Carolina Overcomes Pitt for Sixth Straight Win

Friday, March 16

Chapel Hill, N.C.

6 PM

North Carolina

12-13, 4-0

Pittsburgh

13-11-1, 2-2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Pittsburgh	2	0	0	0	0	2	0	4	6	0
North Carolina	0	2	3	2	1	0	X	8	9	1

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

March 16, 2018 | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL – Despite an early lead for the Panthers, Carolina slugged three home runs for an 8-4 win over Pittsburgh Friday night, marking Tar Heels' sixth consecutive victory and a 4-0 start to ACC play.

Home runs by Kristina Burkhardt, Hailey Jensen, and Campbell Hutcherson led the Tar Heels' offense. In addition to Burkhardt and Hutcherson, Leah Murray also logged a multi-hit day at the plate as Carolina's record improved to 12-13. Brittany Pickett went the distance Friday night for her 10th win of the season.

Giorgiana Zeremenko shined for the Panthers with two hits and two RBIs, while the team falls to 13-11-1 overall, 2-2 in the ACC.

The Panthers took an early 2-0 lead in the first as a leadoff walk set the stage for Zeremenko's two-run homer. However, Carolina answered back in the second with a pair of runs to tie the game. Katelyn Shifflett cut the deficit in half with an RBI-double to the left field warning track that allowed Brittany West to score. Murray knot the game on a single up the middle to make it a 2-2 game in the second.

Carolina took a three-run lead in the fourth on a pair of hits. Burkhardt led off the third with double to left. Katie Bailiff reached safely on a fielder's choice, advancing Burkhardt cleanly to third. Jensen cleared the bases with a three-run home run to center for her third gone-ball of the season. In the fifth, Campbell Hutcherson upped Carolina's score on her second home run on the year.

The Panthers chipped into Carolina's lead, plating two runs in the sixth. Pitt loaded the bases to begin the inning before Gabrielle Fredericks and Alexee Haynes each plated a run.

Carolina held on for the 8-4 win on Friday night with Pickett in the circle. Pitt's starter, Sarah Dawson, took the loss in 2.0 innings with Taylor Rahach closing out the game.

The Tar Heels and Panthers continue the series at Anderson Stadium Saturday at 1 p.m.

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