EUGENE, OR. – The UNC softball team put itself in the best position possible to start the NCAA tournament with an extra-inning upset against No. 25 Wisconsin Thursday night, 3-2.

In round one, game two of the Eugene, Oregon Regional, freshman Kristen Brown hit a sacrifice fly to shortstop, scoring junior Elisha Elliot to break the 2-2 tie.

Junior Lori Spingola remained in the circle and closed out the game as freshman center-fielder Aquilla Mateen helped with the first out and Spingola struck out two to end the game.

With the win, the Tar Heels advance to the second round with an ever-important 1-0 record in the double-elimination format. Carolina plays Oregon Friday at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. The winner of that contest fast-tracks to Saturday’s championship round; the loser has to play again at 8:00 p.m. Eastern on Friday in the final game of the losers’ bracket.