Burkhardt Homers in 3-1 Loss To No. 4 Oklahoma

Saturday, February 24

Cathedral City, Calif.

12:30 PM ET

North Carolina

5-10

Oklahoma

9-1

North Carolina

Oklahoma

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

February 24, 2018 | Softball

Box Score

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Holding the two-time reigning Women's College World Series Champions to three runs, North Carolina dropped a 3-1 decision to No. 4 Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon to wrap up the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.

Coming down to the seventh inning, Kristina Burkhardt sent a solo-shot to left field for her first career home run and the first earned run against the Sooners at the tournament. Burkardt went 2-for-3 against the fourth-ranked Sooners (9-1). Leah Murray and Kiani Ramsey each singled for Carolina (5-10).

"This weekend shows we can compete with anybody, we just have to finish," head coach Donna J. Papa said. "There are a lot of positives going forward for the rest of the season, especially building from yesterday's game versus Cal and today's game. There was a lot of knowledge gained from this weekend. Now we get to go back and play our own tournament and begin ACC play."

After a pair of singles, Caliegh Clifton's double to left put the Sooners on the board in the first inning. After four scoreless innings, Oklahoma's Sydney Romero sent a no-doubter to left for a 2-0 edge. An RBI-single by pinch hitter Vanessa Taukeiaho added a third run for the Sooners. The Tar Heels' clean fielding stranded three runners on to end the fifth.

Carolina threatened throughout the game with seven base runners. Katie Bailiff sent the ball to left, reaching second on an Oklahoma error in the second. Ramsey gave Carolina its second base runner of the game on a shallow single to left. Burkhardt laced a single through the right-side but double play ended the fourth inning. Murray led off the fifth with a single to left.

Burkardt led off the seventh with a home run to put Carolina on the board. Hailey Jenson drew walk as the tying run came up to bat, but closer Paige Lowary ended the inning with a strikeout.

Brittany Pickett tossed a complete game in the loss while Mariah Lopez earned the win and Lowary got the save.

Carolina returns home Wednesday to face Hampton at 4 p.m. at Anderson Stadium.

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