Wike's Home Run Sparks Carolina Victory Over Illinois

Friday, February 16

Chapel Hill, N.C.

4 PM

North Carolina

4-2

Illinois

2-5

Illinois

North Carolina

Taylor Wike (7)

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

February 16, 2018 | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL – With the scored tied at two in the fifth, a Taylor Wike home run ignited North Carolina's offense to a 6-2 victory over Illinois on Friday night to begin the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

"I'm so proud of the team and how they bounced back tonight," head coach Donna Papa said. "We had really good composure at the plate and were more selective with our pitches. We had some really great performances tonight. Brittany Pickett did a great job against an explosive team like Illinois. Megan Dray, Taylor Wike, Brittany Pickett, Katie Bailiff, everybody had quality at-bats. We had a lot of energy in the dugout and played with a lot of poise."

After walking in a run in the top of the fifth to tie up the game, the Tar Heels (4-2) bounced back scoring four runs on five hits to take a commanding 6-2 lead over the Fighting Illini (2-5). Wike roped a home run to left-center for a 3-2 lead before Pickett sent a double down the left line and Berlynne Delamora was intentionally walked. Kiani Ramsey drove in the next runner on an RBI-single while Dray plated two runs with on her hit to right field. Bailiff drove in Carolina's final run on a single to center to finalize the score at six for the win.

"We saw the ball well the whole game, but softball is a game of momentum," Papa said. "When one person does something, we just kept going at it. The team was really focused, having fun, making plays, and one thing led to another in that inning."

In addition to tossing her third complete game of the season, Pickett led the Tar Heels at the plate going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Wike logged her second multi-hit game with two. Illinois' Leigh Farina had two hits while Alex Carrillo and Stephanie Abello each drove in a run.

Carolina jumped to an early lead in the first inning as Pickett singled through the left side to allow Sierra Parkinson to score after reaching on a walk. Illinois quickly answered back with a sac-fly by Carrillo in the second.

In the third, Wike and Pickett registered back-to-back singles to lead off. Next, a fielder's choice with Ramsey at the plate allowed Wike to score and the Tar Heels to take a 2-1 lead.

After a scoreless fourth inning, bats came alive in the fifth. Two singles and a fielder's choice loaded the bases for Illinois as Abello drew an RBI-walk to knot up the game at two. However, the Dray threw to Katelynn Shifflett to pickoff the runner at first before a ground out held off the Fighting Illini.

Carolina responded with an explosive fifth inning to secure a 6-2 lead for the victory. Illinois threatened in the sixth and seventh innings but clean defense kept the Fighting Illini at bay.

Pickett tossed her third complete game of the season and improves to 4-0 while Illinois' starter, Taylor Edwards, took the loss in 4.1 innings.

"It's nice to be able to be home," Papa said. "We've been on the road for five games so to be able to come home and defend our turf is always great."

Due to anticipated weather in the area, Saturday's games are starting 90 minutes earlier than the original schedule. North Carolina will face Wisconsin at noon and Illinois at 2:30 p.m. Saturday to continue the ACC/Big Ten Challenge at Anderson Stadium.

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