Carolina Drops Heartbreaker to No. 19 Cal, Mizzou

Friday, February 23

Cathedral City, Calif.

1:30 PM ET

North Carolina

5-8

Missouri

8-6

Missouri

North Carolina

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

February 23, 2018 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Following a shutout loss to Mizzou to begin competition Friday, North Carolina nearly handed No. 19 California its first loss of the season, but ultimately fell to the Bears, 4-3 on the second day of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.

After Friday's games, Carolina falls to 5-9 on the season while Mizzou improved to 8-6 and Cal remained undefeated at 12-0.

Mizzou 9, Carolina 0 (5 innings)

Carolina was unable to overcome Mizzou's early offense on Friday afternoon, falling 9-0 in five innings.

Kiani Ramsey led the Tar Heels with two hits with pinch hitters, Kristina Burkhardt and Hailey Jensen logging one each.

Mizzou's Cayla Kessinger sent a home run to right on the second pitch of the game. Kara Decker plated two more on a double to shallow left-center. The Tigers added two more runs in the second for a 5-0 edge.

In the third, Ramsey's second single of the game advanced Sierra Parkinson into scoring position, but a grounder ended the inning.

The Tigers secured the decision in the fourth, taking a nine-run lead. A pair of sacrifice flies, an RBI-single by Decker, and a pass ball allowed four runs to score in the fourth.

Carolina had its best chance in the fourth with a pair of singles by Burkhardt and Hailey Jenson, but a ground ball to first ended the inning. The Tar Heels made contact in the fifth, but Mizzou held them off.

Starting pitcher Hannah Nommensen took the loss in 1.0 complete inning. Katie Grace Olinger, Hannah Todd, and Brittany Pickett pitched in relief to complete the game. Mizzou's Madi Norman earned the win.

No. 19 Cal 4, Carolina 3

Holding the No. 19 team in the nation to four runs, North Carolina nearly upset California with a 3-1 decision until a sixth-inning home run for the Bears that clinched a 4-3 decision.

Katie Bailiff logged the lone multi-hit game for the Tar Heels while Pickett's three-run home run in the second accounted for Carolina's RBIs.

Mirroring the first game of the day, the Bears began the game with on a solo home run to right. Taylor Wike responded for the Tar Heels with a double to left in the first inning.

Carolina continued in the second, drawing a pair of walks to set the stage for Pickett's three-run homer to left for a 3-1 lead. Campbell Hutcherson and Ramsey each singled in the inning but were left on base.

After four clean innings, Cal's Bradie Fillmore cleared the bases for a three-run homer and a 4-3 lead in the sixth. The Tar Heels fought to the end, making contact in the final three innings, but could not come up with another run.

Pickett went the distance in the loss for her fifth complete game of the year. Cal's Kamalani Dung took the win while Zoe Conley picked up the save.

The Tar Heels wrap up the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic Saturday at 12:30 p.m. against No. 5 Oklahoma. Carolina returns home Wednesday to face Hampton at 4 p.m. at Anderson Stadium.

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