University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
9-4
Miami (OH)
5-6
Heels Execute Spectacular Comeback To Top Redhawks, 8-7
February 26, 2017 | Softball
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| Miami (Ohio) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 1 |
| North Carolina | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 3 |
CHAPEL HILL – North Carolina entered the bottom of the seventh inning trailing 7-2 to Miami (Ohio), but the Tar Heels battled back to score six runs in the final half inning to stun the Redhawks, 8-7. The win marked the second consecutive walk-off victory for UNC at the Carolina Classic, as the Tar Heels picked up their ninth win in 10 games to improve to 9-4. With the loss, Miami fell to 5-6.
Leah Murray led Carolina at the plate, going 4-for-5 with a run and an RBI in the seventh inning. Kendra Lynch went 2-for-4 with a two-run double and a run scored, and Taylor Wike doubled and drove in the game-winning run with a bases-loaded walk. Brittany Pickett was 1-for-3 at the plate with three RBIs and the game-winning run.
Sydney Matzko started in the circle for Carolina, but lasted just an inning-and-a-third after allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits and two walks. Brittany Pickett tossed the next two a two-thirds innings, giving up four runs on six hits with a strikeout. Fellow freshman Hannah Nommensen took over in the fourth inning and held Miami to a single run on four hits and no walks with two strikeouts over the final four innings to earn her first career victory.
Jaime Scher got the starting nod for Miami and limited UNC to just one run on four hits and a walk with three strikeouts over 4.1 innings. Kelsey Fredericks tossed the next two innings but allowed six runs, three earned, on five hits and two walks, and Shannon Hohman (1-2) was credited with the loss after giving up the final run on two hits and two walks while recording just one out.
The first batter of the game reached base, as Megan Wurts beat a high throw from Matzko on a bunt to lead off on first. Johniann Wahl sent her home with an RBI double to left. The Redhawks proceeded to load the bases with one out, but Matzko pitched herself out of the jam to limit Miami to a single run.
Kat Lee led off the top of the second with a single to shortstop. A pair of sacrifice bunts put her on third, and Hannah Obrey came through with an RBI single. After issuing a walk to load the bases, Matzko left the game and Pickett moved into the circle. The Tar Heel rookie got the job done, turning a 1-2-3 double play to end the inning without allowing any further damage.
Miami loaded the bases with three singles in the top of the third, and a two-run double by Wurts made it 4-0 Redhawks.
The Redhawks led off the top of the fourth with a double and a two-run homer (by Wahl) to make it 6-0 Miami. UNC made another call to the bullpen, as Nommensen came in and retired three straight to end the inning.
Katelyn Shifflett led off the bottom of the fifth with a double to the warning track in center, and Hailey Cole put Carolina on the board, beating out an infield single to send pinch runner Brittany West across the plate.
Miami got the run back in the top of the sixth off an RBI single by Jenna Jones. A great play by Erin Sugg kept the Redhawks from any more, turning an inning-ending double play on a popped-up bunt.
With the Tar Heels trailing 7-2, Murray led off the bottom of the seventh with a single through the right side. Wike followed with a double, then Lynch laced a two-run double to the gap in left center. A fielding error by the second baseman allowed Katie Bailiff to reach safely, then Destiny DeBerry, representing the tying run, walked to load the bases.
Miami made a call to the bullpen, bringing in Hohman. She got Shifflett to pop up the first pitch for out number two, but Pickett stepped in and ripped a two-run single to right field to trim the lead to a single run. Cole drew a walk to load the bases, then Murray beat out a single to shortstop to send DeBerry across the plate and tie the score at seven. Taylor Wike stepped into the batter's box and kept her composure, drawing a full count walk to send Pickett home and complete the comeback by a final score of 8-7.
The Tar Heels close out the Carolina Classic on Sunday, Feb. 26, with games against Towson and Hampton beginning at 1 p.m. The first game of the day will feature Towson and Miami at 10:30 a.m. Both of UNC's games will air live on ACC Network Extra.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Nommensen, Hannah (1-0)
L: HOHMAN, Shannon (1-2)
Batting:
2B: WURTS, Megan 1 ; SCHLATTMAN, Michaela 1 ; WAHL, Johniann 1 ; WHISPEL, Rylee 1 ; TRAN, Haeley 1
HR: WAHL, Johniann 1
RBI: WURTS, Megan 2 ; OBREY, Hannah 1 ; WAHL, Johniann 3 ; JONES, Jenna 1
SH: WURTS, Megan 1 ; OBREY, Hannah 1 ; TRAN, Haeley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WURTS, Megan 1 ; SCHLATTMAN, Michaela 1 ; WAHL, Johniann 1 ; LECKINGER, Kara 1 ; WHISPEL, Rylee 1 ; JONES, Jenna 1 ; LEE, Kat 1
SB: OBREY, Hannah 1
Batting:
2B: Wike, Taylor 1 ; Lynch, Kendra 1 ; Shifflett, Katelyn 1
RBI: Murray, Leah 1 ; Wike, Taylor 1 ; Lynch, Kendra 2 ; Pickett, Brittany 3 ; Cole, Hailey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Murray, Leah 1 ; Wike, Taylor 1 ; Lynch, Kendra 1 ; Burns, Brooke 1 ; Bailiff, Katie 1 ; DeBerry, Destiny 1 ; West, Brittany 1 ; Pickett, Brittany 1
SB: Murray, Leah 2
HBP: Shifflett, Katelyn 1
