Friday, March 16
Chapel Hill, N.C.
6:00 PM EST
Pitt
13-11-1, 2-2
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North Carolina
12-13, 4-0
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Pitt
2
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North Carolina
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Photo by: Alex Mowrey/Pitt Athletics
Panthers Drop Series Opener to UNC
3/16/2018 9:54:00 PM | Softball
Zeremenko Blasts Two-Run Shot in the Loss
Box Score | Season Stats
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of Pittsburgh softball team fell to North Carolina in the squad's first game of the series Friday evening, 8-4, at Anderson Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Despite a two-run shot by senior Giorgiana Zeremenko in the top of the first inning that put the Panthers [13-11-1, 2-2 ACC] out in front early, Pitt was unable to hold off the Tar Heels [12-13, 3-1 ACC] in the long run. UNC tallied nine hits, seven of which were for extra bases, including three long balls.
Zeremenko led the Panthers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double in addition to the home run. Junior Gabrielle Fredericks, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI-single was Pitt's other top performer.
On defense, the play of the game goes to junior Oliva Gray, who snagged a high line drive for the opening out of the first inning. Gray was fully extended on the play.
In the circle, junior Sarah Dawson got the start but was pulled in the third inning after giving up a three-run shot to put the Tar Heels out in front. Dawson gave up five hits, five runs and two walks, while striking out two before being replaced by junior Taylor Rahach. Rahach pitched the remainder of the game, giving up three runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out four.
SCORING SUMMARY
Pitt got on the board in the opening inning of play thanks to a two-run shot by Zeremenko. The home run brought around senior McKayla Taylor who drew a leadoff walk.
North Carolina answered in the bottom of the second, tying the score 2-2. A leadoff walk, earned by Hailey Jensen set up a RBI-double for Katelyn Shifflett. A single and a stolen base by the Tar Heels continued the inning, putting runners on second third with two away. With the top of the order at the plate and two away, Leah Murry slapped a ball up the middle past the shortstop, Gray, to score Shifflett.
The Tar Heels took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the third, thanks to a three-run shot by Jensen. The long ball scored Kristina Burkhardt, who doubled to lead off the inning and Katie Bailiff, who reached base on a fielder's choice. Rahach replaced Dawson in the circle following the home run, recording all three outs of the inning which included two strikeouts.
North Carolina added two insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth on a second home run by Burkhardt. The Tar Heels increased their lead to 7-2.
Campbell Hutcherson became UNC's third player of the game to record a home run as she posted a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth to extend the Tar Heels' lead to 8-2.
Pitt's comeback fell short as the Panthers were able to cut North Carolina's lead in half, 8-4, but that would be it. The inning frame started with a double to right by Zeremenko. She was joined on base by Gray who hit a hard ball to third. A third hit, thanks to junior Alexis Solak, juiced the bases for Pitt setting up back-to-back fielder's choice plays, allowing both pinch runner Morgan Batesole and Gray to score.
UP NEXT
Pitt will play its second game of the series against UNC Saturday, March 17 at 1 p.m. at Anderson Stadium.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of Pittsburgh softball team fell to North Carolina in the squad's first game of the series Friday evening, 8-4, at Anderson Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Despite a two-run shot by senior Giorgiana Zeremenko in the top of the first inning that put the Panthers [13-11-1, 2-2 ACC] out in front early, Pitt was unable to hold off the Tar Heels [12-13, 3-1 ACC] in the long run. UNC tallied nine hits, seven of which were for extra bases, including three long balls.
Zeremenko led the Panthers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double in addition to the home run. Junior Gabrielle Fredericks, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI-single was Pitt's other top performer.
On defense, the play of the game goes to junior Oliva Gray, who snagged a high line drive for the opening out of the first inning. Gray was fully extended on the play.
In the circle, junior Sarah Dawson got the start but was pulled in the third inning after giving up a three-run shot to put the Tar Heels out in front. Dawson gave up five hits, five runs and two walks, while striking out two before being replaced by junior Taylor Rahach. Rahach pitched the remainder of the game, giving up three runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out four.
SCORING SUMMARY
Pitt got on the board in the opening inning of play thanks to a two-run shot by Zeremenko. The home run brought around senior McKayla Taylor who drew a leadoff walk.
North Carolina answered in the bottom of the second, tying the score 2-2. A leadoff walk, earned by Hailey Jensen set up a RBI-double for Katelyn Shifflett. A single and a stolen base by the Tar Heels continued the inning, putting runners on second third with two away. With the top of the order at the plate and two away, Leah Murry slapped a ball up the middle past the shortstop, Gray, to score Shifflett.
The Tar Heels took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the third, thanks to a three-run shot by Jensen. The long ball scored Kristina Burkhardt, who doubled to lead off the inning and Katie Bailiff, who reached base on a fielder's choice. Rahach replaced Dawson in the circle following the home run, recording all three outs of the inning which included two strikeouts.
North Carolina added two insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth on a second home run by Burkhardt. The Tar Heels increased their lead to 7-2.
Campbell Hutcherson became UNC's third player of the game to record a home run as she posted a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth to extend the Tar Heels' lead to 8-2.
Pitt's comeback fell short as the Panthers were able to cut North Carolina's lead in half, 8-4, but that would be it. The inning frame started with a double to right by Zeremenko. She was joined on base by Gray who hit a hard ball to third. A third hit, thanks to junior Alexis Solak, juiced the bases for Pitt setting up back-to-back fielder's choice plays, allowing both pinch runner Morgan Batesole and Gray to score.
UP NEXT
Pitt will play its second game of the series against UNC Saturday, March 17 at 1 p.m. at Anderson Stadium.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Pickett,B (10-4)
L: Dawson, Sarah (8-7)
Batting:
2B: Zeremenko, Giorgiana 1
HR: Zeremenko, Giorgiana 1
RBI: Zeremenko, Giorgiana 2 ; Fredericks, Gabrielle 1 ; Haynes, Alexee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Taylor, McKayla 1 ; Zeremenko, Giorgiana 1 ; Batesole, Morgan 1 ; Gray, Olivia 1
SB: Levesque, Hunter 1
Batting:
2B: Murray,L 1 ; Wike,T 1 ; Burkhardt,K 1 ; Shifflett,K 1
HR: Burkhardt,K 1 ; Jensen,H 1 ; Hutcherson,C 1
RBI: Murray,L 1 ; Burkhardt,K 2 ; Jensen,H 3 ; Shifflett,K 1 ; Hutcherson,C 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Murray,L 1 ; Burkhardt,K 2 ; Ramsey,K 1 ; Jensen,H 1 ; West,B 1 ; Shifflett,K 1 ; Hutcherson,C 1
SB: Ramsey,K 1 ; West,B 1 ; Shifflett,K 1 ; Abbatine,M 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballINF/C
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballC/INF
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