Burkhardt, Middleton Homer in Doubleheader Split

Saturday, February 20

Chapel Hill, N.C.

11 AM

North Carolina

Syracuse

Taylor Greene

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

February 20, 2021 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game One Box Score Game Two Box Score Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL – Although Syracuse outlasted UNC for the 3-2 extra-inning win in game one, North Carolina responded to blank the Orange, 4-0, in game two of the doubleheader Saturday at Anderson Stadium as part of the ACC Pod weekend.

The Orange jumped to an early 1-0 lead in the first and maintained the edge through the seventh inning. However, Taylor Greene matched Syracuse's score with a two-run single to send the game to extra innings. Despite having the bases loaded in the eighth, an RBI-single clinched the 3-2 win in game one for Syracuse. Hannah George strikeout two in the loss.

Carolina bounced back in game two as Destiny Middleton slugged a home run over the right-field fence for the 1-0 lead in the third. Kristina Burkhardt followed suit with her 11th career home run in the sixth. Greene added two more RBI to her line, plating runs in the fourth and sixth innings to finalize UNC's score at four. Brittany Pickett struck out 12 in her second win of the season.

In addition to the pair of home runs, Greene highlighted UNC's offense with four RBI on the day. Both Burkhardt and Middleton logged three hits apiece in game two.

Carolina wraps up the series vs. Syracuse Sunday at 10 a.m. at Anderson Stadium.

Syracuse 3, Carolina 2 in nine innings
» Syracuse jumped on the board first on Toni Martin's sac-fly to center for a 1-0 lead.
» Skyler Brooks broke up the no-hitter in the third and followed up by stealing second and third.
» Kayla Baptista singled and stole second in the fifth.
» Toni Martin doubled the Orange's score with a solo shot to right to lead off the sixth.
» Greene connected with Brooks to catch a runner stealing second in the seventh.
» Following a pair of walks and a fly-out by Zoë Goodman to advance the runners, Greene dropped a two-run single in left allowing Bri Stubbs and Kiannah Pierce to score and tie the game up at 2-2.
» In the eighth, Katie Perkins pinch hit a single to center and a pair of walks loaded the bases, but the runners were left stranded.
» Syracuse reclaimed the lead on a RBI-single by Carli Campbell in the ninth for the 3-2 win.
» Winning pitcher: Kaia Oliver (1-0) // Losing pitcher: Hannah George (1-1)

Carolina 4, Syracuse 0
» Making her first career start, Pierce dove for foul-fly ball in the first.
» After two scoreless frames, Middleton launched her first collegiate home run to right for the 1-0 lead.
» Greene doubled UNC's lead on a sac-fly to center that allowed Burkhardt to score.
» Despite a pair of runners on base to lead off the fourth, Pickett dished out back-to-back strikeouts to strand the runners.
» Carolina tacked on a pair of runs in the sixth on Burkhardt's 11th career home run and Greene's second sac-fly of the day.
» In the seventh, the Tar Heels loaded the bases, but couldn't cross the plate. Carsyn Snead dropped a bunt-single against the first pitch of her first collegiate at-bat. Middleton followed suit with a single to right, but a strikeout ended the inning.
» Winning pitcher: Brittany Pickett (1-0) // Losing pitcher: CC Cook (0-2)

Noteworthy
» Freshmen Skyler Brooks and Carsyn Snead logged their first career hits in games one and two, respectively.
» Brittany Pickett's 12 strikeouts was her most since May 10, 2019 when she had 13 vs. NC State in the ACC Tournament.
» Carolina stole six bases in the doubleheader.
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