#4 Carolina Downs #8 NC State in Record Fashion To Advance to ACC Championship Game

Friday, May 10

Tallahassee, Fla.

1 PM

North Carolina

NC State

#4 Carolina Downs #8 NC State in Record Fashion To Advance to ACC Championship Game

May 10, 2019 | Softball

Box Score Box Score Highlights

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Resetting four records, fourth-seeded North Carolina topped #8 NC State, 6-1 on Friday afternoon at JoAnne Graf Stadium to earn a spot in the ACC Championship Game for the sixth time in program history.

Highlighted by two stolen bases by Leah Murray for the UNC career record, the Tar Heels reset their team single-season record to 117 and single-game record to nine. In her 23rd complete game, Brittany Pickett struck out 13 batters for a new single-game high.

The Tar Heels jumped to a 1-0 lead on a Kiani Ramsey sac-fly before NC State knotted the game in the second. However, Zoë Goodman launched a three-run home run of the season to left for the go-ahead runs. Murray and Kristina Burkhardt plated two more to finalize the score at 6-1.

Prevailing through a 50-minute weather delay, UNC improves to 35-17 with the win while the Wolfpack falls to 31-27.

Key Moments
» NC State's Sam Russ roped a leadoff triple to left, but a ground out and pair of strikeouts ended the threat.
» In the first, Murray drew a leadoff walk and stole second to tie the UNC career record. After a single by Burkhardt, Ramsey sent a sac-fly to right for the early 1-0 lead.
» However, Carolina's lead did not last long as the Wolfpack knotted the game with and RBI-double by Jessica Moore in the second.
» Tainasha Vines stole both second and third, but a shallow popup ended the inning.
» Pickett struck out the side in the third.
» Carolina jumped ahead in the fifth with five runs on four hits for a 6-1 lead. A leadoff walk and a fielder's choice set up for Goodman's second home run of the season and a three-run edge. An RBI-single up the middle by Murray and a sac-fly from Burkhardt finalized the inning's score at five.
» In the sixth, Murray singled and stole second to become Carolina's all-time career stolen base record holder it also tied UNC's single-season record. Ramsey sealed the deal, swiping the Tar Heels' ninth base of the day for not only the season record, but also the single-game record.
» A 50-minute lightning delay broke up the game, but the Tar Heels had their eyes on the finish line and retired the Wolfpack in order in the seventh.
» Winning Pitcher: Brittany Pickett (21-11) // Losing pitcher: Devin Wallace (13-16)

Noteworthy
» The Tar Heels stole nine bases to break both UNC's single-game and single-season record to 117. Carolina has reset the program record each of the past four seasons: 2016 – 102, 2017 – 106, 2018 – 116, 2019 – 117+).
» With 103 career stolen bases, Murray broke Tiffany Tolleson's career record that stood for over 15 years (Tolleson swiped 102 between 2002-03 seasons.)
» Pickett retired 10 straight batters from the second through the fifth inning.
» Extending her hitting streak to nine games, Ramsey went 3-for-3 with an RBI and two stolen bases.
» Burkhardt logged her 14th multi-hit game with two and a stolen base.
» Five Tar Heels contributed to Carolina's nine swipes: Murray, Ramsey, Burkhardt, Vines, Thompson and Delamora.

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