Carolina Defeats Longwood, Ohio State to Reach NCAA Regional Final

Saturday, May 18

Knoxville, Tenn.

2:30 PM

North Carolina

36-19

Longwood

37-22

North Carolina

Longwood

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

Carolina Defeats Longwood, Ohio State to Reach NCAA Regional Final

May 18, 2019 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score vs. Longwood Box Score vs. Ohio State

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Defeating Longwood and Ohio State, the Tar Heels prevailed through two elimination games Saturday in Knoxville, Tennessee to advance to the NCAA Regional final Sunday at noon vs. Tennessee.

With five strikeouts, Hannah George tossed her 10th complete game of the season in the Tar Heels' 3-1 win over Longwood. With the score tied at one, Kristina Burkhardt slugged her fourth home run of the season for the go-ahead run. After a two-hour rain delay between games, Brittany Pickett struck out eight in her second complete-game of the weekend for UNC's 5-3 victory vs. Ohio State. Heads-up base running by Tainasha Vines and a pair of two-run singles by Burkhardt and Kiani Ramsey highlighted the Tar Heels offense in Saturday's finale.

UNC heads to the NCAA Regional final with a 37-19 record. Ohio State wraps up its season at 35-18 while Longwood finishes the season at 37-22.

Key Moments vs. Longwood
» The Tar Heels jumped on the board in the first inning after Leah Murray swung at the first pitch to reach second on an error. Kiani Ramsey brought her home on a single to left for the 1-0 lead.
» However, the lead was short-lived as Longwood's Alexis Wayland evened up the game with a solo-shot to left in the first.
» Kristina Burkhardt reclaimed the lead for the Tar Heels with her fourth home run of the season to right. Following a pair of walks and an error, a strikeout left the bases loaded in the third.
» Shayla Thompson sparked Carolina's offense by putting down a bunt and capitalized on a Longwood miscue to reach second. An Abby Settlemyre single and heads up base running by the duo put both in scoring position as Lexi Godwin sent a sac-fly to left for the 3-1 lead.
» The Lancers threatened with a pair of singles in the bottom of the seventh, but Carolina's defense stranded runners on base for the 3-1 win in the first elimination game of the day.
» Winning Pitcher: Hannah George (14-4) // Losing pitcher: Sydney Gay (12-11)

Key Moments vs. Ohio State
» Berlynne Delamora led off the third with a walk as Tainasha Vines enter to run. After Vines stole second and reached third on a wild pitch, Campbell Hutcherson drew a walk to put Tar Heels on the corners. Vines scored on a OSU error for the 1-0 lead. With the bases still loaded, back-to-back two-run singles by Burkhardt and Ramsey upped Carolina's lead to 5-0 before the inning ended.
» Ohio State responded in the bottom of the frame as Ashley Prange slugged a two-run homer to left to cut into UNC's edge.
» Settlemyre and Delamora struck back-to-back singles to lead off the fourth, but the Tar Heels were unable to convert.
» An RBI-single to right field by Niki Carver in the fifth brought the Buckeyes within two. However, Carolina's defense remained strong to secure the 5-3 win.
» Winning Pitcher: Brittany Pickett (22-13) // Losing pitcher: Morgan Ray (18-10)

Noteworthy
» The Tar Heels reached the NCAA regional final for the second time in three seasons.
» Carolina stole five bases between the pair of games to up the season total to 123.
» Pickett has struck out eight or more batters in her last seven complete games since April 26 at Louisville.
» Ramsey extended reached-base streak to 12 games.
» Both Ramsey and Burkhardt had three RBI on the day.

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