University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Pittsburgh
Panthers Pounce On Heels In Series Finale
March 20, 2016 | Softball
Pittsburgh, Pa. – Carolina softball took its first ACC series loss on Sunday, as the University of Pittsburgh won the rubber match, 11-3, in five innings. The Tar Heels had good scoring chances early, but an eight-run second for the Panthers led UP to the run-rule victory. With the win, Pitt improves to 18-9 (2-4 ACC), while UNC falls to 14-14 (3-3 ACC).
Junior Kendra Lynch led the Tar Heels at the plate, going 3-for-3 on the day, while Katie Bailiff came through with a two-run double. Berlynne Delamora also doubled in the third inning, and Kristen Brown drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single.
Lynch (12-11) got the start in the circle, but allowed eight runs, three earned, on six hits and two walks, leaving with two outs in the second. Lauren Fuller tossed the remaining 2.1 innings, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks with a career-high five strikeouts.
Kayla Harris (8-7) earned the complete-game win, allowing three runs on seven hits and six walks with four strikeouts over five innings.
Destiny DeBerry drew a walk to lead off the game, and after Taylor Wike bunted her to second, Brown roped an RBI single to left for the first run of the game. A walk and a single loaded the bases with one out, but Harris escaped the jam with a big 10-pitch strikeout followed by a ground out to keep UNC from scoring any more.
The wheels came off for Carolina in the bottom of the second, as the UNC defense failed to make outs on two consecutive sacrifice bunts to load the bases with nobody out. Alexis Solak, Jenna Modic and Giorgiana Zeremenko all took advantage by crushing home runs in the inning, as Pittsburgh took an 8-1 lead.
Carolina got two back on a bases-loaded double by Bailiff. Delamora got it started with a double off the wall in right center, then a single by Lynch and a walk loaded the bases for the rookie catcher. UNC had a shot at more, with runners on second and third and still just one out, but Harris struck out the next two batters to hold the lead at 8-3.
The Tar Heels loaded the bases with singles by Wike and Lynch in the top of the fourth, but were unable to come up with a two-out base hit.
Erin Hershman added a run in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI double, but Fuller struck out the next three batters to strand two Panthers in scoring position.
McKayla Taylor ended the game in the bottom of the fifth, hitting a two-run double to right center to make it 11-3 Panthers and seal up a run-rule finish.
Carolina returns to action on Wednesday, March 23, for a trip to Coastal Carolina. The midweek nonconference game is slated to begin at 3 p.m.
