Pitching Lifts North Carolina Over Virginia

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina (22-13, 11-4 ACC) took both games of Sunday’s (April 7) doubleheader over Virginia (16-21, 5-10 ACC) to complete the series sweep at Anderson Stadium.
 
The Tar Heels earned an 8-0 victory in five innings in both ends of the twin bill.  
 
GAME 1: North Carolina 8, Virginia 0 (5 Inn.)
Brittany Pickett (13-7) tossed a one-hit shutout to lead North Carolina to a series-clinching, 8-0 win over Virginia in the front end of the doubleheader.

KEY INNING
North Carolina broke open a 1-0 game with a seven-run fourth inning. A single and walk put the first two Tar Heels aboard in the inning. Berlynne Delamora plated one with her RBI-single up the middle. Three more walks followed to plate another pair of UNC runs. Lexi Godwin then lifted a grand slam to make it 8-0 Tar Heels.  

TOUCHING HOME
• Brittany Pickett doubled over the first base bag in the top of the second to put the Tar Heels on the board first.
• Three hits in the fourth for North Carolina produced seven runs to make it 8-0.

ON THE LINES
• Virginia issued five walks in the decisive fourth inning.
• Allyson Frei (Branchville, N.J.) took the loss in the circle, working three innings.
• Hayley Busby (Phoenix, Ariz.) led the game off with a single for Virginia’s only hit.
 
GAME 2: North Carolina 8, Virginia 0 (5 Inn.)
Virginia committed four errors as the Tar Heels rolled once again to an 8-0 victory to complete the sweep.
 
Hannah George (8-4) picked up the victory for North Carolina. Aly Rayle (Herndon, Va.) was charged with the loss, falling to 6-6 on the season.
 
KEY INNING
The first six Tar Heel batters all had hits to open the final game of the series. Kristina Burkhardt and Kiani Ramsey both had RBI-knocks before Megan Dray’s two-run home run made it 4-0 Tar Heels.
 
TOUCHING HOME
• Six hits in the bottom of the first led to the 4-0 start for UNC.
• Brittany Pickett lifted a solo home run in the third to extend the UNC lead to 5-0.
• A sacrifice fly in the fourth from Dray built the advantage to 6-0.
• UNC scored a pair, aided by an error, to close the game in the fifth.
 
ON THE LINES
• Virginia loaded the bases in the top of the fifth, but an infield fly and strikeout ended the threat.
• Erika Osherow (Darien, Conn.) went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.
• Lacy Smith (Lancaster, Pa.) added Virginia’s only other hit in a 1-for-3 game.

UP NEXT
Virginia travels to Longwood on Tuesday (April 9) for a midweek matchup against the Lancers.