Southern Vance High School alumna Ashley Oxendine scored the winning run to keep the University of North Carolina alive in the NCAA softball tournament with a 2-1, nine-inning win over Seton Hall in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Saturday.
Oxendine hasn’t seen a lot of playing time as a freshman, but her speed has been valuable to Carolina. She made only one start during the year and collected only one hit and one walk, but she had four stolen bases and scored 14 runs.
Her heroics Saturday came in a typical role for her this year, as a pinch runner. According to the official UNC write-up and the NCAA box score, Oxendine ran for first baseman Jennifer Jacobs after Jacobs walked. Starting from first, Oxendine managed to score on a single by catcher Whitney Gelin with the help of an error by Seton Hall center fielder Jenna Best.
The Tar Heels are 38-28 on the year and now have won two NCAA tournament games for the first time. UNC plays top-ranked Michigan (57-4) this afternoon and must beat the Wolverines twice to advance to the next round.