Softball drops an 8-3 decision at North Carolina

Friday, March 6

Chapel Hill, NC

4 p.m.

University of Texas

14-8

North Carolina

12-4

Texas

North Carolina

Softball drops an 8-3 decision at North Carolina

03.06.2015 | Softball

Box Score

Texas finishes off Carolina Classic play on Saturday at 10 a.m. CT against Charlotte

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – On a bitterly cold Friday night at the Anderson Softball Stadium, North Carolina (12-4) raced to a five-run advantage through two innings on its way to downing Texas (14-8), 8-3.

The Longhorns managed to out-hit the Tarheels in the contest, 8-6, but were undone by three walks, a pair of hit batters, a misjudged line drive and an error that helped contribute to three costly unearned UNC runs.

Sophomore left fielder Stephanie Wong went 2-for-3 with a RBI and sophomore first baseman Kelli Hanzel was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored to lead the UT offense. Senior second baseman Stephanie Ceo (1-for-2) and freshman third baseman Randel Leahy (1-for-1, run) were each credited with a RBI in the defeat.

Freshman Erica Wright (5-4) suffered the loss in the circle, allowing three earned runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts over 2.0 innings. Sophomore Lauren Slatten tossed a pair of frames in relief, permitting two earned tallies on two hits with a walk, while senior pitcher Gabby Smith struck out one in firing no-hit sixth and seventh frames.

For the 15th time in 2015, sophomore shortstop Devon Tunning managed to get on to begin an inning by drawing a walk off North Carolina starter Kaylee Carlson starting the top of the first. A sac bunt, a Lindsey Stephens single and a stolen base improved a pair of Longhorns into scoring position with still only one down. Unfortunately, UT missed an early chance to jump in front on the scoreboard as a ground ball forced the runners to stay put and Carlson struck out a batter looking at strike three to leave the duo stranded.

After having escaped a first inning jam, UNC quickly secured the lead in the bottom half. Center fielder Aquilla Mateen singled and shortstop Kristen Brown doubled via a misplayed liner to station a pair of Tarheels in scoring position with one out. Catcher Amber Parrish stepped to the dish in her clean-up role and did just that, hitting a three-run shot to left as UNC nabbed a 3-0 lead.

Hanzel did her best to get Texas' offense untracked in the top of the second, battling Carlson hard over a 10-pitch at-bat before blooping a lead-off single down the right field line. After advancing within 60 feet of pay dirt on a wild pitch/ground ball combo, the Houston, Texas, product easily scored on Leahy's sacrifice fly as UT cut its deficit to 3-1.

The Longhorns conspired to help North Carolina add three more tallies during the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded as a result of a leadoff single and consecutive hit batters, UNC's Brown hit a shallow two-out pop-up into dangerous territory on the outfield grass. A pair of Texas infielders raced out and collided while trying for the catch, allowing the ball to fall in for an error as two unearned runs crossed the plate. Consecutive walks soon forced in the Tarheels' sixth tally before Wright struck out right fielder Kendra Lynch to end the outburst.

The UNC lead expanded to 7-1 in the bottom of the third as designated player Lauren Walker tripled starting the frame and scored on a wild pitch.

Looking to spark a comeback, Hanzel got UT going again in the top of the fourth with a one-out single to left field. Leahy followed with a two-out base knock to right, placing Longhorns at the corners. Ceo stepped into the box and ripped a RBI single up the middle, plating Hanzel from 60 feet away to make it 7-2. Tunning walked to load the bases, and Wong followed with a RBI single to left as Texas cut its deficit to four.

Parrish's second HR of the game, a solo shot in the bottom fourth to left center, soon extended UNC's advantage back to five tallies at 8-3.

From there Texas received a fifth-inning single from junior designated player Holly Kern, but that was all against Tarheel reliever Sydney Matsko as UNC finished off the triumph.