VanBrakle Pitches Tide Past Tar Heels, 1-0
2/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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COLUMBUS, GA--Stephanie VanBrakle struck out 12 and threw a two-hit shutout to help the No. 7 (NFCA) Alabama Crimson Tide (19-2) rebound from a loss earlier in the day with a 1-0 victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels, Saturday night at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. The victory improved VanBrakle's record to 8-1 on the season.
Alabama's offense was unable to generate any runs early in the game, stranding six runners over the first four innings. However, VanBrakle kept UNC in check, throwing four and one-thirds perfect innings before allowing a hit.
Alabama's offense scored the only run of the night in the top of the fifth inning when Ashley Courtney scored on a throwing error by Carolina first baseman Jaclyn Holden on a check swing single from Staci Ramsey.
VanBrakle shut down UNC the rest of the way. The junior hurler allowed the Tar Heels only three base runners for the game, and the two hits she allowed were the only two balls to leave the infield for North Carolina.
Courtney paced the Tide offensively with three hits, including a double and a stolen base.
Alabama returns to action against Southern Illinois at 10:00 a.m. C.S.T. Sunday morning. If Alabama wins its first game tomorrow it will play again at noon C.S.T. WVUA 90.7 will carry the radio broadcast of the games in the Tuscaloosa area with Chad Anderson calling the play by play. The broadcast will also be available via the internet as well as live www.rolltide.com.
