New Ballpark Debuts As Tar Heels Sweep

It was the first home series of the season and the first in the new UNC softball complex. Tar Heel assistant coach Beverly Smith was proposed to before the game (she said yes). And amid the buzz, UNC swept No. 20 USC.

The Tar Heels came back from deficits of 5-0, 7-6, and 8-7 to win the first game, 9-8, in 10 innings. In the second, UNC erased a 1-0 deficit by scoring eight unanswered runs to win 8-1.

UNC coach Donna Papa said she was impressed with her team's perseverance.

"It's exciting to fight back like that," she said. "South Carolina came out swinging, and we were down 5-0 at the end of the first inning. But the team battled for every out. And when they scored first again (in the second game), our comeback in the first game gave us the confidence for the second one."

Center fielder Tiffany Tolleson was a spark plug at the top of the order for UNC (7-5), going 6-for-8 with five runs scored and a stolen base.

"We need her to get on," Papa said. "She makes things happen."

Catcher Natalie Anter hit a key home run in each game to extend her UNC record to 23. Gamecock pitchers respected her power, as she drew four walks -- two intentional -- in her eight at-bats.

"I just wanted to make up for dropping the ball (on a play at the plate) earlier," she said. "I just tried to relax and swing, and it went over."

Anter's bat proved to be a big part of UNC's comeback in the first game. USC (9-5) came out swinging, and stormed out to a five-run lead in the first inning. Tar Heel starter Shannon Walsh was bounced from the game after recording only one out and allowing all five runs.

Freshman Erica Ennis came in and stopped the bleeding, sandwiching a run-scoring triple between the inning's final two outs.

In the bottom of the second, the Tar Heels battled back with small ball, using singles, sacrifices and walks to put together a four-run rally of their own, chasing USC starter Stacey Johnson. Two runs in the third put UNC ahead 6-5.

The game went back and forth the rest of the way. Anter's home run in the bottom of the sixth tied the score at seven. The score was still tied after the seventh, forcing extra innings.

Two extra frames were played before the Gamecocks broke through in the top of the 10th on Jodi Fittro's RBI double. But the Tar Heels refused to quit, manufacturing the tying and winning runs in the bottom of the inning.

Jessica Young's bases-loaded single brought home the winning run.

"It was stressful," said Young, a freshman third baseman. "I had a lot of opportunities early on that didn't work through. I was glad I was finally able to."

Although they scored the first run in the second game, the Gamecocks were unable to respond to the Tar Heels offensive push.

Tar Heel freshman pitchers Ashley Allen and Brandi Griffin kept USC in check, allowing only one run on five hits while stranding seven baserunners.

"Ashley was behind in the count early," Papa said. "But she helped herself out with the bat and then settled in. And I really like Brandi as a closer.

"We've never swept South Carolina before. That was probably our best combined effort of the season."

The Sports Editor can be reached at sports@unc.edu.