University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Georgia Tech
Tar Heels Close Regular Season With Sweep Of Georgia Tech
May 9, 2016 | Softball
ATLANTA – Carolina softball finished the 2016 regular season with a three-game sweep of Georgia Tech to secure a tie for fifth place in the ACC standings. The Tar Heels took two from the Yellow Jackets (22-33, 7-16 ACC) on graduation day, defeating GT 8-3 and 7-1 to close the regular season on a five-game winning streak. The Tar Heels (30-22, 13-11 ACC) will take on fourth-seeded Boston College in the ACC Quarterfinals on Thursday, May 12, at 1:30 p.m. The game will air live on several Regional Sports Networks and will be streamed on ESPN3.
After tossing a three-hit shutout on Saturday night, Kendra Lynch closed the year by going 4-for-7 with two doubles, a home run and three RBIs on Sunday while allowing just two earned runs over 14 innings pitched. After tossing all 21 innings this weekend, Lynch moved into second all time at UNC in single-season innings pitched (270.1) and starts (42), third in appearances (48), fifth in wins (26) and eighth in complete games (30).
Senior Kristen Brown launched the 65th home run of her career, tying NC State's Renada Davis '15 for the all-time ACC career record. Additionally, the two-run homer moved her into a tie with Kelsi Weseman '12 of Georgia Tech for third all time in RBIs, as she became the first Tar Heel to drive in 200 runs and now has 201 RBIs. The senior slugger also moved into fifth place in total bases, owning 463 to her name.
Game 1: UNC 8, Georgia Tech 3
For the second straight game, UNC exploded for three home runs to back a strong effort by Kendra Lynch in the circle. Berlynne Delamora was the first to go yard for two runs in the first, then Lauren Fuller led off the second with a long ball. Kristen Brown then launched her 65th career home run in the fifth to secure the 8-3 victory.
Brown totaled two walks, a home run and a sacrifice fly for three RBIs. Lynch went 2-for-3 with an RBI double, and Aquilla Mateen ripped her 11th career triple and scored in the second.
Lynch (25-16) went the distance for UNC, allowing two earned runs on eight hits and three walks with two strikeouts. Jenna Goodrich fell to 11-18 after allowing five earned runs on seven hits and five walks with four strikeouts over the full seven innings.
The Tar Heels attacked the Yellow Jackets for three runs in the top of the first. DeBerry led off on first due to an error by the shortstop. She stole second and got to third on a ground out. Brown then drove her home with a sacrifice fly, tying both the individual (5) and team (18) single-season records for sac flies.
Lynch kept the opening frame going with a two-out single, then Delamora crushed a two-run blast to right center to make it 3-0 Tar Heels before Georgia Tech got to the plate.
The Yellow Jackets threatened in the bottom half of the inning with a leadoff double and loaded the bases with two outs, but Lynch drew a ground out to strand three.
Carolina put up three more runs in the top of the second sparked by a leadoff home run by Fuller. Mateen tripled to left center and scored when a pickoff attempt ended up in left field. Taylor Wike and Brown kept the inning going with walks, then Lynch ripped an RBI double to right center to make it 6-0 Heels.
Georgia Tech got on the board in the bottom of the second on a two-run home run by Kaylee Ellebracht. Jessica Kowalewicz continued the leadoff rally with a double to left, and she scored from third after Mateen's throw to the plate on a fly out to center got away from Bailiff, cutting UNC's lead in half, 6-3.
Brown made it 8-3 in the top of the fifth, launching her 65th home run to tie the all-time ACC career record.
A walk and a double put two Yellow Jackets in scoring position with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but Lynch got Katie Krzus to pop up to first base for the key second out, and a grounder to second closed out the 8-3 victory.
Game 2: UNC 7, Georgia Tech 1
Carolina exploded for 12 hits in the season finale, as 10 different Tar Heels collected base hits. Taylor Wike went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs and two RBIs, and Lynch homered and hit an RBI double.
Lynch (26-16) did not allow a walk or an earned run in the complete game, giving up just four hits with two strikeouts. Senior Morgan Taylor (1-2), making just her fourth appearance of the season, allowed five earned runs on 12 hits and a walk over the full seven.
The Tar Heels loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the third, putting four runs across the plate. Rosen led off with a walk, then Mateen singled off the pitcher's glove. DeBerry laid down a sacrifice bunt, but the first baseman bobbled the catch, allowing the Tar Heel rookie to land safely on first. Wike laced a two-run single up the middle, and an RBI double by Lynch pushed a third run across. Delamora then made it 4-0 Carolina with a sacrifice fly, the Heels' program-record 19th of the season.
Carolina sent a fifth run across the plate in the top of the fifth, as Wike led off with a double down the first base line and Delamora drove her home with a two-out single up the middle.
UNC tacked on another run in the sixth, with singles by Darby Rosen and DeBerry followed by a pinch hit RBI single by Erin Satterfield with two outs.
Georgia Tech ruined the shutout bid in the bottom of the sixth, as Samantha Pierannunzi reached on an error, then Kelsey Chisholm singled up the middle. A great catch by Mateen in shallow right center made it two outs, but Maddie Lionberger came through with an RBI single to center to put the Yellow Jackets on the board with an unearned run.
Lynch replied in the top of the seventh with a leadoff home run to restore the six-run lead, then retired the Yellow Jackets in order to finish out the weekend sweep.
The Tar Heels return to action on Thursday, May 12, to open the postseason against Boston College in the ACC Tournament Quarterfinals.
