May 11, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. --- Sophomore shortstop Anna Evans and junior pitcher Crystal Cox were named to the 2005 All-Atlantic Coast Conference softball team, the league announced Wednesday. Evans was named to the first team, while Cox, the 2003 ACC Rookie of the Year, was named to the second team.

Evans finished the regular season with a team-best .321 batting average. She also led the squad in hits (53), total bases (82) and triples (2), and shared the team lead in home runs (6). Evans was even better in league play, batting .340 in 18 ACC games with an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of .879. She ranked in the top ten in the league in both on base percentage and slugging.

Cox led the Tar Heels in every major pitching category, wrapping up the regular season with a record of 20-16 and an ERA of 1.53. Thus far she has recorded 288 strikeouts, just nine shy of her school record mark of 297 set in 2004. Cox threw her first career perfect game on February 23 against Elon, and her sixth career no-hitter against Furman on March 23. Cox led the ACC in appearances, complete games and saves. Her four saves were a school record.

Evans, Cox and the Tar Heels will begin play in the ACC Tournament Thursday morning at 11 a.m. against NC State.