University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Bradley
Tar Heels Best Bradley 8-0 To Close Out Opening Weekend
February 8, 2015 | Softball
TEMPE, Ariz. – North Carolina used a balanced team effort to top Bradley 8-0 Sunday, finishing opening weekend at the Kajikawa Classic 3-2.
The Tar Heels got on the scoreboard in the first inning after Bradley's Shannon King fielded a Kristen Brown grounder and threw the ball over the first baseman's head, allowing Aquilla Mateen to score from second, giving UNC a 1-0 lead.
A Darby Rosen single in inning number two brought home Jenna Kelly and two batters later Mateen would single up the middle to bring her teammate in, expanding the Carolina lead to 3-0.
The hits kept coming in the third inning as Brown got things started with a ground-rule double and Lauren Walker followed her with a single. Jenna Kelly would be hit by a pitch during the next at bat, loading the bases for Tracy Chandless. Chandless walloped the ball into center field, bouncing over the wall for a two-RBI ground-rule double. Kendra Lynch would bring in Kelly with a single and was replaced by pinch runner Elly Wagner. Wagner would steal second base and Chandless would score from third when the Bradley shortstop misplayed the throw from the catcher, making it 7-0 UNC.
Lynch was in the circle today for North Carolina, pitching five innings while allowing six hits and striking out three.
The Tar Heels' defense was superb all day, batting the Braves back every time they tried to make something happen. Bradley's strongest attempt came in the fourth inning when they loaded the bases with no outs. Catcher Kathryn Spenn would send a screaming line drive to Rosen at third base, making the catch and diving to the bag to record the double play. Lynch would strike out the next batter to escape the inning unscathed.
After sitting the Braves down in order in the top of the fifth, Lynch would lead off the bottom of the inning with a solo blast out to center field, ending the game and giving Carolina the victory.
