Tar Heels Fall Short to No. 11 Michigan

Friday, February 14

Chapel Hill, N.C.

1:30 PM

North Carolina

4-3

Michigan

7-0

Michigan

North Carolina

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

February 14, 2020 | Softball

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CHAPEL HILL – Despite eight strikeouts by Brittany Pickett, No. 11 Michigan scored the game-winning run in the seventh inning to defeat No. 25 North Carolina, 4-3 during the first day of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge Friday afternoon at Anderson Stadium.

Michigan jumped on the board first, capitalizing on Carolina errors to score three unearned runs. However, Pickett's second home run of the season followed by an RBI-single by Katie Perkins tied the game at 3-3. However, Michigan's Lexie Blair drove in the winning run on an infield single, securing the 4-3 win for the Wolverines.

Following the setback, the Tar Heels slide to 4-3 while Michigan advances to 7-0. The two teams will meet again for a rematch on Saturday at 11 a.m. before Carolina faces Wisconsin on the second day of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

Key Moments
» Entering in relief, Brittany Pickett escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first inning to keep Michigan off the board in the first inning.
» Michigan took advantage of a pair of Tar Heel errors, scoring three unearned runs on two hits in the second.
» UNC responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning, tying the game at 3-all. Following a leadoff single by Lexi Godwin, Pickett launched the ball to left for her second home run of the season. Abby Settlemyre kept the momentum going with a double to the left-center warning track that sparked a Michigan pitching change. Katie Perkins singled to center, driving in Kiersten Licea to tie the game 3-3 at the bottom of the second inning.
» Following four scoreless innings that featured eighth Pickett strikeouts, Blair sent an RBI-single to the left side scoring Lauren Esman for the 4-3 decision.
» Winning pitcher: Alex Storako (4-0) // Losing pitcher: Brittany Pickett (0-2)

Noteworthy
» Carolina has now faced four ranked opponents in its first seven games of 2020.
» Pickett's eight strikeouts match her season-best vs. No. 9 Florida State on Feb. 7.

Up Next
UNC continues action in the 2020 Big Ten/ACC Challenge Saturday, facing No. 11 Michigan at 11 a.m. and Wisconsin at 4 p.m.

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