Carolina Sweeps Doubleheader at USC-Upstate

Tuesday, March 20

Spartanburg, S.C.

4 PM

North Carolina

13-15

USC Upstate

19-8

North Carolina

USC Upstate

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

March 20, 2018 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Anchored by the pitching of Brittany Pickett, Carolina topped USC-Upstate in a pair of games Tuesday in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Improving 12-5 on the season, Pickett tossed two complete-game wins, giving up only two runs in game one and shutting out the Spartans in game two.

Despite a 45-minute weather delay, a four-run fourth inning and three-run seventh inning propelled Carolina to a 7-2 win over the Spartans in game one. The Tar Heels continued in game two, posting three runs in the seventh and holding USC-Upstate scoreless for the 3-0 victory to close out the night. After the sweep, Carolina improves to 14-15 while the Spartans fall to 19-9.

Taylor Wike led Carolina's offense, going 3-for-5 with two runs in the pair of games. Katie Bailiff followed suit with a 3-for-6 day at the plate, driving in two runs in the first game of the day. Campbell Hutcherson also played a pair of runs on the day aid in Carolina's wins. Additionally, Zoë Goodman made her collegiate debut as a pinch-hitter, plating two runs and logging her first career hit as an RBI-double in game two.

Carolina 7, USC-Upstate 2

Seniors Wike and Katelyn Shifflett led Carolina's offense each with a home run in the contest, paving the way to the Tar Heels' 7-2 win over USC-Upstate in game one.

After three scoreless innings, Carolina plated four runs in the fourth inning which would be enough for the win. Wike ended the no-hitter with her seventh home run of the season for the one-run lead. Bailiff doubled the score on an RBI-double to the left field warning track that allowed Kristina Burkhardt to score. Kiani Ramsey laced the ball to center for Carolina's third run before Hutcherson brought her home, sending the first pitch to right.

USC-Upstate responded in the bottom of the frame, loading the bases without a hit due to a hit-by-pitch, Carolina miscue and a walk. However, the Tar Heels' clean fielding got themselves out of the jam.

The Spartans logged their first hit since the leadoff batter as Kristin Wright sent the ball to left for a double just as the rain started to fall in Spartanburg, South Carolina. After a 45-minute weather delay, the game resumed with Pickett's fourth strikeout. Wright came home as Logan Morris sent the ball to left, but Burkhardt made the play in right end the inning.

Carolina quickly regained the four-run lead then added two more in the top of the seventh. Shifflett launched her second gone-ball of the season to leadoff the frame before Goodman and Bailiff drove in the final two runs of the game for the Tar Heels.

USC-Upstate did not quit as Megan Obier doubled to right-center to lead off the seventh. Elisa Cecchetti laced an RBI-single down the right line for the Spartans' final run of the ballgame.

Pickett went the distance for her 12th complete game of the season. Carolina went through three USC-Upstate pitchers during game one, while the starter, Christina Biggerstaff, took the loss in 3.1 innings.

Carolina 3, USC-Upstate 0

Trading hits through six scoreless innings, Carolina came out on top after plating three unanswered runs in the top of the seventh to secure the 3-0 shutout win – the Tar Heels' fourth of the season.

Wike and Bailiff picked up where they left off, each logging a hit in the first and fourth innings, respectively. The Spartans threatened in the fourth as Brittany Case and Obiere singled to put USC-Upstate in scoring position with two outs. However, Carolina's clean fielding kept the game knotted at zero.

Coming down to the seventh inning, the Tar Heels plated three runs to secure the win. Hailey Jensen roped a leadoff single to left, calling in Brooke Burns to run. Bailiff launched a single back to the right-center warning track to put Carolina in scoring position. Hutcherson snuck a ball through the left side for the go-ahead run before Goodman laced an RBI-double down the right line for her first career hit and the 2-0 lead. Berlynne Delamora finalized the scoring with a grounder to the second baseman that allowed Hutcherson to cross the plate.

Pickett's second strikeout of the game and sixth of the day retired the leadoff batter in the seventh before a pair of fly-outs clinched the 3-0 win. USC-Upstate's Erin Hill went the distance in the loss for the Spartans while Pickett picked up her 12th win of the season.

Carolina continues its road trip with a three-game series at Notre Dame Friday through Sunday at Melissa Cook Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.

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