The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
North Carolina
Rebels Drop Two-Game Series With North Carolina
3/1/2004 | Softball
March 1, 2004
Box Score
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Ole Miss started strong, but faded at the plate as North Carolina found its bats to claim a sweep of the Rebels in a two-game series on Sunday. North Carolina claimed the first game 2-1 on a two-run walk-off home run, while the Tar Heels jumped on the Rebels early to claim the second game 3-0.
North Carolina out hit Ole Miss 15-7 on the weekend. The Tar Heels held a 6-4 advantage in the first game and a 9-3 edge in the second game.
"We've got to stop beating ourselves," said Ole Miss head coach Candi Letts. "We have to learn to finish games when we get to the seventh inning with a lead. We have to go for it. We aren't seizing the opportunities that are there for us."
In the second game of the day, North Carolina jumped out on the Rebels quickly in the first inning, loading the bases with no outs as the first batter walked and the next two reached on singles. Emily Price drove in the first run of the day with a grounder to left center, scoring Dionne Streete. Ole Miss shortstop Rebecca McIntire and the Tar Heels' Jessica Evans collided on the play in the third base line, allowing the ball to roll into center field. The umpires ruled McIntire had no chance at the play and ruled all runners safe.
The Tar Heels scored again in the second, as a double from Dionne Streete scored Dudley from first to push the lead to 2-0. Dudley reached on a single to lead off the inning.
North Carolina added to the total in the bottom of the sixth after loading the bases with two outs. With the bases loaded, Brill walked in the Tar Heels' third run of the day as she walked Anna Evans, pushing the score to 3-0 in favor of Carolina.
Brill (1-3) gave up nine hits, striking out five batters and walking two in the loss. Alison Yin claimed the win for the Tar Heels, moving to 3-4 on the season as she worked 3.2 innings before Crystal Cox entered the game in relief.
In the first game, Streete notched a walk-off home run, driving the first pitch over the left field fence and scoring Natashalyn Snipes to push the Tar Heels to a 2-1 victory over the Rebels in the bottom of the seventh. Snipes reached to lead off the seventh inning with a short chopper down the third base line.
Britte Hardy started things quickly for the Rebels, driving the ball deep into right field for a triple. The next two batters struck out before Mandy Ott sent the ball up the middle, scoring Hardy to put the Rebels in the lead. The Tar Heels caught Ott stealing on the next play to get out of the inning. Hardy was one of four Rebels to record a hit in the game.
Mary Jane Callahan (1-6) suffered the loss for the Rebels, working 6.1 innings while striking out six batters and walking only two.
Cox claimed the win for the Tar Heels, moving to 5-3 on the season. Cox struck out 11 batters and walked none in the win.
The Rebels will return to action in the Speedline Tournament March 4-8 in Tampa, Fla. Ole Miss will open play against No. 22 USF on Thursday at 10 a.m.
