University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia
Tar Heels Split Twin Bill At Virginia
April 16, 2016 | Softball
Charlottesville, Va. – The Carolina offense struggled to get going on Saturday, dropping the first contest of the day at the University of Virginia, 7-1. A three-run top of the first got the Tar Heels in gear in game two, as UNC held off the Cavaliers, 10-8, in the nightcap. Carolina finished the day at 24-20 (8-9 ACC), while Virginia moved to 14-28 (4-10 ACC).
Senior Kristen Brown, who was drafted by the Chicago Bandits on Thursday night, continued her hot streak by going 4-for-7 with two home runs, four runs scored and five RBIs in the doubleheader. The Tar Heel shortstop is now just two drives away from the all-time conference home run record, with 63 to her name.
Virginia and North Carolina return to The Park on Sunday, April 17, for the rubber match. First pitch is set for Noon.
Game 1: Virginia 7, UNC 1
Virginia scored in four different innings and starter Erika Osherow limited the Tar Heels to just one run, a solo shot by Kristen Brown, to capture the series opener, 7-1.
Brown connected for her 62nd career home run in the top of the second. Destiny DeBerry went 2-for-4 with a pair of leadoff singles and a stolen base, and Taylor Wike doubled in the fifth. Leah Murray, Lauren Fuller and Katie Bailiff represented the Tar Heels' remaining base hits.
Kendra Lynch (19-15) got the start for Carolina, but left the circle after allowing six earned runs on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts over 4.1 innings. Fuller provided 1.2 innings of relief, allowing an unearned run on three hits and two walks.
Erika Osherow (11-17) looked strong for Virginia, allowing just one run on seven hits and one walk despite lacking a strikeout over the full seven innings.
Virginia struck first, as a leadoff home run by Allie Arneson made it 1-0 Cavaliers in the first inning.
Kristen Brown gave it right back, drilling an opposite field bomb to lead off the second and knot the score at one. The Heels followed with a pair of one-out singles, but the duo was stranded in scoring position on a lineout to short.
The first two Cavaliers reached base in the bottom of the second, and a walk loaded the bases with two outs. Arneson grounded one to the right side. Wike laid out and made a diving grab, but her throw from the ground did not get to Darby Rosen in time, as two runs crossed the plate to put UVA back in front, 3-1.
DeBerry led off the fifth with another single, but was thrown out stealing just two pitches before Wike ripped a double to deep right, erasing UNC's chance at a run. A pair of ground outs stranded Wike on third, as UVA maintained its 3-1 advantage.
Allison Davis added some insurance for Virginia in the bottom of the fifth with a solo shot to left. Back-to-back doubles made it 5-1 Wahoos and brought Fuller in to pitch. A single up the middle made it 6-1 UVA before Fuller drew a ground out and a strikeout to strand the bases loaded.
Virginia tacked on one more in the bottom of the sixth, as a misplayed ball by DeBerry in left allowed the runners an extra base, and Katie Park took advantage to drive in Arneson on a single through the left side.
Osherow retired UNC in order for the second straight inning the top of the seventh to close out the series opener, 7-1.
Game 2: UNC 10, Virginia 8
Carolina attacked early in game two, sending three runners across the plate in the top of the first. DeBerry led off on first due to an error by the second baseman, then Aquilla Mateen hit a perfectly-placed infield single, crossing first before a fielder even touched her batted ball. The pair stole to get into scoring position, then Wike drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly. Brown followed with an RBI single, then scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0 before Virginia came up to bat.
Virginia replied to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the first, but Lynch drew a pair of ground outs to keep the Cavaliers off the board.
The Tar Heels squandered a scoring chance in the top of the second, as Murray and DeBerry both singled to get a pair of runners in scoring position with one out, but an infield pop up kept UNC from adding to its lead.
The Cavaliers exploded for five runs on seven hits in the bottom of the second. McKall Miller and Madison Labshere led off with singles. The Tar Heels got the next two batters out, but Virginia rallied with five consecutive singles to score five runs and take a 5-3 lead.
Brown cut the deficit in half with her second home run of the afternoon, inching ever closer to the conference record with long ball number 63.
Carolina batted around in the top of the fourth, putting up six runs to snatch back the lead. Murray led off with an infield single. Mateen put a bunt down, and the pitcher looked to second before turning back to first, but by then the speedy senior was already safe. Wike was hit by a pitch to load the bases, then Brown connected for her third hit of the game to put UNC back on top, 6-5. An RBI single by Lynch chased Smith from the circle, but the rally continued with a single by Delamora. Brown and Lynch both hustled home on wild pitches, and Murray beat out her second infield single of the inning to make it 10-5 before Virginia finally got the last out.
UVA fought back in the bottom of the seventh, as a two-run home run by Katie Park cut the deficit to three. A two-out walk kept the game alive, and Erika Osherow then ripped a pinch hit double to left. Aimee Chapdelaine grounded one to the right side; Wike made a diving grab, but could not get the ball to first, making it 10-8 and bringing the go-ahead to the plate. Lynch then put a stop to it, getting Arneson to ground out to Wike to seal up her 20th victory of the season.
Lynch (20-15) allowed a total of eight earned runs in the complete game, giving up 13 hits and four walks, but her offense backed her up, attacking starter Lacy Smith (2-8) for nine runs, eight earned, on nine hits. The Cavalier starter did not surrender a walk and had one strikeout over the first 3.1 innings. Allison Davis tossed 3.2 innings of quality relief, allowing just one run on two hits and two walks, but the damage had already been done.
Kristen Brown and Leah Murray led the Heels by going 3-for-4 at the plate, as Brown homered, scored three times and drove in four runs. Lynch was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, and DeBerry and Mateen both singled and scored two runs.
