Tar Heels Best Detroit Mercy for 1,500th Program Win

Sunday, February 9

Tallahassee, Fla.

9 AM

North Carolina

3-2

Detroit Mercy

0-3

North Carolina

Detroit Mercy

February 9, 2020 | Softball

Box Score Box Score

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Earning the program's 1,500th victory, North Carolina defeated Detroit Mercy, 11-3 in five innings on Sunday morning to wrap up the JoAnne Graf Classic in Tallahassee, Fla.

Scoring early, the Tar Heels set the tone for the second run-rule win of the season. Destiny Middleton stole four of UNC's seven bases in the game while also tallying two hits. Both Megan Dray and Kristina Burkhardt drove in three runs on multi-hit games. Making her first career start in right field, Katie Perkins went 2-for-2 with an RBI at the plate. Hannah George threw four shutout innings in her second win of the season.

The Tar Heels improve to 3-2 on the season while Detroit Mercy falls to 0-3.

Key Moments
» Middleton drew a walk and stole second before Burkhardt brought her home on an RBI-single up the middle for the early lead.
» George struck out two each in the second and third, despite runners in scoring position. Abby Settlemyre prevented a base-hit with speedy defense in the gap.
» In the third, Dray upped Carolina's lead on a two-run single to left following a double steal by Middleton and Burkhardt.
» Carolina plated three runs on three hits and a Detroit Mercy error in the fourth. With two runners on, Burkhardt flew out to left allowing Settlemyre to score. Shayla Thompson, who reached on a fielder's choice, scored on an error before Middleton stole home during the play.
» The Tar Heels tacked on five runs in the fifth for an 11-run advantage. Katie Perkins laced an RBI-single through the left side allowing Hailey Cole to score following a single of her own. Zoë Goodman pinch hit an RBI-double. Burkhardt tripled to right, plating one, before Dray finalized the score with a one-run single up the middle.
» In the fifth, Hannah Nommensen faced three batters and Alyssa Stanley saw one before Brittany Pickett closed out the game in the circle.
» Although Carolina jumped to an 11-run lead, the Titans wouldn't go down without a fight. Detroit Mercy posted three runs on one hit in the fifth before Pickett finished the game with a strikeout.
» Winning pitcher: Hannah George (2-1) // Losing pitcher: Regan Glen (0-1)

Noteworthy
» Destiny Middleton stole four bases, including home, vs. Detroit Mercy – one shy of the single-game program record (5).
» Zoë Goodman pinch-hit a double for the second time in as many games.
» Carolina earned its 1,500th program win on Sunday.

Up Next
Carolina returns home to play host to Campbell Wednesday at 5 p.m. before welcoming Michigan, Wisconsin and Louisville for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge Friday through Sunday at Anderson Stadium.

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