University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
#7 JMU
Seventh-Seeded Dukes Slug Past Heels, 10-1
May 21, 2016 | Softball
HARRISONBURG, VA. – A first-inning grand slam jumpstarted the James Madison offense, powering the No. 7 overall seed into its own NCAA Regional Final with a 10-1 defeat of Carolina in six innings. UNC returns to Veterans Memorial Park tonight at 7 p.m. to face the winner of the elimination game between Longwood and Princeton for a chance at a rematch with JMU on 'Championship Sunday' at 2 p.m.
“Certainly JMU is a very good team,” said head coach Donna J. Papa. “They have excellent pitching. We didn't make a couple of plays that opened up an inning or two for them, and I think Kendra [Lynch] didn't have her best stuff today. We got five hits and one run out of it and hit the ball well. When you're playing in this kind of arena, you have to play excellent defense, you've got to put the ball in play and you have to be solid on the mound. I don't think in those three areas we were as good as we have been.”
Freshmen Destiny DeBerry and Berlynne Delamora were strong at the plate, reaching base a total of five times, as DeBerry went 2-for-3 at the top of the order, while Delamora doubled, walked, was hit by a pitch and scored. Tracy Chandless set up a run with a single in the fourth, and Lauren Fuller drove in the Tar Heels' lone run with a sacrifice fly.
“We faced an outstanding pitcher so I'm pleased,” said Papa. “I think Destiny did a great job. Berlynne and Tracy, too. They got the ball in play and fought until the end.”
Kendra Lynch (28-18) made her school-record 46th start on Saturday, but made it through just three-and-a-third innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits and matched her season high with six walks. Fuller took over with the bases loaded in the fourth and kept JMU off the board for 2.1 innings before a three-run homer ended the game. The senior ended with three runs on four hits and two walks.
“I thought Lauren did a good job going in,” said Papa. “JMU had a couple of big hits that resulted in most of their runs. The bottom of their lineup hurt us.”
Jailyn Ford (18-2) went the distance for JMU, limiting the Tar Heels just an unearned run on five hits and a walk with eight strikeouts. Madyson Moran led the Dukes by going 3-for-3 with a double and the game-ending home run, while Jessica Mrozek slugged a grand slam in the first.
The Dukes attacked early, getting the first two batters on with a walk and a bunt single. Lynch got the next two batters out on a strikeout and a flyout, but issued a full-count walk to Taylor Newton to load the bases. Jessica Mrozek then drilled a grand slam to right center to make it 4-0 JMU in the first.
Carolina got on the board with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth. Delamora was hit by a pitch, then Chandless roped one into left. The left fielder misread the ball allowing the Tar Heels to reach second and third, and Fuller then sent Delamora across the plate with a fly ball to deep right.
JMU got the run back and then some in the bottom half, as the first five batters of the inning reached safely. Madyson Moran got the rally started with a double to right center, and Hannah Hayes sent her home with a single off a diving Rosen at first. Another walk loaded the bases, then Morgan Tolle drove in two with a single through the left side to make it 7-1 JMU.
After issuing a walk to Megan Good, her season-worst sixth of the game, Lynch exited the circle and was replaced by Fuller. The Tar Heel senior came in and got the job done, stranding the bases loaded with a strikeout and a ground out to end the frame.
A double by Delamora in the top of the sixth gave Carolina a scoring chance, but a key strikeout by Ford stranded a pair of Heels.
Fuller kept JMU off the board through the fifth, but with two outs in the sixth, Moran launched a three-run home run to straightaway center to put the Dukes in front 10-1 and conclude the game in six innings.
“It's all or nothing at this point,” said Papa. “We've got to win tonight's game to have a tomorrow so we've got to find a way to put seven good innings together against whoever we face so we can play tomorrow.”
