University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia Tech
UNC Defeats VT 3-2 In Quarterfinals Of ACC Championship
May 8, 2015 | Softball
BLACKSBURG, VA – The University of North Carolina eked out a 3-2 win over Virginia Tech on Friday evening to advance to the semi-finals of the 2015 ACC Softball Championship.
The Tar Heels (36-13) led for the majority of the game before VT made a late comeback to tie the game.
After Kristen Brown singled through the left side with two outs in the bottom of the first, Amber Parrish blasted her 18th long ball of the year with a towering two-run shot over the left field wall to give the UNC the early lead.
Starting pitcher Kaylee Carlson and the Carolina defense held the Hokies in check for the first four innings, allowing just three hits.
UNC had a chance to extend its lead in the bottom of the fourth with runners on first and second and Taylor Wike at the plate with one out. Wike roped a shot to center field, forcing the Virginia Tech centerfielder to make a diving catch. Darby Rosen was caught off the bag at second and was doubled up to end the inning.
Virginia Tech made a run in the top of the fifth after Caroline Schoenwald and Lauren Gaskill lead off the inning with singles. Kylie McGoldrick then cleared the bases on the next at bat with a standup double to left center to tie the game at two. Carlson would get the next three batters to ground out to allow UNC to escape the inning without any more damage.
The Tar Heels responded in the sixth inning as Lauren Walker drew a walk with one out and was followed by Darby Rosen double to put runners on second and third. Rosen went 2-2 on the day with two doubles. After pinch hitter Jill Ferraro struck out to put two outs on the board, Virginia Tech pitcher Maggie Tyler attempted to intentionally walk Taylor Wike to load the bases. With the count at 2-0, Tyler was called for an illegal pitch that allowed Walker to score and moved Rosen over to third, giving Carolina a 3-2 lead. It was ruled that Tyler had brought her hands together and separated them without stepping off the rubber. Tyler then completed her walk of Wike and got pinch hitter Kati Causey to ground out to end the inning.
In the top of the seventh, Carlson recorded two quick outs before McGoldrick singled up the middle to keep the Hokies hopes alive. The next batter, Michelle Prong, battled Carlson to force a 3-2 count before striking out looking to end the game.
Carlson picked up the win, improving to 17-8 on the year. The freshman struck out four while walking three and allowed seven hits.
UNC will play the winner of the Pittsburgh-Notre Dame quarter-final tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.
