University of North Carolina Athletics
Friday, February 7
Tallahassee, Fla.
1 PM
North Carolina
vs
Alabama
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Carolina Opens 2020 Season at JoAnne Graf Classic
February 6, 2020 | Softball
CHAPEL HILL – North Carolina Softball beings the 2020 season at Florida State's JoAnne Graf Classic Friday through Sunday, facing three 2019 NCAA Tournament teams throughout Opening Weekend in Tallahassee, Florida.
The Tar Heels kick off the season Friday with a doubleheader vs. No. 2 Alabama at 1 p.m. and host, No. 9 Florida State at 3:30 p.m. The weekend continues with Detroit Mercy Saturday at 10 a.m. and a rematch vs. the Crimson Tide at 5:30 p.m. Carolina wraps up the tournament with a second game vs. Detroit Mercy at 9 a.m. Sunday before returning to Chapel Hill.
Fans can follow live stats at unclivestats.com. Friday's game vs. the Noles is available on the ACC Network Extra.
About North Carolina TAR HEELS (38-20, 17-7 ACC)
The Tar Heels begin their 44th season in program history at Florida State's JoAnne Graf Classic. Head coach Donna J. Papa enters her 35th season leading the Tar Heels who were picked fourth in the ACC preseason poll. Brittany Pickett and Kristina Burkhardt were named to the preseason all-ACC team.
Meet The 2020 Tar Heels
The Tar Heels return 16 letterwinners and welcome eight newcomers to the 2020 squad. Carolina returns its entire pitching staff led by three-time first-team All-ACC selection, Brittany Pickett, senior Hannah Nommensen, and ACC all-freshmen team honoree, Hannah George, while adding three from the freshmen class: Caroline Cagle, Gaby Katz and Alyssa Stanley. 2019 starters Megan Dray, Campbell Hutcherson and Abby Settlemyre return to the infield while Kristina Burkhardt is the lone returner in the outfield. Freshman Bri Stubbs and sophomore Shayla Thompson are likely to join Burkhardt in the outfield.
Although the Tar Heels graduated three quick base runners who helped UNC break its stolen base record for the fourth-straight season, Carolina returns Burkhardt, Settlemyre and Thompson who each logged double-digit stolen bases in 2019. With 11 lefty batters, the Tar Heels are expected to continue their recent speedy seasons.
Record Watch
Lefty pitcher Brittany Pickett begins her senior campaign as Carolina's career saves record holder with 12. Pickett also ranks top-10 in 10 additional pitching categories: wins, appearances, starts, complete games, innings pitched, batters faced, shutouts, strikeouts, walk per seven innings and strikeouts per seven innings. Pickett set 10 UNC single-season records in her first three years in Carolina Blue.
Senior Campbell Hutcherson sits top-10 in three career categories: fielding percentage, putouts and double plays turned. Junior Megan Dray ranks 10th in Carolina's career records with 15 runners caught stealing.
About No. 2 Alabama CRIMSON TIDE (60-10, 18-6 SEC)
SEC preseason favorite, Alabama begins the 2020 season with three student-athletes named to the USA Softball Player of the Year Watchlist. Advancing through three elimination games, the Crimson Tide's 2019 season ended at the WCWS to national runner-up, Oklahoma.
» Series (streak): Alabama leads, 8-0 (won eight)
» Last meeting: Alabama won, 4-3 on April 18, 2014 in Chapel Hill, N.C.
About No. 9 Florida State SEMINOLES (55-10, 19-5 ACC)
Winner of the past six ACC championships, preseason league favorite Florida State kicks off the 2020 season at home to host the JoAnne Graf Classic. The Seminoles are led by 2019 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, infielder Sydney Sherrill who was named to the USA Softball Player of the Year Watchlist.
» Series (streak): Florida State leads, 75-26 (won one)
» Last meeting: Florida State won, 8-0 [6 inn.] on May 11, 2019 at the ACC Tournament in Tallahassee, Fla.
About Detroit Mercy TITANS (31-28, 16-8 Horizon League)
First-year head coach Mar Gillis is at the helm of defending Horizon League champions, the Detroit Mercy Titans, whose 2019 season ended at the NCAA Regional. With eight freshmen, the Titans are led by senior pitchers Liz Murphey and Cami Sinclair and third baseman Jen Lorenz.
» Series (streak): Detroit Mercy leads, 1-0 (won one)
» Last meeting: Detroit Mercy won, 4-1 on Mar. 3, 1985 in Tallahassee, Fla.
Up Next
Carolina returns home Wednesday for the 2020 home opener vs. Campbell at 5 p.m.
Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
The Tar Heels kick off the season Friday with a doubleheader vs. No. 2 Alabama at 1 p.m. and host, No. 9 Florida State at 3:30 p.m. The weekend continues with Detroit Mercy Saturday at 10 a.m. and a rematch vs. the Crimson Tide at 5:30 p.m. Carolina wraps up the tournament with a second game vs. Detroit Mercy at 9 a.m. Sunday before returning to Chapel Hill.
Fans can follow live stats at unclivestats.com. Friday's game vs. the Noles is available on the ACC Network Extra.
About North Carolina TAR HEELS (38-20, 17-7 ACC)
The Tar Heels begin their 44th season in program history at Florida State's JoAnne Graf Classic. Head coach Donna J. Papa enters her 35th season leading the Tar Heels who were picked fourth in the ACC preseason poll. Brittany Pickett and Kristina Burkhardt were named to the preseason all-ACC team.
Meet The 2020 Tar Heels
The Tar Heels return 16 letterwinners and welcome eight newcomers to the 2020 squad. Carolina returns its entire pitching staff led by three-time first-team All-ACC selection, Brittany Pickett, senior Hannah Nommensen, and ACC all-freshmen team honoree, Hannah George, while adding three from the freshmen class: Caroline Cagle, Gaby Katz and Alyssa Stanley. 2019 starters Megan Dray, Campbell Hutcherson and Abby Settlemyre return to the infield while Kristina Burkhardt is the lone returner in the outfield. Freshman Bri Stubbs and sophomore Shayla Thompson are likely to join Burkhardt in the outfield.
Although the Tar Heels graduated three quick base runners who helped UNC break its stolen base record for the fourth-straight season, Carolina returns Burkhardt, Settlemyre and Thompson who each logged double-digit stolen bases in 2019. With 11 lefty batters, the Tar Heels are expected to continue their recent speedy seasons.
Record Watch
Lefty pitcher Brittany Pickett begins her senior campaign as Carolina's career saves record holder with 12. Pickett also ranks top-10 in 10 additional pitching categories: wins, appearances, starts, complete games, innings pitched, batters faced, shutouts, strikeouts, walk per seven innings and strikeouts per seven innings. Pickett set 10 UNC single-season records in her first three years in Carolina Blue.
Senior Campbell Hutcherson sits top-10 in three career categories: fielding percentage, putouts and double plays turned. Junior Megan Dray ranks 10th in Carolina's career records with 15 runners caught stealing.
About No. 2 Alabama CRIMSON TIDE (60-10, 18-6 SEC)
SEC preseason favorite, Alabama begins the 2020 season with three student-athletes named to the USA Softball Player of the Year Watchlist. Advancing through three elimination games, the Crimson Tide's 2019 season ended at the WCWS to national runner-up, Oklahoma.
» Series (streak): Alabama leads, 8-0 (won eight)
» Last meeting: Alabama won, 4-3 on April 18, 2014 in Chapel Hill, N.C.
About No. 9 Florida State SEMINOLES (55-10, 19-5 ACC)
Winner of the past six ACC championships, preseason league favorite Florida State kicks off the 2020 season at home to host the JoAnne Graf Classic. The Seminoles are led by 2019 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, infielder Sydney Sherrill who was named to the USA Softball Player of the Year Watchlist.
» Series (streak): Florida State leads, 75-26 (won one)
» Last meeting: Florida State won, 8-0 [6 inn.] on May 11, 2019 at the ACC Tournament in Tallahassee, Fla.
About Detroit Mercy TITANS (31-28, 16-8 Horizon League)
First-year head coach Mar Gillis is at the helm of defending Horizon League champions, the Detroit Mercy Titans, whose 2019 season ended at the NCAA Regional. With eight freshmen, the Titans are led by senior pitchers Liz Murphey and Cami Sinclair and third baseman Jen Lorenz.
» Series (streak): Detroit Mercy leads, 1-0 (won one)
» Last meeting: Detroit Mercy won, 4-1 on Mar. 3, 1985 in Tallahassee, Fla.
Up Next
Carolina returns home Wednesday for the 2020 home opener vs. Campbell at 5 p.m.
Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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