Boston College
North Carolina*
Eagles Fall To UNC 3-2 in Ten Innings
March 26, 2007 | Softball
March 26, 2007
Chapel Hill, N.C- - The Boston College Softball team wrapped up its three-game weekend at North Carolina yesterday, losing 3-2 in ten innings. North Carolina sent Sophomore ace Lisa Norris to the hill again, after she blanked the Eagles 1-0 on Saturday. The Eagles countered with Senior Britney Thompson.
Both starters were dominant. Thompson threw 7 2/3 IP, scattering nine hits, while allowing two runs (one earned). Norris threw all ten innings for the Tar Heels, taking the win, and improving to 19-6.
Both pitchers cruised through the first five innings without a score. The Eagles struck first in the sixth inning, when Jenna Macchi ('07), who had four hits on the day, scored on an Ashley Obrest ('07) single to right. Thompson then helped her own cause in the seventh, doubling home Amanda Booth ('08) for a 2-0.
The Eagles were poised for the first ACC victory of the year, taking a 2-0 lead into the final frame of a game that threatened to end the Tar Heels 24-game winning streak.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, fate had other plans for the afternoon. UNC Senior Anna Evans led off the inning with a solo homerun to center, prompting Eagles Coach Jen Finley to bring in Freshman pitcher Taylor Peyton. Whitney Allen then singled off Peyton, and was replaced on the basepaths by Ashley Oxendine. Oxendine was sacrificed over to second, and then reached third on a wild pitch. Norris, the Tar Heels hero on the day, then singled Oxendine home for the game-tying run. Peyton quickly retired the next two batters to force extra innings, but the damage was done.
The Eagles threatened in the top of the ninth, after Macchi doubled and Thompson walked, but the rally fizzled out.
In the tenth, with Thompson back on the hill for the Eagles, Erin Dudley singled with one out. She moved to third on a single by Breanna Brown, and came home with the winning run on a BC passed ball.
Though unlucky, the Eagles have reason to be proud of their efforts against one of the nation's better teams. After losing 9-4 in the series opener, BC dropped two one-run decisions to a team in the midst of a torrid 25-game winning steak.
The Eagles will be in action next on Wednesday at Holy Cross in Worcester.
--BC--
