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April 1, 2000
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – North Carolina scored a pair of runs in the topofthe eighth inning to defeat Virginia 3-1 in collegiate softball actionSaturday afternoon, April 1, at The Park in Charlottesville. The gamewasthe Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams. With the loss, UVafalls to 15-26 on the season, while the Tar Heels improve to 30-13.
The Tar Heel’s Radara McHugh earned the win as she allowed just one runonsix hits. She walked two batters and struck out two in improving herrecord to 14-4. Virginia second-year Kristen Dennis (Encinitas, Calif./LaCosta Canyon) was the tough-luck loser as she allowed three runs, two ofwhich were earned, on seven hits. Dennis (3-9) struck out 10 battersandwalked just one.
With the game tied at 1-1 after seven innings, North Carolina scored apairof runs, one earned, one unearned, in the first extra inning. With oneoutin the eighth, UNC’s Michelle Semmes hit an infield single and scoredthegame-winning run on a triple to right center by Natalie Anter. With twoouts, Beth Olen reached on a Virginia error which scored Semmes to makethescore 3-1. UVa third-year right fielder Meaghan Young (Shrewsbury,Mass./Shrewsbury) led off the bottom of the eighth with a single tocenter,but a fly out and a double play ended the game.
The Tar Heels took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. KellyRamsey led off the inning with a single to right and was pinch run forbyLauren Parker. Parker advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and movedtothird on McHugh’s single to left. Parker was able to score when sheavoided the tag of UVa third baseman Karen Breshears (Camarillo,Calif./Cornerstone Christian) on Quinn Porter’s grounder down the thirdbase line.
The Cavaliers’ tied the game at 1-1 when Young led off the bottom of thesixth inning with a solo home run to right center. It was Young’ssecondhomer of the season.
Young and fourth-year left fielder Jen Krill (Huntington Beach,Calif./Huntington) both had two hits for the ‘Hoos.
Virginia returns to action on Sunday, April 2 when it hosts NorthCarolinain the second and final game of the series at 1:00 p.m. at The Park.DC)