Sunday, May 9
Chapel Hill, N.C.
10:00 AM
North Carolina
14-24, 10-18
9
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5
Louisville
20-27-1, 14-21-1
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Louisville
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North Carolina
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X
9
12
1
Photo by: Andy Mead
Softball Earns Bid to ACC Tournament, Splits Doubleheader with Louisville
May 9, 2021 | Softball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The North Carolina Tar Heels clinched a bid to the ACC Softball Tournament with a 9-5 win over the Lousiville Cardinals on Sunday morning, before dropping the second game 7-3 splitting the weekend series at Anderson Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
In game one of the twin bill, the Heels took control starting in the third inning, and continued to score through the end of the game. Louisville did not go down easily, scoring four in the top of the fifth to tie the game, but Carolina answered the bell, scoring in the fifth and sixth innings to seal the victory, and clinch a spot in the ACC Tournament next week in Louisville, KY. Skyler Brooks and Destiny Middleton led the Tar Heels with two runs each, with Bri Stubbs leading on hits with three. Brittany Pickett pitched her second complete game for her second victory of the weekend, ensuring the Tar Heels had a spot in the ACC Tournament.
Game two saw a different outcome with the Louisville Cardinals beginning their lead in the second inning. The Tar Heels answered in the bottom of the fourth with Kristina Burkhardt home run followed by hits from Destiny Middleton, Kiannah Pierce and Kiersten Liecea. However, the Cardinals hit five unanswered runs in the top of the seventh to earn the victory and split the series.
"This team has been fighting all season and I am so proud that they are able to go to the ACC Tournament next week," said head coach Donna J. Papa. "We start a new season next week in Louisville and I know this team will step up and play their best."
The Tar Heels (14-25, 10-19 ACC) head to Louisville, KY for the ACC Tournament as a 10 seed, and will play in-state rival and No. 7 NC State at 3:30 p.m. on May 12 at Ulmer Stadium.
Carolina 9, Louisville 5:
» Brittany Pickett started the game in the circle for the second game in a row, garnered a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the second.
» Louisville hit twice in the top of the third but could not convert into runs.
» In the bottom of the third, the Tar Heels reached with a Skyler Brooks single. Skyler then stole second, and Kristina Burkhardt drew a walk to reach. Destiny Middleton then hit a single to load the bases, followed by a SAC fly fro Kiannah Pierce that scored Skyler Brooks for the 1-0 lead.
» After the first score in the bottom of the third, the Tar Heels loaded the bases afain, and a throwing error by the Cardinal short stop brought Destiny Middleton in for the score, as well as Kristina Burkhardt to put the Heels up 3-0.
» Louisville answered in the top of the fourth with a home run, but the Heels kept them from scoring again in the inning.
» Skyler Brooks reached on a fielding error in the bottom of the fourth and stole her second and third bases of the game, followed by a double by Destiny Middleton to take the score to 4-1. Taylor Greene continued the hitting trend, bringing Destiny home to extend the lead to 5-1.
» Louisville roared back in the top of the fifth, scoring four runs to tie the game.
» In the bottom of the fifth, Bri Stubbs bunted to reach, then stole second. Kristina Burkhardt then singled to bring Bri in for the score to regain the lead, 6-5.
» Brittany Pickett saw another three-up three-down inning in the top of the sixth.
» The Tar Heels secured the victory in the bottom of the sixth, with an opening hit from Kiannah Pierce. Kiersten Licea singled to left field, getting the RBI from Kiwi. Campbell Hutcherson then singled to score Kiersten for the final score of 9-5.
» Winning Pitcher: Brittany Pickett (10-6) // Losing Pitcher: Taylor Roby (12-13)
Carolina 2, Louisville 7:
» Katie Grace Olinger started in the circle for the Tar Heels, retiring all three batters in her first inning.
» Louisville took the lead in the top of the second with a home run, then continued to score in the top of the third off two hits and a walk for a 2-0 lead.
» Katie Grace retired the side yet again in the top of the fourth, allowing the Tar Heels to come back in the bottom of the fourth with a Kristina Burkhardt home run to take the score to 2-1.
» Also in the bottom of the fourth, Destiny Middleton, Kiannah Pierce and Kiersten Licea all recorded hits, with Lieca's hit scoring Destiny to take the 3-2 lead.
» Brittany Pickett came into the circle in the top of the sixth, retiring the side.
» The top of the seventh proved to be a big inning for the Cardinals, with the team scoring five unanswered runs to take the victory.
» Winning Pitcher: Jennifer Leonhardt (4-8) // Losing Pitcher: Brittany Pickett (20-8)
Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
In game one of the twin bill, the Heels took control starting in the third inning, and continued to score through the end of the game. Louisville did not go down easily, scoring four in the top of the fifth to tie the game, but Carolina answered the bell, scoring in the fifth and sixth innings to seal the victory, and clinch a spot in the ACC Tournament next week in Louisville, KY. Skyler Brooks and Destiny Middleton led the Tar Heels with two runs each, with Bri Stubbs leading on hits with three. Brittany Pickett pitched her second complete game for her second victory of the weekend, ensuring the Tar Heels had a spot in the ACC Tournament.
Game two saw a different outcome with the Louisville Cardinals beginning their lead in the second inning. The Tar Heels answered in the bottom of the fourth with Kristina Burkhardt home run followed by hits from Destiny Middleton, Kiannah Pierce and Kiersten Liecea. However, the Cardinals hit five unanswered runs in the top of the seventh to earn the victory and split the series.
"This team has been fighting all season and I am so proud that they are able to go to the ACC Tournament next week," said head coach Donna J. Papa. "We start a new season next week in Louisville and I know this team will step up and play their best."
The Tar Heels (14-25, 10-19 ACC) head to Louisville, KY for the ACC Tournament as a 10 seed, and will play in-state rival and No. 7 NC State at 3:30 p.m. on May 12 at Ulmer Stadium.
Carolina 9, Louisville 5:
» Brittany Pickett started the game in the circle for the second game in a row, garnered a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the second.
» Louisville hit twice in the top of the third but could not convert into runs.
» In the bottom of the third, the Tar Heels reached with a Skyler Brooks single. Skyler then stole second, and Kristina Burkhardt drew a walk to reach. Destiny Middleton then hit a single to load the bases, followed by a SAC fly fro Kiannah Pierce that scored Skyler Brooks for the 1-0 lead.
» After the first score in the bottom of the third, the Tar Heels loaded the bases afain, and a throwing error by the Cardinal short stop brought Destiny Middleton in for the score, as well as Kristina Burkhardt to put the Heels up 3-0.
» Louisville answered in the top of the fourth with a home run, but the Heels kept them from scoring again in the inning.
» Skyler Brooks reached on a fielding error in the bottom of the fourth and stole her second and third bases of the game, followed by a double by Destiny Middleton to take the score to 4-1. Taylor Greene continued the hitting trend, bringing Destiny home to extend the lead to 5-1.
» Louisville roared back in the top of the fifth, scoring four runs to tie the game.
» In the bottom of the fifth, Bri Stubbs bunted to reach, then stole second. Kristina Burkhardt then singled to bring Bri in for the score to regain the lead, 6-5.
» Brittany Pickett saw another three-up three-down inning in the top of the sixth.
» The Tar Heels secured the victory in the bottom of the sixth, with an opening hit from Kiannah Pierce. Kiersten Licea singled to left field, getting the RBI from Kiwi. Campbell Hutcherson then singled to score Kiersten for the final score of 9-5.
» Winning Pitcher: Brittany Pickett (10-6) // Losing Pitcher: Taylor Roby (12-13)
Carolina 2, Louisville 7:
» Katie Grace Olinger started in the circle for the Tar Heels, retiring all three batters in her first inning.
» Louisville took the lead in the top of the second with a home run, then continued to score in the top of the third off two hits and a walk for a 2-0 lead.
» Katie Grace retired the side yet again in the top of the fourth, allowing the Tar Heels to come back in the bottom of the fourth with a Kristina Burkhardt home run to take the score to 2-1.
» Also in the bottom of the fourth, Destiny Middleton, Kiannah Pierce and Kiersten Licea all recorded hits, with Lieca's hit scoring Destiny to take the 3-2 lead.
» Brittany Pickett came into the circle in the top of the sixth, retiring the side.
» The top of the seventh proved to be a big inning for the Cardinals, with the team scoring five unanswered runs to take the victory.
» Winning Pitcher: Jennifer Leonhardt (4-8) // Losing Pitcher: Brittany Pickett (20-8)
Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Pickett, Brittany (10-6)
L: Taylor Roby (12-13)
Batting:
2B: Maddy Newman 1
HR: Makayla Hurst 1
RBI: Maddy Newman 1 ; Charley Butler 1 ; Makayla Hurst 1 ; Rebecca Chung 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Carmyn Greenwood 1 ; Maddy Newman 1 ; Charley Butler 1 ; Makayla Hurst 1 ; Jenna Servi 1
SB: Charley Butler 1
Batting:
2B: Middleton, Destiny 1
RBI: Burkhardt, Kristina 1 ; Middleton, Destiny 1 ; Pierce, Kiannah 1 ; Greene, Taylor 1 ; Licea, Kiersten 1 ; Hutcherson, Campbell 2
SF: Pierce, Kiannah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Burkhardt, Kristina 1 ; Middleton, Destiny 2 ; Pierce, Kiannah 1 ; Jordan, Aneshia 1 ; Licea, Kiersten 1 ; Stubbs, Bri 1 ; Brooks, Skyler 2
SB: Stubbs, Bri 2 ; Brooks, Skyler 3
HBP: Greene, Taylor 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
MIF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
1B
/ Softball
1B
/ SoftballIF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P/1B
/ SoftballMIF/OF
/ SoftballOF
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