University of North Carolina Athletics
Friday, March 23
Notre Dame, Ind.
5 PM
North Carolina
7
at
4
Notre Dame
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Tar Heels Outlast Notre Dame, 7-4
March 23, 2018 | Softball
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Thanks to a five-run third inning, Carolina topped Notre Dame in Friday's series opener for the 7-4 win behind Brittany Pickett's 15th complete game and four RBI off of Kristina Burkhardt.
Despite Notre Dame's early two-run lead, Carolina fought back to take a five-run lead by the third inning and hold on through seven innings for the 7-4 win. Indiana native Burkhardt led Carolina's offense with four RBI on two hits. Taylor Wike followed suit with two RBI while Zoë Goodman plated the final run for Carolina. The Tar Heels capitalized on eight walks – three of which came around to score. Pickett gave up a single walk in her 13th win of the season as Carolina improves to 15-15 overall, 5-2 in conference. Notre Dame outhit Carolina, 6-4, but falls to 19-9 on the season, 4-2 in ACC play.
Notre Dame led off the contest with back-to-back doubles for a one-run lead. A sacrifice fly by Cait Brooks doubled the score for a 2-0 lead after the first inning.
However, the Fighting Irish lead didn't last long as Carolina evened up the game in the second. Katelyn Shifflett led off the second with a double to right-center before a walk and a pair of stole bases by Brittany West and Kiani Ramsey put the Tar Heels in scoring position. Burkhardt roped a double to center, plating two runs to tie up the game.
After a 1-2-3 inning, the Tar Heels picked up where they left off, scoring five runs in the third. Katie Bailiff reached on a Notre Dame miscue before a walk put two on for Carolina. Burkhardt mirrored her first at-bat, doubling to left-center and scoring two runs for a 4-2 lead. A fielder's choice by Zoë Goodman tacked on one more before Taylor Wike cleared the bases with her fifth double of the year, finalizing the inning's score at 7-2.
Brittany Pickett held Notre Dame hitless for three innings before MK Bonamy sent a blooper to shallow left for a single in the fifth. However, Pickett hurled her first strikeout of the game to retire the side. After four scoreless frames, Brooks sent a solo-shot to left, cutting Carolina's edge to 7-3. A double tacked on one more for the Irish before the inning ended.
The Irish threatened with a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh on a leadoff single by Alexis Brazos, but a pair of fly-outs and a ground out clinched the decision. Pickett went the distance for Carolina's 15th win of the season. Notre Dame's starter Alexis Holloway took the loss with Brooks tossing 4.0 scoreless innings in relief.
Carolina will play for the series win over the Irish Saturday at 3 p.m. at Melissa Cook Stadium before wrapping up Sunday at 2 p.m.
Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
Despite Notre Dame's early two-run lead, Carolina fought back to take a five-run lead by the third inning and hold on through seven innings for the 7-4 win. Indiana native Burkhardt led Carolina's offense with four RBI on two hits. Taylor Wike followed suit with two RBI while Zoë Goodman plated the final run for Carolina. The Tar Heels capitalized on eight walks – three of which came around to score. Pickett gave up a single walk in her 13th win of the season as Carolina improves to 15-15 overall, 5-2 in conference. Notre Dame outhit Carolina, 6-4, but falls to 19-9 on the season, 4-2 in ACC play.
Notre Dame led off the contest with back-to-back doubles for a one-run lead. A sacrifice fly by Cait Brooks doubled the score for a 2-0 lead after the first inning.
However, the Fighting Irish lead didn't last long as Carolina evened up the game in the second. Katelyn Shifflett led off the second with a double to right-center before a walk and a pair of stole bases by Brittany West and Kiani Ramsey put the Tar Heels in scoring position. Burkhardt roped a double to center, plating two runs to tie up the game.
After a 1-2-3 inning, the Tar Heels picked up where they left off, scoring five runs in the third. Katie Bailiff reached on a Notre Dame miscue before a walk put two on for Carolina. Burkhardt mirrored her first at-bat, doubling to left-center and scoring two runs for a 4-2 lead. A fielder's choice by Zoë Goodman tacked on one more before Taylor Wike cleared the bases with her fifth double of the year, finalizing the inning's score at 7-2.
Brittany Pickett held Notre Dame hitless for three innings before MK Bonamy sent a blooper to shallow left for a single in the fifth. However, Pickett hurled her first strikeout of the game to retire the side. After four scoreless frames, Brooks sent a solo-shot to left, cutting Carolina's edge to 7-3. A double tacked on one more for the Irish before the inning ended.
The Irish threatened with a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh on a leadoff single by Alexis Brazos, but a pair of fly-outs and a ground out clinched the decision. Pickett went the distance for Carolina's 15th win of the season. Notre Dame's starter Alexis Holloway took the loss with Brooks tossing 4.0 scoreless innings in relief.
Carolina will play for the series win over the Irish Saturday at 3 p.m. at Melissa Cook Stadium before wrapping up Sunday at 2 p.m.
Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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