Seniors Power Carolina to Victory Over Charlotte

Wednesday, March 7

Charlotte, N.C.

5 PM

North Carolina

8-13

Charlotte

6-11

North Carolina

Charlotte

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

March 7, 2018 | Softball

Box Score

CHARLOTTE – The veteran duo of Katelyn Shifflett and Taylor Wike propelled the Tar Heels to a 12-2 win over Charlotte Wednesday in the Queen City. Shifflett's first home run of the season and Wike's single-game career high, five RBI helped Carolina improve to 8-13 overall.

In addition to Wike, both Kiani Ramsey and Leah Murray also had three hits and one RBI. Five Tar Heels each logged a hit, totaling 14 – the second-most hits in a single game this season.

In the circle, Kellyn Daly made her first appearance of the season, tossing 1.2 innings. Katie Grace Olinger and Brittany Pickett rounded out Carolina's pitching staff that limited the 49ers to two runs, dropping Charlotte to 6-11 on the season. Olinger earned her first win of the season while Pickett picked up the save.

The 49ers got on the board first thanks to an RBI-double to the left field warning track by Lizzy Birch. Meredith Harris doubled the score with a liner to left.

However, Carolina responded with four runs in the top of the third inning. Murray led off the frame with a single before Hailey Cole advanced her on a sac-bunt and a stolen base moved her to third. A pair of walks loaded the bases before Kristina Burkhardt stepped into the box. A Charlotte miscue in left plated three before Ramsey drove in the fourth run on a single up the middle.

Charlotte threatened in the bottom of the frame, loading the bases on pair of hits and a walk. Appearing in relief, Pickett retired the next three batters to get out of the jam.

Carolina continued in the fourth inning, upping the score to 7-2. On the first pitch, Shifflett launched her first home run of the season and the Tar Heels' 10th to right-center. Singles and stolen bases by Murray and Cole put two on as Wike stepped into the box. The senior added the final two runs of the inning on a single to left-center. Katie Bailiff logged a base-knock in the frame but the runners were left on base to end the inning.

After two scoreless innings, Wike sent a bases-clearing triple down the left for a nine-run lead in the seventh. Megan Dray drove in Carolina's final run for a 12-2 decision. Charlotte's starter Haley Wiseman took the loss for the 49ers on Wednesday night.

North Carolina returns home to kick of ACC play versus crosstown rival, Duke Friday through Sunday at Anderson Stadium. The ACC Opener begins Friday at 6 p.m. First pitch Saturday and Sunday is slated for 1 p.m.

Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.

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Team Stats

Pitching:

W: Olinger, Katie Grace (1-3)

L: WISEMAN, Haley (4-6)

S: Pickett, Brittany (1)

North Carolina

Batting:

2B: Hutcherson, Campbell 1

3B: Wike, Taylor 1 ; Ramsey, Kiani 1

HR: Shifflett, Katelyn 1

RBI: Wike, Taylor 5 ; Dray, Megan 1 ; Ramsey, Kiani 1 ; Shifflett, Katelyn 1 ; Murray, Leah 1

SH: Cole, Hailey 1

Base Running:

RUNS: Cole, Hailey 2 ; Wike, Taylor 2 ; West, Brittany 1 ; Burkhardt, Kristina 1 ; Ramsey, Kiani 1 ; Hutcherson, Campbell 1 ; Shifflett, Katelyn 1 ; Parkinson, Sierra 1 ; Murray, Leah 2