University of North Carolina Athletics
Battle Of The Carolinas Set For Wednesday In Columbia
February 16, 2016 | Softball
The Tar Heels are set for a midweek clash at South Carolina at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 17. The Gamecocks have a firm hold on the all-time series with UNC, winning 47 of 60 meetings, including the most recent matchup on Feb 14, 2015, a 6-3 decision. However, the Tar Heels have won three of the last five games, including a pair of five-inning landslides.
Coverage
Video: SEC Network +
Live Stats: GameTracker
Location: Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field
Tickets: $7 Adults; $4 Youth (17 & under); Call 800-4SC-FANS (800-472-3267) to order.
Scouting South Carolina
The Gamecocks opened 2016 with a 15-3 run-rule loss to 2015 NCAA Runner-Up Michigan, but regrouped to defeat USF, Virginia Tech and Illinois State in Tampa. As a team, SC hit .327 on opening weekend, with two players hitting .545 or higher.
Lynch Hurls Two Shutouts at Texas Classic
Junior Kendra Lynch led Carolina to a brilliant season opener, hurling a 1-hit shutout—while going 2-for-3 in the batting lineup—with a career-high seven strikeouts to lead UNC to a 9-0 victory over 2016 Summit League Champion North Dakota State.
The Tar Heel starter closed the weekend much as it began, completing a 5-hit shutout of Arkansas on Valentine's Day. Her efforts at the Texas Classic earned her her first career conference honor with the first ACC Pitcher of the Week nod of the season.
Prior to this season, Lynch had pitched just three complete games and a total of 101.0 innings over two years, but shouldered the load fantastically with a 1.27 ERA over 22.0 innings in four appearances on opening weekend.
Downtown Kristen Brown
On April 22, 2015, then-junior Kristen Brown launched her 44th career home run to become Carolina's all-time home run leader. With two long balls on 2016 opening weekend, Brown now has 49 home runs, sitting in a tie for seventh in ACC record book, 16 behind the all-time ACC record of 65 set just last season by NC State's Renada Davis. The Tar Heel shortstop hit a program-record 24 homers in 2015.
ACC Career Home Run Leaders
1. 65 - Renada Davis, NC State, 2012-15
2. 61 - Whitney Haller, GT, 2006-09
3. 60 - Hope Rush, GT, 2010-13
4. 55 - Maddie O'Brien, FSU, 2012-15
55 - Kelsi Weserman, GT, 2009-12
6. 54 - Jen Yee, GT, 2007, 09-10
7. 49 - Kristen Brown, UNC, 2013-
49 - Jen Chamberlin, NC State, 2004-07
Brown National Player of the Year Candidate
Senior Kristen Brown was selected as one of 50 candidates for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. The talented shortstop earns consideration for the national award for the second year in a row, having been a Top-26 Finalist in 2015. Twenty-five finalists will be named on April 13.
2016 Schedule
The Tar Heels put together a challenging slate for 2016, featuring 28 games against 16 NCAA Tournament participants, facing four of the 16 Super Regional qualifiers including NCAA Runner-Up Michigan.
Carolina will face seven 2015 conference champions, six of whom also won their conference tournaments.
The Tar Heels have six opponents that are ranked this week in the NFCA or ESPN.com polls, including No. 2 Michigan and No. 10/12 Georgia, with an additional five teams on the schedule that are receiving votes.
UNC will take on 13 teams that finished 2015 ranked in the top 50 in the RPI, facing eight of those teams on the road.
Brown Makes U.S. Women's Elite Team
Carolina senior Kristen Brown became the first Tar Heel in program history to earn a spot in the USA Softball program on January 8 when she was named to the 18-player U.S. Women's Elite Team. Brown was the second Carolina player invited to U.S. National Team Selection Camp, following Tiffany Tolleson (2002-03)'s invitation in 2003. Natalie Anter is the sole Tar Heel to ever compete in the Olympics, having represented Italy in Athens in 2004.
Wagner Wins AD's Scholar-Athlete Award
Senior Elly Wagner was honored by the athletic department on Jan. 20 with the Athletic Director's Scholar-Athlete Award, acknowledging her outstanding academic performance throughout her Carolina career. One player from each Carolina team was given the title, for a total of 26 winners for the 2015-16 academic year.
College Sports Madness Preseason Honors
Carolina senior Kristen Brown, a 2015 NFCA Third-Team All-American, was named to the Preseason All-America First Team by CollegeSportsMadness.com. The national sports website bestowed the honor of Preseason ACC Field Player of the Year on the Tar Heel shortstop as well and placed Brown among four Tar Heels on the Preseason All-ACC Team. Taylor Wike joined Brown on the Preseason All-ACC First Team, while Sydney Matzko and Aquilla Mateen both earned places on the Second Team.
