Carolina Falls Short to No. 2 Alabama, No. 9 Florida State

Friday, February 7

Tallahassee, Fla.

1 PM

North Carolina

0-1

Alabama

1-0

North Carolina

Alabama

February 7, 2020 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 UNC vs. Alabama Box Score UNC vs. Florida State Box Score

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Battling against two top-10 teams, the Tar Heels were unable to overcome No. 2 Alabama and No. 9 Florida State on opening day to begin the 2020 season at the JoAnne Graf Classic in Tallahassee, Florida.

After a pair of scoreless frames, No. 2 Alabama broke through and put five on the board by the fourth inning. Despite Carolina's two-run sixth inning, highlighted by a Lexi Godwin double, the Crimson Tide outlasted UNC for the 5-2 win to begin the day. Hannah George struck out six in the complete game.

Despite an early FSU score, Kristina Burkhardt knotted the game in the fourth inning that ultimately forced an extra-inning, nonconference battle with the Noles. However, Florida State's Kiersten Landers plated the game-winning run for the 2-1 walk-off win. Brittany Pickett gave up a single earned run, striking out eight to open the 2020 season.

Both No. 2 Alabama and No. 9 Florida State sit at 1-0 while Carolina slides to 0-2 following day one of the JoAnne Graf Classic.

Key Moments vs. No. 2 Alabama
» The Tar Heels threatened in the second with a leadoff walk by Brittany Pickett followed by an Alabama miscue. However, a double play and a failed stolen base attempt kept the game scoreless.
» Hannah George dished out a pair of strikeouts in the second inning.
» Kiersten Licea and Shayla Thompson both singled in the third to put Carolina in scoring position, but the Tar Heels were unable to convert.
» Alabama jumped on the board first with a two-out RBI-single by Kaylee Tow through the right side in the third inning. The Tide extended its lead to 5-0 with four runs on five hits and a Carolina throwing miscue in the fourth inning.
» The Tar Heels answered back in the fifth, capitalizing on an Alabama miscue. However, a pair of ground outs left the runner on third.
» George limited the Tide to singles through the first four frames before Taylor Clark doubled to left in the fifth for the lone UA extra-base hit.
» Carolina cut into Alabama's lead with two runs on one hit and a trio of errors in the sixth inning. Following a walk, Kristina Burkhardt advanced home on a fielder's choice by Megan Dray with two errors on the play. Lexi Godwin finalized the score to two with a double to the warning track, allowing the runner, Katie Perkins to come home.
» Winning pitcher: Lexi Kilfoyl (1-0) // Save: Sarah Cornell (1) // Losing pitcher: Hannah George (0-1)

Key Moments vs. No. 9 Florida State
» The Seminoles jumped on the board in the first inning due to a leadoff double by Kiersten Landers and Elizabeth Mason's RBI-single that brought her home.
» Carolina dished out a perfect 1-2-3 inning in the second, featuring two groundouts to Campbell Hutcherson and a strikeout by Pickett.
» In the third, Pickett caught a lineout and threw to first to for a double play to keep the margin to one.
» Destiny Middleton put Carolina in scoring position, reaching second on a pair of errors to lead off the fourth. Burkhardt knotted the game at 1-1 with an RBI-single to left field.
» With the score tied at one run apiece, Abby Settlemyre led off the eighth inning with a single through the right side. Settlemyre stole second to put the Tar Heels in scoring position but she was left on base.
» After six scoreless innings, the Seminoles walked off in the eighth on Kiersten Lander's bunt-single that allowed Josie Muffley to score an unearned run from third.
» Winning pitcher: Cassidy Davis (1-0) // Losing pitcher: Brittany Pickett (0-1)

Noteworthy
» Freshmen Bri Stubbs, Destiny Middleton and Katie Perkins made their collegiate debuts on Opening Day.
» Bri Stubbs singled to shallow center in her first career at-bat to lead off the 2020 season.
» Kristina Burkhardt logged her first mult--hit game of the year with a 2-for-3 outing vs. Florida State.
» Both Abby Settlemyre and Kristina Burkhardt each logged a stolen base vs. FSU.

Up Next
North Carolina continues the JoAnne Graf Classic Saturday, taking on Detroit Mercy at 10 a.m. and Alabama at 5:30 p.m. The Tar Heels wrap up opening weekend with Detroit Mercy Sunday at 9 a.m.

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