Tar Heels defeat UNC-G in doubleheader shutout

After North Carolina second baseman Cassie Palmer fouled a ball off her ankle as she stood in the batter’s box, a voice from the bench yelled, “Send them the casserole, 8.”

The actual meaning of this statement is debatable, but one thing was not: The Tar Heels have found what they’ve been looking for all season and finally could enjoy it after slaughtering UNC-Greensboro 8-0 and 6-0 Thursday.

“A lot of time we press ourselves when we’re not perfect,” said UNC pitcher Ashley Allen. “It’s nice when you don’t have to and you can do stupid stuff and cheer.”

North Carolina (29-21) performed almost flawlessly on the mound, as it posted its third consecutive shutout for the first time this season.

SOFTBALL UNC-G 0 UNC 6 UNC-G 0 UNC 8

“I thought our pitchers, really, today were the story of the game,” said UNC coach Donna Papa.

Allen took a no-hitter into the fifth inning before UNC-G’s Alixis Villarin tagged a single to right.

“I didn’t even know there was a no-hitter until, I think, Whitney (Gelin) said something about it,” Allen said. “And then I think she jinxed me.”

But that breaker was all the Spartans (14-26) would get, as Allen finished with a one-hitter on seven strikeouts. UNC junior Alison Yin entered in the top of the sixth to finish the shutout.

Crystal Cox performed equally as masterfully in the first game, going the distance for a complete-game shutout.

“You can definitely play a little more relaxed when everybody’s performing,” Cox said.

It was the offense — particularly in the second game — whose performance appeased the pitching staff.

The Tar Heels got on the board quickly and viciously. After designated hitter Casey Testa roped a single up the middle, two more reached on an error and a walk.

Then, in stepped Jen Jacobs.

After bringing the count to an even 1-1, Jacobs seized her opportunity and sliced a ball hard the opposite way for a bases-clearing double.

“I thought the second game we were sharper up at the plate than we were the first game,” Papa said.

UNC kept the fire ablaze in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run by center fielder Theresa Nicholas to lead off the inning. The home run was her first of the season and the second of Nicholas’ career.

Even then, the Tar Heels refused to let up. With the game seemingly secured in their favor, Jaclyn Holden stepped in to pinch-hit and reached on an error. But the lackadaisical play of the Spartans allowed Holden to advance to second without so much as a throw.

Once again, Jacobs found herself at the plate with runners in scoring position. She lined a deep shot to right field and over the wall for her fourth and fifth RBIs of the game.

“The one thing I tell them all the time is to respect everybody,” Papa said. “And I told them they weren’t respecting Greensboro, because in the first game we were only up 3-0 and we could have — should have — had more opportunities to score to put them away.”

Third baseman Joslin Higgins and shortstop Anna Evans snatched a home run each, and Evans went 3-for-3 in the first game of the doubleheader.

The Tar Heels hope their recent offensive surge and pitching prowess will boost them into a crucial weekend matchup.

“I think it’s good for us going into this weekend to have this confidence of knowing we’ve shut teams out,” Papa said.

“We’ve hit the ball well, we’ve played good defense. So that’s definitely a plus for us.”

Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.