Dray Homers in Setback vs. Syracuse

Sunday, March 8

Chapel Hill, N.C.

12 PM

North Carolina

9-13, 3-3

Syracuse

10-10, 2-1

Syracuse

North Carolina

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

March 8, 2020 | Softball

Box Score Box Score

CHAPEL HILL – In a game with seven score changes, North Carolina dropped a two-run loss to Syracuse, 6-8, Sunday afternoon. Despite a one-run lead at the end of the sixth, the Orange plated four runs in the seventh for the series win at Anderson Stadium.

Carolina scored in the first and rallied back from a one-run deficit, highlighted a two-run home run from Megan Dray. However, Syracuse's four-run final inning secured the win despite an RBI from Lexi Godwin in the seventh. Dray as well as Bri Stubbs and Kiersten Licea tallied two hits against the Orange. Hannah George went the distance for her eighth complete game of the season.

"Today certainly the outcome wasn't what we wanted," head coach Donna J. Papa said. "Winning Friday set us up well to at least win the series. I felt like, today especially, we did a lot of good things and put ourselves in good position to win. We just needed three outs, but unfortunately we couldn't get that. Our defense was outstanding. We had some big hits, including Megan's home run, and made a run for it. I was proud that we never died and competed the entire weekend. We scored in five of seven innings and normally that's enough but to Syracuse's credit, it wasn't."

The Tar Heels hit the road to face Tennessee Tuesday, Lipscomb Wednesday and conclude the week at Virginia Friday through Sunday. Carolina falls to 9-13, 3-3 in ACC play while Syracuse improves to 10-10, 2-1 in conference.

"Overall we're doing some things better," Papa continued. "We're more settled, defensively. Our hitting could be more timely when we have runners on, but we've made strides. We have a big week this week at Tennessee and Lipscomb then another conference series at Virginia. We haven't really been road tested so being away could be a positive for us. We're looking forward to those opportunities and those challenges and to us bouncing back."

Key Moments
» Syracuse opened the game with a pair of singles, however Dray caught the runner stealing third to cut the momentum and keep the game scoreless.
» Carolina jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first, capitalizing on two Syracuse miscues. Campbell Hutcherson drew a walk and stole second before Dray reached on an error. Dray stole second allowing Hutcherson to reach home on obstruction by the catcher for the one-run lead.
» Destiny Middleton made a diving play in the second as the Syracuse runners held their positions. George followed suit with a play from her knees for the final out in the third frame.
» Syracuse knotted the game with an RBI-single by Toni Martin in the third.
» A two-run home run by Dray reclaimed the lead for UNC in the bottom of the frame.
» Syracuse answered back to take a 4-3 lead on an infield single, followed by a triple to right in the fourth.
» Back-to-back singles by Stubbs and Licea followed by a sac-bunt by Katie Perkins moved UNC into scoring position. However, Carolina was unable to score in the fourth.
» The Tar Heels knotted the game in the fifth frame on Stubbs' hit to right that allowed Abby Settlemyre to score who drew a walk to reach the bases.
» Carolina responded in the sixth for the 5-4 lead as Middleton scored Perkins on a sacrifice fly to right.
» However, Syracuse plated four runs on three hits in the top of the seventh for an 8-5 edge.
» Carolina fought to the end, scoring one run in the seventh. Hutcherson drew her third walk of the day before Dray doubled to left. Godwin's ground out to the shortstop allowed Hutcherson to finalize the score at 8-6.
» Winning pitcher: Catie Dobbs (3-1) // Save: Kaia Olvier (1) // Losing pitcher: Hannah George (8-6)

Noteworthy
» With her eighth runner caught stealing this season, Megan Dray ranks fifth all-time with 25 during her career.
» Starting pitcher Hannah George threw her eighth complete game and second of the weekend.

Up Next
The Tar Heels begin their 10-game road trip Tuesday at Tennessee at 8 p.m. on ESPNU.

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