University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia
Cavaliers Edge Tar Heels, 3-2, In Finale
April 17, 2016 | Softball
Charlottesville, Va. – A triple and a home run in the first two innings provided all the offense Virginia would need, as Carolina's late comeback fell short, dropping Sunday's ACC series finale, 3-2. The win lifts UVA to 15-28 (5-10 ACC), while Carolina falls to 24-21 (8-10 ACC).
Kristen Brown led the Tar Heels at the plate, going 2-for-3 in the cleanup spot, and Destiny DeBerry and Taylor Wike provided the only other Carolina hits. DeBerry and Aquilla Mateen scored the Tar Heels' two runs, and Mateen had a sacrifice bunt and her 23rd stolen base of the season.
Kendra Lynch (20-16) limited UVA to five hits with five strikeouts, but allowed three earned runs over the full six innings to take the loss. Erika Osherow (12-17) completed her second win of the weekend, holding UNC to one earned run on four hits. Neither pitcher issued a walk or a hit batter in the game.
Allie Arneson led off the bottom of the first with a triple to the corner in right. Kaitlin Fitzgerald then lined out to left, picking up the sac fly to make it 1-0 UVA.
Aimee Chapdelaine made it 3-0 in the bottom of the second, launching a two-run home run to center.
Brown was the lone Tar Heel with a hit over the first five innings, but DeBerry chopped a one-out single into shallow right in the top of the sixth. She advanced to second on a passed ball, then Mateen reached safely on a throwing error after dropping down a bunt. The Tar Heel centerfielder stole second and the throw ended up in center field, allowing DeBerry to score and Mateen to reach third. A wild pitch then allowed Mateen to cross the plate and cut the deficit to one, 3-2. Wike and Brown followed with singles, but the Tar Heels stranded them both to keep from tying the score.
Osherow retired three straight in the top of the seventh to preserve the Cavalier lead and finish out a 3-2 victory.
The Tar Heels return to Virginia on Wednesday, April 20, as they complete their nine-game road trip with a visit to Harrisonburg to take on nationally-ranked James Madison.
