University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Charlotte
Tar Heels Fight Off 49ers In Extras
April 14, 2016 | Softball
CHARLOTTE – Every time UNC pulled ahead, Charlotte punched back, including sending the game to extra innings with two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but Carolina never fell behind, and three runs in the eighth led the Tar Heels to their second extra-innings victory in as many days, topping Charlotte, 8-5. The win lifts the Heels to 23-19, while the 49ers fall to 24-17.
“Great bounce back,” said head coach Donna J. Papa. “We scored early, which was great, which you need to do on the road. They answered back and then I thought it was kind of a dog fight. I thought we got stronger as the game went on in terms of our offense. I'm really proud that we refused to lose.”
Senior Kristen Brown, batting in the fifth spot on Wednesday, led the Tar Heels at the plate, going a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored.
“It's a testament to her,” said Papa. “We put her lower in the lineup, because she was just in a place where she needed a little relief. She was seeing her pitches, she wasn't chasing change ups, and I thought she was a lot more disciplined today waiting for her pitch. She made great contact, she hit the ball solid. It's a testament to her to make that adjustment today.”
Lauren Fuller went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run, and Berlynne Delamora walked twice and singled. Destiny DeBerry drove in the game winning run with an RBI single in the eighth, sending home Leah Murray, who had doubled. Tracy Chandless hit a pinch hit RBI double in the sixth, and Kendra Lynch doubled in a run in the eighth. Every batter in the starting lineup had a base hit or a run scored, as eight different Tar Heels crossed the plate and six drove in runs.
“Our slappers really struggled today, but in the eighth inning they got it done,” said Papa. “We had timely hits. I thought Lauren Fuller hit well, Kristen Brown hit the ball awesome. Tracy came in and did a great job. Darby getting that walk (in the eighth). It took us a while to make adjustments—a little bit longer than I would like—but when we did make some changes, I thought we hit the ball well. We started to hit the ball hard.”
Lynch (19-14) earned her second eight-inning victory in seven days, allowing just two earned runs on 11 hits and four walks with three strikeouts. Lexi Betancourt (15-11) went the distance for Charlotte, allowing eight earned runs on 12 hits and five walks with two strikeouts.
“Kendra did a great job getting out of the jams she was in,” said Papa. “We wound up on the winning end of it. I'm really proud, because in the earlier part of our season we didn't get that done. We lost leads and the team came back and beat us. So this time, we found a different way to win, which was great.”
Betancourt retired the first two batters of the game, but a pair of two-out walks helped UNC start a two-out rally. Brown found the gap in left center to send pinch runner Erin Satterfield across the plate, then Fuller followed with an RBI single through the right side to make it 2-0 Carolina before Charlotte came to the plate.
Haley Pace quickly tied the score in the bottom of the first, drilling a two-run home run to left. The next two batters singled to make it four straight 49er hits, but Lynch made a pair of plays in the infield to end the inning without allowing her team to fall behind.
Another two-out RBI single for Brown gave UNC back the lead in the top of the third. Wike walked and stole second, then Delamora drew her second walk of the game. Brown then ripped a line drive to left to send Wike across the plate and make it 3-2 Carolina.
“When you can score runs with two outs, that's fantastic,” said Papa. “It's easier when there's less than two, but to do it when there's two outs, that says a lot about our offense, just battling through.”
A two-out rally by Charlotte tied the score once again in the bottom of the fourth. Taylar Byrne drew a full-count walk with two outs, then Kiersten Berrier singled up the middle. Emma Ocker then come through with a single to left to knot the score at three runs apiece.
The Tar Heels pushed back in front in the top of the sixth after getting the leadoff runner aboard for the first time all game. Brown led off with a double, then Fuller drove her in with a single to left, as Brown crossed the plate for her 169th time, breaking yet another Carolina career record. Chandless then gave the Tar Heels some insurance with a pinch hit RBI double to make it 5-3 UNC.
Carolina retired two of the first three batters in the bottom of the seventh, but Birch kept the game alive with a swinging bunt that spun and stayed fair in front of the plate. Bailiff's throw was high, allowing the speedy second baseman to reach safely and keep the 49ers' hopes alive. Erin Powers drew a walk to load the bases, then Taylar Byrne, down to her last strike, came through with a two-run single to center, once again tying the score and sending the game into extra innings.
The bottom of the Tar Heel order had not been on base all game, but seventh batter Murray led off by dropping a double just inside the left field line. Darby Rosen walked on four pitches, then Aquilla Mateen loaded the bases with a bunt single. DeBerry drove the first pitch through the right side for an RBI single, then Taylor Wike flew out deep to center for a sacrifice fly. Lynch then gave herself some more insurance with an RBI double to give UNC its largest lead of the game, 8-5.
Ocker led off the bottom of the eighth with a single through the right side, but Lynch retired the next three straight to close out her 19th victory of the season.
The Tar Heels' road trip continues this weekend with a trip to Charlottesville for a three game ACC series at Virginia. The weekend begins with a doubleheader at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, and concludes on Sunday at Noon.
