/
.
Virginia Softball Drops 1-0 Decision To North Carolina In ACC Tournament
Story Links
May 12, 2006
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Second-seeded and 22nd-ranked North Carolina scored a run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning and made it hold up in a 1-0 win over the sixth-seeded Virginia softball team Friday afternoon (May 12) in the 2006 Atlantic Coast Conference Championship at Anderson Stadium. With the loss, the Cavaliers drop to 29-25 on the season, while North Carolina improves to 48-15. UVa falls to the bottom half of the tournament bracket and will play fourth-seeded Georgia Tech (44-19) today at 5:30 p.m. in an elimination game.
Fourth-year pitcher Erin Horn (Tallahassee, Fla.) was the hard-luck losing pitcher. Horn turned in her second outstanding performance of the tournament in the circle. She allowed just two hits and the one earned run while falling to 13-11 on the season. Horn struck out six batters and walked four. On Thursday evening, Horn held Virginia Tech scoreless while allowing just one hit in 6.2 innings in UVa’s 3-0 win.
North Carolina scored what proved to be the lone run of the game in the top of the first inning. Breanna Brown led off with an infield single and then consecutive one-out walks to Cassie Palmer and Casey Testa loaded the bases. Jennifer Jacobs then plated Brown with a sacrifice fly to center field.
The Cavaliers’ best chance to score was in the bottom of the fifth inning. Third-year catcher Michelle Salmiery (San Jose, Calif.) hit a one-out single to left center. Second-year Whitney Holstun (Escondido, Calif.), pinch running for Salmiery, moved to second on a ground out. Fourth-year center fielder Jessica Taylor (Philadelphia, Pa.) then chopped an infield single to first and just avoided the tag with Holstun advancing to third. The Tar Heels got out of the jam when third-year second baseman Elea Crockett (Tucson, Ariz.) flew out to left field.
Virginia threatened again in the sixth as third-year designated player Amy McKean (Kent, Wash.) drew a one-out walk and second-year left fielder Lindsey Preuss (La Plata, Md.) followed with a single. Tar Heel pitcher Crystal Cox got out the inning with a strikeout and a foul pop up.
Cox improved to 27-7 with a four-hit shutout for North Carolina. She struck out nine and walked one.
Taylor, Crockett, Preuss and Salmiery each had a hit for Virginia.