April 17, 2003
ATLANTA – North Carolina shortstop Emily Price hit a two-run homer to left center in the seventh inning to lead the Tar Heels to a 3-1 win over the Georgia Tech softball team (31-17, 3-2 ACC) in game one of Thursday’s Atlantic Coast Conference doubleheader at Glenn Field. The second game was halted due to rain with the score tied, 1-1, in the second inning. The teams will attempt to resume game two at a future date.
Junior All-American shortstop Tara Knudsen put the Jackets up 1-0 in the bottom the sixth with her 11th home run of the season, a shot to left center off Tar Heel starter Crystal Cox. With the one-run lead, Tech ace Jessica Sallinger reentered in the top of the seventh but could not hold on for the victory.
Tar Heel senior Tiffany Tolleson singled through the left side to lead off the seventh, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and took third on a ground out to short. Tolleson then scored to tie the game on a single down the right field line by freshman first baseman Jaclyn Holden. Price’s homer then put North Carolina up 3-1. Tech went in order in the bottom the seventh to close out the game.
Sallinger, who tossed the first two innings of the game, took the loss to fall to 17-11 on the season. She worked three innings in the game, allowing three runs on three hits. She walked one and struck out three. Junior Erin Voeltz was effective during the middle four innings of the game, allowing no runs on three hits and five walks.
Cox (20-8) earned the win for the Tar Heels (32-16-1, 3-2 ACC) after allowing two hits and one run in seven innings. She struck out nine and walked three. Tolleson and Price each had two hits to lead the North Carolina offense.
In game two, the Heels took a 1-0 lead in the first on a solo homer by second baseman Megan Welch off Sallinger. After a one-hour rain delay, the Jackets tied the game in the bottom the inning when second baseman Felicia Coursey scored from third on a passed ball.
Sallinger retired the side in order in the second, and the game was then called with one out the Yellow Jacket half of the frame.
Tech returns to action Saturday in a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, N.C. The Jackets also travel to Georgia Southern Monday for a 3 p.m. twinbill to make up the games postponed from April 9.
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