University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC To Host Second Annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge
February 16, 2017 | Softball
North Carolina will host Louisville (4-1), Ohio State (3-1) and Purdue (1-4) this weekend in the second annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge. UNC is one of four host sites, joining Florida State, Georgia Tech and NC State in the 16-team battle-of-the-conferences.
Each site features two teams from each conference, with every participant facing the opposing league pair twice each. The Big Ten dominated the inaugural interleague challenge, winning 20 of 32 games.
| Participating Teams | |||
| Louisville | North Carolina | Ohio State | Purdue |
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| Roster | Schedule Statistics | Team Site Media Guide |
Roster | Schedule Statistics | Team Site Notes | Media Guide |
Roster | Schedule Statistics | Team Site Game Notes | Record Book |
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| Tournament Schedule | |||
| Friday, Feb. 17 | |||
| 11 a.m. | Louisville vs. Ohio State | Live Stats | |
| 1:30 p.m. | Purdue vs. Louisville | Live Stats | |
| 4 p.m. | Ohio State vs. North Carolina | Live Stats | |
| Saturday, Feb. 18 | |||
| 11 a.m. | Purdue vs. North Carolina | Live Stats | |
| 1:30 p.m. | North Carolina vs. Ohio State | Live Stats | |
| 4 p.m. | Louisville vs. Purdue | Live Stats | |
| Sunday, Feb. 19 | |||
| 10 a.m. | Ohio State vs. Louisville | Live Stats | |
| 12:30 p.m. | North Carolina vs. Purdue | Live Stats | Video | |
GO4THEGOAL LACE UP 4 PEDIATRIC CANCER
For the second straight season, North Carolina will participate in the Go4theGoal Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer initiative this weekend. All four teams at Anderson Stadium will take part in the cancer awareness initiative, with a total of seven of the eight ACC teams playing in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge this weekend participating. Each team has purchased special gold shoe laces to wear during this weekend's games, with all proceeds benefiting local children with cancer. North Carolina's contributions will be donated to the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The Tar Heels will also hold a silent auction during Friday and Saturday's games. Friday's auction items will include a batting helmet signed by Coach Papa and a football signed by Tar Heel head coach Larry Fedora. On Saturday, fans can bid on a Roy Williams basketball and a batting helmet signed by Tar Heel legend and professional softball player Kristen Brown. Fans who are interested in further supporting the initiative may donate directly through the UNC Lineberger website, listing UNC Softball under "I was referred by someone to give this gift."
AGAINST THE FIELD
North Carolina has had success over the years against both Ohio State and Purdue, leading the all-time series 5-2 vs. the Buckeyes and 4-1 against PU. The Tar Heels defeated Ohio State, 3-1, in their last meeting on Feb. 11, 2012, in Florida, and is 2-0 over the past 15 years against the Buckeyes. Carolina won a pair of one-run games over Purdue in 2013 and 2014 in their last two meetings. The Boilermakers defeated UNC, 4-1, in their first-ever meeting in 1999, but Carolina has since won four straight.
UNC took down then-No. 15 Ohio State, 1-0, on March 24, 2009, in the Buckeyes only trip to Chapel Hill. Purdue will play at Anderson Stadium for the first time in program history after facing UNC three times in Raleigh and twice in Louisiana.
A FAMILIAR FACE ON THE SIDELINES
When Purdue comes to town this weekend, Tar Heel fans will see a familiar face in the third base dugout in Boo Gillette De Oliveira. The Boilermakers' first-year skipper spent the 2011-13 seasons as an assistant coach at Carolina. It marks the second straight homecoming for De Oliveira, as Purdue opened the season at the Kajikawa Classic, hosted by Arizona State, where De Oliveira spent the 2014-15 seasons.
"Coach Papa is one of my biggest mentors, and I'm looking forward to going back to Chapel Hill," De Oliveira said. "We are excited to play some high-caliber teams and make the Big Ten proud."
UNC TOPS ELON, 6-2, IN HOME OPENER
The Tar Heels put on a show for the home crowd on Wednesday, cruising to a 6-2 victory over nearby Elon in the 2017 home opener at Anderson Stadium. Carolina used all five pitchers in the victory, who combined for just two hits allowed to go with seven strikeouts.
Offensively, three different Tar Heels went deep, including the 34th career long ball by Kendra Lynch - good for fifth all time at Carolina.
