Burkhardt, Licea Homer to Win Series Finale vs. Notre Dame

Sunday, March 14

Chapel Hill, N.C.

Noon

North Carolina

10-8, 6-3

Notre Dame

9-7, 3-5

Notre Dame

North Carolina

March 14, 2021 | Softball

Box Score Box Score

CHAPEL HILL – Although Notre Dame scored first, home runs by Kristina Burkhardt and Kiersten Licea propelled North Carolina to a 2-1 win over the Fighting Irish to split the series 2-2 on Sunday afternoon at Anderson Stadium.

"Friday night was a well-played game by both teams," head coach Donna J. Papa. "It's so different this year as a four-game series. Yesterday didn't go well for us in many aspects, but for us to bounce back and win today was huge. I'm really proud of how we stepped up and battled back from yesterday. It was a good way to finish the weekend and get ourselves ready for Florida State next weekend."

Notre Dame's Karina Gaskins posted a solo shot in the second before Burkardt followed suit in the bottom of the frame. After three scoreless innings, Licea slugged her second hit of the day for a home run to left field for the 2-1 lead. Brittany Pickett struck out seven, allowing only four hits in her 11th complete game of the season.

"I'm always fired up to play Notre Dame with the in-state rivalry as an Indiana native," Burkhardt said. "I wanted to produce this weekend and be consistent for the team at the plate with how our pitchers have been. From Saturday to Sunday, I watched film to see they were hammering me outside. I was able to make adjustments and see the ball then nicely place it over the fence."

Splitting the series, North Carolina improves to 10-8, 5-3 in conference while Notre Dame falls to 9-7, 3-5 in league play. The Tar Heels return to action Friday through Sunday for a four-game series at Florida State.

How it Happened
» Although UNC retired the Irish in order in the first, Karina Gaskins led off the second with a solo-shot to put Notre Dame ahead, 1-0.
» Burkhardt evened up the score with a blast of her own to right-center, knotting the score at 1-1 in the second.
» Defensively, Taylor Greene made a diving catch in the fourth and Destiny Middleton followed suit with a pair of web-gems in the fifth. Bri Stubbs snagged an outfield assist to keep Gaskins off the bases in her third at bat of the day.
» Licea broke through the tie game with her third gone-ball of the season for the 2-1 lead in the sixth.
» Winning pitcher: Brittany Pickett (8-4) // Losing Pitcher: Payton Tidd (3-5)

Notable
» Burkhardt was intentionally walked for the second time in the series.
» Carolina allowed ACC leader Abby Sweet only one hit in the series finale.

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