Carolina Opens Home Slate with ACC/Big Ten Challenge

CHAPEL HILL – Entering the weekend with a 3-2 record, North Carolina welcomes Illinois, Wisconsin and Pittsburgh for its 2018 home opener and the ACC/Big Ten Challenge Friday through Sunday at Anderson Stadium. Fans can watch each game on the ACC Network Extra or follow live stats.

Most recently, the Tar Heels fell at Elon, 2-1 on Wednesday after a 3-1 opening weekend at the UCF Friends of Jaclyn Tournament. Elon put up two runs in the second that Carolina could not overcome despite four Phoenix errors and the Tar Heels' lone run in the fourth inning.

Illinois travels to North Carolina after posting a 1-4 record at the UCF Friends of Jaclyn Tournament last weekend. Illinois lost three of their four by two runs or less. The series between Tar Heels and Fighting Illini is tied at 3-3 with the first meeting in 2001.

After a 2-2 weekend at the Texas Classic, Wisconsin comes to Chapel Hill for the first time in program history. The Badgers topped Texas and Incarnate Word before their rematch against Colorado State was cancelled Sunday. Wisconsin leads the series, 2-1 with all three meetings occurring in 2013.

ACC/B1G Challenge Records
North Carolina hosted the ACC/Big Ten Challenge the past two seasons, beginning in 2016. The Tar Heels own a 4-4 overall record. In the first season, Carolina split 1-1 against both Northwestern and Illinois. Most recently, Carolina faced the same outcome versus Ohio State and Purdue in 2017. The Big Ten leads the overall series, 33-31. However, the ACC came out on top in 2017, 19-13. NC State, Duke, Georgia Tech and Florida State are also host sites this weekend.

Go4theGoal with Gold Laces
During the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, North Carolina is lacing up for pediatric cancer to support the Go4theGoal Foundation to help kids batting cancer. The Tar Heels, in addition to Louisville, Duke, Ohio State, Purdue, Northwestern, Penn State and Virginia Tech, are wearing gold shoe laces throughout the weekend to raise awareness for the cause.

Success in Sunshine State
North Carolina opened the 2018 season with a 3-1 record at the UCF Friends of Jaclyn Tournament in Longwood, Florida with wins over Butler, Louisville and UCF. Leah Murray led Carolina's offense with eight hits and six stolen bases for a .571 average, scoring five of UNC's 12 runs. Taylor Wike batted .500 with six hits and an RBI. In the circle, Brittany Pickett tossed 19.0 scoreless innings, earning a 3-0 record with 16 strikeouts Katie Grace Olinger earned two starts and hurled 10 strikeouts throughout the tournament.

Up next, the ACC/Big Ten Challenge comes to Anderson Stadium Friday through Sunday, featuring Illinois, Wisconsin, Pittsburgh and host North Carolina. The Tar Heels' first matchup is Friday at 4 p.m. vs. Illinois.

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Players Mentioned

Leah Murray

Katie Grace Olinger

Brittany Pickett

Taylor Wike

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