University of North Carolina Athletics
Sunday, April 21
Blacksburg, Va.
Noon
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28-15, 14-6
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Virginia Tech
40-7, 17-3
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North Carolina
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Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Carolina Splits Doubleheader at No. 21 Virginia Tech, Wins Second Top-25 ACC Series
April 21, 2019 | Softball
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Tar Heels bounced back from a game one loss in Sunday afternoon's doubleheader, to win the series finale over No. 21 Virginia Tech, 8-4 in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The Hokies scored in the first three innings of game one to secure the win, 5-0, and force a rubber match on Sunday afternoon. However, Carolina made key adjustments to pick up an 8-4 win on four extra base hits and Hannah George's second complete-game win over a top-25 team this week.
"Our pitchers were big this weekend," head coach Donna J. Papa said. "The team as a whole – I couldn't be more proud of their composure and how they handled themselves after we lost game one today. Game two, we came out and made adjustments. We had a few big hits, but we did a lot of really good things defensively as well. Hannah George pitched outstanding. She really shut their hitters down. To the team, to be able to win two of three on the road against the ACC leader is big.
"We've had a big week this week," Papa continued. "I'm excited. I told the team that we can play with anybody. We've proven it and now people have to play with us. I'm happy to be going home with a series win."
After today's win, Carolina has eight top-25 wins, including four in one week. This is the Tar Heels fifth ACC series win of the season. UNC improves to 29-15, 15-6 in the ACC before a pair of nonconference matchups: Tuesday at home vs. UNCW and Wednesday at UNCG. Tech falls to 40-8, 17-4 in conference.
Game One (L, 0-5)
» The Hokies jumped on the board first with Emma Strouth's two-run shot in the first.
» VT tacked on one apiece in the second and third innings off RBI-singles from Maddi Banks and Kelsey Bennett.
» Kristina Burkhardt broke up the no-hitter in the third on a single to second, but she was left on the bags.
» Leah Murray singled in the fifth and stole second to extend her hitting streak to 14 and mark her 100th career stolen base.
» Virginia Tech led off the fifth with a solo shot to left as Carolina brought in Hannah George to pitch. George struck out one, but the score was final at 5-0.
» Winning Pitcher: Keely Rochard (18-3) // Losing pitcher: Brittany Pickett (17-9)
Game Two (W, 8-4)
» Carolina batted around and scored seven runs in the fourth inning on eight hits, including four for extra bases. Murray lead off the inning with a single to center before Kiani Ramsey scored her on a triple to center. Pickett cleared the bases with her sixth home run of the season for a 4-0 lead. A pair of hits and Tech miscue loaded the bases for pinch hitter Zoë Goodman who doubled down the left line for a 6-0 lead. Lexi Godwin mirrored Goodman with the same result for 7-0 lead after four.
» The Hokies responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame on a two-run double followed by a two-run home run off Mackenzie Lawter.
» Carolina answered back with a run in the fifth. Ramsey drew a leadoff walk before Pickett's single put runners on the corners. Ramsey capitalized on a Tech miscue to make it 8-4 before a strikeout ended the inning.
» George shut down her final six batters to conclude the game with a pair of strikeouts in her seventh complete game.
» Winning Pitcher: Hannah George (11-4) // Losing pitcher: Carrie Eberle (22-5)
Noteworthy
» Dray extended her reached-base streak to 19 games. Murray extended her hitting streak to 15 games.
» Murray is up to 100 career stolen bases – three away from breaking the UNC program record.
» George picked up her second top-25 win this season and second this week in game two.
» Prior to 2019, the most ranked wins in a season was six in 2010.
Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
The Hokies scored in the first three innings of game one to secure the win, 5-0, and force a rubber match on Sunday afternoon. However, Carolina made key adjustments to pick up an 8-4 win on four extra base hits and Hannah George's second complete-game win over a top-25 team this week.
"Our pitchers were big this weekend," head coach Donna J. Papa said. "The team as a whole – I couldn't be more proud of their composure and how they handled themselves after we lost game one today. Game two, we came out and made adjustments. We had a few big hits, but we did a lot of really good things defensively as well. Hannah George pitched outstanding. She really shut their hitters down. To the team, to be able to win two of three on the road against the ACC leader is big.
"We've had a big week this week," Papa continued. "I'm excited. I told the team that we can play with anybody. We've proven it and now people have to play with us. I'm happy to be going home with a series win."
After today's win, Carolina has eight top-25 wins, including four in one week. This is the Tar Heels fifth ACC series win of the season. UNC improves to 29-15, 15-6 in the ACC before a pair of nonconference matchups: Tuesday at home vs. UNCW and Wednesday at UNCG. Tech falls to 40-8, 17-4 in conference.
Game One (L, 0-5)
» The Hokies jumped on the board first with Emma Strouth's two-run shot in the first.
» VT tacked on one apiece in the second and third innings off RBI-singles from Maddi Banks and Kelsey Bennett.
» Kristina Burkhardt broke up the no-hitter in the third on a single to second, but she was left on the bags.
» Leah Murray singled in the fifth and stole second to extend her hitting streak to 14 and mark her 100th career stolen base.
» Virginia Tech led off the fifth with a solo shot to left as Carolina brought in Hannah George to pitch. George struck out one, but the score was final at 5-0.
» Winning Pitcher: Keely Rochard (18-3) // Losing pitcher: Brittany Pickett (17-9)
Game Two (W, 8-4)
» Carolina batted around and scored seven runs in the fourth inning on eight hits, including four for extra bases. Murray lead off the inning with a single to center before Kiani Ramsey scored her on a triple to center. Pickett cleared the bases with her sixth home run of the season for a 4-0 lead. A pair of hits and Tech miscue loaded the bases for pinch hitter Zoë Goodman who doubled down the left line for a 6-0 lead. Lexi Godwin mirrored Goodman with the same result for 7-0 lead after four.
» The Hokies responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame on a two-run double followed by a two-run home run off Mackenzie Lawter.
» Carolina answered back with a run in the fifth. Ramsey drew a leadoff walk before Pickett's single put runners on the corners. Ramsey capitalized on a Tech miscue to make it 8-4 before a strikeout ended the inning.
» George shut down her final six batters to conclude the game with a pair of strikeouts in her seventh complete game.
» Winning Pitcher: Hannah George (11-4) // Losing pitcher: Carrie Eberle (22-5)
Noteworthy
» Dray extended her reached-base streak to 19 games. Murray extended her hitting streak to 15 games.
» Murray is up to 100 career stolen bases – three away from breaking the UNC program record.
» George picked up her second top-25 win this season and second this week in game two.
» Prior to 2019, the most ranked wins in a season was six in 2010.
Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: George, Hannah (11-4)
L: C. Eberle (22-5)
Batting:
2B: Goodman, Zoë 1 ; Godwin, Lexi 1
3B: Ramsey, Kiani 1
HR: Pickett, Brittany 1
RBI: Ramsey, Kiani 1 ; Pickett, Brittany 2 ; Goodman, Zoë 2 ; Godwin, Lexi 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Murray, Leah 1 ; Ramsey, Kiani 2 ; Pickett, Brittany 1 ; Thompson, Shayla 1 ; Vines, Tainasha 1 ; Puetz, Taylor 1 ; Hutcherson, Campbell 1
CS: Settlemyre, Abby 1
HBP: Pickett, Brittany 1 ; Dray, Megan 1
Batting:
2B: J. Bailey 1 ; L. Duff 1
HR: M. Lawter 1
RBI: L. Duff 2 ; M. Lawter 2
Base Running:
RUNS: E. Strouth 1 ; A. Velazquez 1 ; K. Johnson 1 ; M. Lawter 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P/1B
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballOF/1B
/ SoftballP/1B
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballHubert Davis post-NC Central Press Conference
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