No. 2 Seminoles Take Series Opener, 3-0

Friday, April 28

Tallahassee, Fla.

6:00 PM

North Carolina

36-16, 14-7

Florida State

45-3-1, 22-0

North Carolina

Florida State

April 29, 2017 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: UNC Athletic Communications

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
North Carolina (36-16, 14-7)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
#2 Florida State (45-3-1, 22-0)	0	0	0	0	2	1	-	3	3	0

Tallahassee, Fla. – Small ball in the late innings broke a scoreless tie on Friday night, as No. 2/3 Florida State took the ACC series opener with North Carolina by a score of 3-0. With the win, the Seminoles maintained their unblemished conference record, improving to 45-3-1 (22-0 ACC), while UNC fell to 36-16 (14-7 ACC).

The top two teams in the ACC combined for just four hits in the pitcher's duel behind complete-game efforts from Brittany Pickett (20-6) and Meghan King (22-1). King hurled a one-hit shutout with two walks and eight strikeouts, while Pickett limited the third-best offense in the nation to two earned runs on three singles and two walks with three strikeouts.

Kendra Lynch doubled in the fourth inning, the only extra-base hit of the game, while Pickett and Leah Murray both reached base on walks.

Both teams recorded just one hit over the first four-and-a-half innings, but the Seminoles led off the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back singles and used their speed to get two runners in scoring position with no outs. Cassidy Davis sent the first run of the game across the plate on a ground out to first base, then Zoe Casas made it 2-0 FSU with a squeeze bunt down the first base line.

A Tar Heel throwing error allowed the Seminoles to get runners in scoring position with one out, then Cali Harrod bunted down the first base line. Campbell Hutcherson got the lead runner at the plate, but Katie Bailiff threw down to second trying to catch Harrod and Dani Morgan scored an unearned run during the run down.

King set the Tar Heels down in order in the top of the seventh to secure the series opener for the Seminoles, 3-0.

The Heels and 'Noles return to JoAnne Graf Field on Saturday, April 29, for the second game of the three-game series. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.