March 22, 2002
MARIETTA, Ga. - Yolanda McRae scored on Jennifer Hester's bunt single in the eighth inning Friday to give Georgia State a 1-0 victory over Western Kentucky University on the opening day of the Buzz Classic at the Al Bishop Softball Complex.
The Hilltoppers (18-11) fell in their tournament opener to North Carolina, 9-0, in five innings.
Allison Silver and Andrea McNary battled in a scoreless duel to send WKU's second game into extra frames. McRae started the eighth at second base with the international tiebreaker in effect, moving to third when Shannon McCormick laid down a sacrifice bunt. Hester then dropped a bunt in front of home plate, beating the throw to first after McRae crossed home.
McNary (7-7) faced runners on first and second with one out in the bottom half of the inning before inducing a game-ending double play. She struck out 10 and walked three, allowing the Hilltoppers' just a bunt single by Riley Garcia to begin the game.
Silver (8-4) gave up only three hits, not allowing a hit to the final 14 batters she faced before the final frame. The left-hander tied a career high with eight strikeouts and walked just one.
The Panthers avenged a 1-0 loss to the Toppers at their Kick-Off Classic in Atlanta on Feb. 16.
The Tar Heels scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning of the opener and never looked back. Tiffany Tolleson walked to begin the contest and then stole second base. She then scored when Sara Alan?s dropped the ball covering first on Rosie Gustavson's sacrifice bunt.
UNC broke it open in the third, using four hits to score three runs and knock starter Kristalyn Smith out of the contest. After retiring Tolleson, Gustavson and Quinn Porter hit back-to-back singles up the middle. Natalie Anter walked before Kelly Ramsey singled past Smith in the circle to drive home two. After Ashley Allen drew a free pass to reload the bases, Rockie Castillo came on in relief for the Hilltoppers. She struck out two, but gave up a single to Emily Price, which added another Tar Heel run.
The Heels batted around again in the fourth, with Gustavson collecting a run-scoring single and Allen doubling home two as part of a five-run outburst.
Gustavson finished 2-for-3 with two runs as the top third of the order combined to collect four hits and score six times.
Shannon Walsh allowed just two hits, though walking six, with eight strikeouts to improve to 7-6. Smith, who saw a five-game win streak come to an end, fell to 6-2.
Alan?s walked in all three of her plate appearances, with Beth Enk and Garcia collecting the Hilltoppers' hits.
It was the second victory for the Tar Heels over the Toppers, as UNC defeated WKU, 5-1, on the first day of the Hampton Inn Crimson Classic March 2.
The Hilltoppers will conclude pool play with a pair of contests Saturday - first against Michigan State at 1 p.m. (CST), then versus Maryland at 5 p.m.
- WKU -
