Carolina Falls to Syracuse, Series Even at 1-1

Saturday, March 7

Chapel Hill, N.C.

1 PM

North Carolina

9-12, 3-2

Syracuse

9-10, 1-1

Syracuse

North Carolina

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

March 7, 2020 | Softball

Box Score Box Score

CHAPEL HILL – Despite leading through the fourth inning, the Tar Heels dropped Saturday's game vs. Syracuse, 9-5, at Anderson Stadium.

Highlighted by Campbell Hutcherson's multi-RBI day, Carolina plated five runs on five hits in the second inning for the lead. However, 12 hits and a pair of Syracuse home runs lifted the Orange to the 9-5 decision on Saturday.

Carolina falls to 9-12, 3-2 in ACC play while Syracuse improves to 9-10, 1-1 in conference. The series wraps up Sunday at noon at Anderson Stadium.

Key Moments
» Syracuse loaded the bases in the first, however the Tar Heels held the game scoreless. After a nearly 10 minute discussion by the umpires, Caroline Cagle tossed two strikeouts and a popup to first to strand the runners.
» Abby Settlemyre singled and stole second in the first but a strikeout left her on base.
» The Orange plated two runs on a pair of wild pitches in the second.
» Carolina quickly responded and took a 5-2 lead, scoring five runs on five hits and a pair of Syracuse errors in the second. Back-to-back singles by Megan Dray and Bri Stubbs set up for the five-run inning. Pinch runner Michaela Cotton and Stubbs each stole a base to put UNC in scoring position. A sacrifice fly by Kiersten Licea plated the first run before Burkhardt knotted the game with a bunt-single. Destiny Middleton's infield single allowed Burkhardt to score for the lead. A two-run base knock through the right side by Hutcbherson upped UNC's lead to 5-2.
» Syracuse answered back with an RBI-single by Toni Martin in the third. The Orange claimed the lead on Gabby Teran's three-run home run in the fifth followed by Neli Casares-Maher's solo shot in the sixth.
» Middleton made a diving play in foul territory and made the back-handed catch to end the sixth inning.
» The Orange tacked on two more runs Jamie Gregg's two-run single to center in the seventh.
» Despite a one-out walk by Zoë Goodman, Carolina was unable to reclaim the lead in the final inning.
» Winning pitcher: Catie Dobbs (2-1) // Losing pitcher: Hannah George (8-5)

Noteworthy
» Starting pitcher Caroline Cagle struck out three in 1.1 innings.
» Bri Stubbs and Shayla Thompson tallied two hits while Campbell Hutcherson plated two runs.

Up Next
Carolina and Syracuse conclude the series Sunday at noon. The Tar Heels begin their 10-game road trip Tuesday at Tennessee.

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