Tar Heels Defeat Pitt for Series Victory

Sunday, March 1

Chapel Hill, N.C.

Noon

North Carolina

Pittsburgh

March 1, 2020 | Softball

Box Score Box Score

CHAPEL HILL – Scoring in every inning, Carolina topped Pittsburgh, 9-1 in six innings to clinch the opening ACC series of the season on Sunday afternoon.

Although Pittsburgh scored first, the Tar Heels tallied one run in every inning, until exploding with four runs in the sixth for the win. Campbell Hutcherson, Lexi Godwin and Kiersten Licea each recorded a home run while Godwin, Licea and Abby Settlemyre recorded multi-hit games accounting for UNC's 12 hit total. Freshman Destiny Middleton drove in three runs, upping her weekend total to seven. Improving to 7-4 on the season, Hannah George tossed her second complete game in as many days.

Winning the series, North Carolina improves to 8-11 while Pitt falls 6-9. The Tar Heels are 2-1 in ACC play while the Panthers sit at 1-2 after the first weekend of league competition.

Key Moments
» Despite Megan Dray throwing out her sixth runner of the season, the Panthers struck early with a 1-0 lead in the first. Following a triple to left, Kaitlyn Kruger singled up the middle to drive in the first run of the game. However, Carolina ended the frame with its ninth double play of the season.
» Carolina responded in the bottom of the first as both Settlemyre and Godwin singled before Dray drove in the game-tying run.
» In the second, Licea put the Tar Heels ahead with her second home run of the season with a solo shot to center. Hutcherson matched her teammate with home run in the third for the 3-1 lead.
» Doubling in her second at-bat, Licea set up for another scoring inning for Carolina. Following a stolen base, Middleton sent a sac-fly to center to up UNC's lead to three runs.
» Pittsburgh threatened in the fifth with back-to-back singles but clean outfield defense left the runners on base.
» Godwin continued her stand-out day at the plate, launching a home run to left for her third hit of the day.
» Carolina added to its lead, scoring four runs on four hits in the sixth. Middleton drove in two more runs on a double to left for the six-run edge. Heads up base running following Settlemyre's third hit of the day allowed, Middleton to steal home as the sophomore swiped second. Godwin's fourth hit clinched the six-inning win for the Tar Heels as her single to center allowed Settlemyre to reach home for the 9-1 win.
» Winning pitcher: Hannah George (7-4) // Losing pitcher: Brittany Knight (5-4)

Noteworthy
» Both Abby Settlemyre, Lexi Godwin and Kiersten Licea had multi-hit games. Godwin hit a perfect 4-for-4 while Settlemyre tallied three hits and Licea had two, both scoring two runs.
» Destiny Middleton logged her third multi-RBI game with three RBI vs. Pitt.
» Carolina turned two double plays during the game: one each in the first and sixth innings.
» The Tar Heels' three home runs matches their game total vs. NC Central on Feb. 18.

Up Next
Carolina travels to UNCW on Wednesday before hosting Syracuse Friday through Sunday at Anderson Stadium.

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