Carolina Drops ACC Opener to Pitt, 7-3

Friday, February 28

Chapel Hill, N.C.

5 PM

North Carolina

6-11, 0-1

Pittsburgh

6-7, 1-0

Pittsburgh

North Carolina

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

February 28, 2020 | Softball

Box Score Box Score

CHAPEL HILL – Despite nine hits, North Carolina came up short to Pittsburgh in the ACC opener, 7-3 on Friday evening at Anderson Stadium.

The Tar Heels responded to Pitt's leadoff homerun with a run scored by Kristina Burkhardt off the bat of Megan Dray in the second inning. Pittsburgh reclaimed the lead, scoring three runs in the third. The Tar Heels responded with a pair of RBI-singles by Campbell Hutcherson and Lexi Godwin in the fifth inning. However, Carolina was unable to regain the lead as Pitt scored three insurance runs in the seventh inning to secure the 7-3 decision.

The Tar Heels sit at 6-11 while Pitt advances to 6-7 in the 2020 Atlantic Coast Conference opener.

Key Moments
» Despite a leadoff home run by Pitt's Katyln Pavick, the Tar Heels limited the Panthers to one run in the first inning.
» In the bottom of the second, Burkhart put the Tar Heels on the board on an RBI-single by Megan Dray to tie the game at 1-1.
» Pitt reclaimed the lead in the third on an RBI-single and two run home run.
» The Tar Heels earned two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning from Bri Stubbs and Abby Settlemyre who each singled to set up for the inning. Settlemyre stole second before RBI-base hits by Hutcherson and Godwin cut Carolina's deficit to one run.
» The Panthers were held scoreless in the top of the sixth thanks to stand-out defense by third baseman, Destiny Middleton who assisted all three outs.
» Pitt responded in the seventh, plating three runs on a pair of RBI-triples and a sac fly for the 7-3 decision.
» Winning pitcher: Brittany Knight (5-2) // Losing pitcher: Caroline Cagle (0-1)

Noteworthy
» Destiny Middleton contributed to seven outs, assisting four with three lineouts at third base.
» Shayla Thompson went 2-for-3 at the plate.
» Gaby Katz earned her second consecutive start, giving up one run against six batters. Caroline Cagle began the second inning, allowing two runs in 1.1 innings in the circle. Hannah George struck out two in 3.2 innings. Katie Grace Olinger closed out the game, facing four batters in the seventh.

Up Next
Carolina continues the series vs. Pittsburgh continues Saturday at 1 p.m. and concludes Sunday at noon.

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