University of North Carolina Athletics
Softball Hosts Syracuse To Open Conference Play
March 11, 2016 | Softball
CHAPEL HILL - The Tar Heels host Syracuse (8-9) in a three-game series this weekend to begin ACC play. UNC will host a doubleheader on Saturday followed by the series finale on Sunday, with both days beginning at 1 p.m. All three games will be streamed live on GoHeelsTV, with live stats available at UNCLiveStats.com.
This weekend will be Cancer Awareness Weekend, with an ovarian cancer event on Saturday and an initiative to support pediatric cancer on Sunday. UNC will host a silent auction on both days with proceeds benefiting the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center in Chapel Hill. Additionally, it will be the first of two throwback weekends, with 1970s Day on Saturday and 80s Day on Sunday. Finally, Saturday will be the first Senior Spotlight day, as Carolina will honor Erin Satterfield's achievements throughout her career as a Tar Heel.
Against the Orange
The Tar Heels have faced Syracuse just six times in program history, with the first matchup coming in 2012. The Orange won the teams' first meeting, 6-2, at the Citrus Classic in Orlando, prior to joining the ACC. UNC swept the first-ever conference series against the Orange, scoring a total of 31 runs over three games, including a pair of five-inning victories. UNC and 'Cuse split a doubleheader last seasons on April 3, and the rubber match was canceled due to weather.
Feel The Need For Speed
The 2016 Tar Heels have been incredibly aggressive on the basepaths. After stealing just 29 bases in all of 2015, Carolina topped that mark on just the third weekend of play and are now 35-for-40 on the season. Freshman speed demon Destiny DeBerry leads the team with 10 swipes on the season, followed closely by senior Aquilla Mateen (9-for-10), who ranks in the top 10 all time at UNC in career steals.
On Feb. 27, UNC tied the single-game record by stealing a total of eight bases against IUPUI. DeBerry stole three bases in the game, while Mateen and Taylor Wike both stole twice. The eight swipes matched the all-time record set on Feb. 23, 2011, when Carolina stole eight bases against UNC Wilmington. DeBerry was also the first Tar Heel to steal three bases in a game since that same weekend, as Chelsey Butler stole three against UNC Wilmington and Tisha Mahon swiped three bases two days later against Georgetown.
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 nine long balls already in 2016, Brown now has 56 home runs and sits in fourth in ACC record book, just nine behind the all-time ACC record of 65 set just last season by NC State's Renada Davis.
Brown knocked down her second career record on Feb. 27, 2016, using a three-run home run to surpass Natalie Anter (1999-02) as Carolina's all-time RBI leader. The slugger is also tied for sixth all time in the ACC in runs batted in.
On March 6, Brown broke yet another record, using a go-ahead home run against Cal State Fullerton in the top of the seventh to become the all-time total bases leader, a record also held by former Olympian Natalie Anter.
Browns consistency at plate has her ranked leaps and bounds ahead of the next best slugger, currently posting a .707 career slugging percentage. Kelli Wheeler (2009-12) holds the UNC record at .614, while Brown ranks fourth all-time in ACC history (Note: Notre Dame's Emilee Koerner '15 posted a .762 slugging percentage over three seasons as an ACC member, but including her 2012 season she had a .692 slg for her career.)
The Tar Heel shortstop hit a program-record 24 homers in 2015 (.45/g), and has kept up at that pace this season with nine over the first 20 games.
| ACC Career Home Run Leaders | ||||
| 1. | 65 | Renada Davis | NC State | 2012-15 |
| 2. | 61 | Whitney Haller | Georgia Tech | 2006-09 |
| 3. | 60 | Hope Rush | Goergia Tech | 2010-13 |
| 4. | 56 | Kristen Brown | UNC | 2013- |
| 5. | 55 | Maddie O'Brien | Florida State | 2012-15 |
| 55 | Kelsi Wesernman | Georgia Tech | 2009-12 | |
| 7. | 54 | Jen Yee | Georgia Tech | 2007, 09-10 |
| ACC Career RBI Leaders | ||||
| 1. | 228 | Whitney Haller | Georgia Tech | 2006-09 |
| 2. | 216 | Maddie O'Brien | Florida State | 2012-15 |
| 3. | 201 | Kelsi Weserman | Georgia Tech | 2009-12 |
| 4. | 194 | Savannah Brown | Georgia Tech | 2005-08 |
| 5. | 181 | Sara Larquier | UVA | 2003-06 |
| 6. | 172 | Kristen Brown | UNC | 2013- |
| 172 | Anne Knobbe | Georgia Tech | 1997-99 | |
| ACC Career Slugging Percentage Leaders | ||||
| 1. | .814 | Jen Yee | Georgia Tech | 2007, 09-10 |
| 2. | .763 | Kelsi Weserman | Georgia Tech | 2009-12 |
| 3. | .762 | Emily Koerner | Notre Dame | 2013-15* |
| 4. | .710 | Kristen Brown | UNC | 2013- |
| 5. | .706 | Renada Davis | NC State | 2012-15 |
The Tar Heel slugger is also among the best in the nation among active players, ranking in the top 50 in seven different career offensive categories, including fifth in home runs, sixth in RBIs and ninth total bases.
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 seven opponents that are ranked this week in the NFCA or ESPN.com polls, including No. 2 Michigan, No. 9/8 James Madison, No. 10/12 Georgia and No. 11 Florida State. Additionally, three opponents on the schedule are currently receiving votes.
Carolina faced its first ranked team, No. 2 Michigan, on March 4, but fell 11-6. The Tar Heels defeated Long Beach State but fell to California and Oregon State, who were all receiving votes by the NFCA (OSU was also ranked No. 22 in the ESPN.com poll).
UNC surrendered late leads over Texas in both matchups, who entered the poll the week after the pair faced. Additionally, the Tar Heels split with North Dakota State, which was receiving votes that week.
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 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.
