels used a sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly to score the run.
Norris tossed the complete game for UNC fanning 13 Jayhawks to tie a season high as she improved to 2-2.
Kansas will be back in action later tonight at 8 p.m. (CST) when they take on host Oregon State. Live stats for the contest will available at www.kuathletics.com.
