University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tar Heels Suffer Setback In Midweek Border Battle
February 17, 2016 | Softball
Columbia, S.C. – The Tar Heels held South Carolina hitless through the first three innings, but the Gamecocks burst ahead late to top North Carolina, 9-1, in five innings. The win lifts SC to 4-1, while UNC slips to 2-4.
“I thought Kendra pitched really well,” said head coach Donna J. Papa. “She had a no-hitter going through the fourth inning, and one play, just a defensive miscue, created some momentum for South Carolina, and they really jumped on it, took advantage of it and scored a bunch of runs. We didn't really recover from that.
“It's a disappointing way to lose a game, because I think we have a good team, but we just have to make the plays. We have to get better at being solid defensively.”
Junior Kendra Lynch connected for the Tar Heels' lone hit in the game, a second-inning triple, and Katie Bailiff drove in pinch runner Kiana Sherlund on a sacrifice fly to give UNC an early lead. Kristen Brown and Darby Rosen both walked twice, and Lauren Fuller was the only other Tar Heel to reach base, getting aboard on a hit by pitch.
Lynch (2-3) got the start in the circle for Carolina and allowed just two base runners over the first three innings, but surrendered five runs on four hits without recording an out in the bottom of the fourth. Fuller got the Tar Heels out of the inning, but gave up four runs on three hits and left with the bases loaded in the fifth. Sydney Matzko then allowed all three inherited runners to score, surrendering hits to both of the batters she faced.
Jessica Elliott improved to 3-0 on the year after allowing just one run on one hit with four walks over the first four innings, and Nickie Blue hurled a perfect top off the fifth, with one strikeout.
The Tar Heels got on the board first in the top of the second, as Lynch slugged her first career triple to the corner in right field, and Bailiff drove her home with a sacrifice fly.
Despite being held without a hit through the first three innings, the Gamecocks exploded for six runs on five hits in the bottom of the fourth. Victoria Williams started the rally with a leadoff double to left center, and Kaylea Snaer drove her in with a single. Lynch drew a comebacker on the next play, but hesitated then threw the ball in the dirt, allowing two runs to score.
Lauren Masters followed with an RBI double, and a single to Tiara Duffy chased Lynch from the circle, ceding to Fuller for her first pitching appearance of the season. A sacrifice squeeze brought home Alexis Mack, then Kenzi Maguire singled through the left side for an RBI. The Tar Heels nearly ended the inning with a double play, but Leah Murray couldn't hold on to a low throw from Brown, as Alaynie Page came in to score an unearned run, making it 6-1, before a ground out finally ended the inning.
A pair of singles and a hit batter loaded the bases full of Gamecocks with one out in the fifth, as Fuller returned the first base and Matzko came in to pitch. Ansley Ard singled to center, scoring the first run, then Page ended the game with a two-run single to center, making it 9-1 and giving South Carolina a five-inning, run-rule victory.
North Carolina returns to Chapel Hill this weekend for the 2016 home opener, hosting Northwestern, Illinois and Boston College in the first annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Boston Colleg and Illinois kick off the tournament at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 19, followed by UNC vs. Northwestern.
