GREENSBORO, N.C. – Coming off of a three-game sweep of Western Carolina in the opening Southern Conference series of the season, UNCG preps for a trip to Chapel Hill to battle the Tar Heels of North Carolina Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.
The game will be streamed live on ESPN3 and the ESPN App through the ACC Network Extra. The video broadcast is free for viewing with a TV subscription that includes ESPN. All links to live coverage are available at UNCGSpartans.com.
The game is a rematch from earlier in March, when the Spartans defeated UNC 6-3 at the UNCG Softball Stadium. The victory was the first over the Tar Heels for head coach Janelle Breneman and the first for the Blue and Gold since the 2011 campaign.
Emily Acquaviva (New Hartford, N.Y./Stony Brook) had a big night at the plate, going a perfect 4-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Alicia Bazonski earned the win in the circle, throwing five full innings and allowing a single run on three hits. Kylie Bouplon (Wilson, N.C./Forsyth Country Day) came on in relief to earn her first-career save.
The Tar Heels are 26-8 on the season, including 15-2 at Anderson Stadium. Since losing to the Spartans, UNC has gone 10-3, including a 2-1 series win over in-state rival North Carolina State this past weekend.
Carolina has six players batting over .300, led by Taylor Wilke (.394) and Kendra Lynch (.393). Lynch has hammered 14 home runs in 2017, the third most in the nation, while her team-high 43 RBIs is the second most in Division I.
Brittany Pickett has made 26 appearances in the circle, including nine starts, and has a team-best 2.18 ERA. Kendra Lynch has started a team-high 15 games, posting a 4.54 ERA.
Wednesday's contest could feature the long ball as both teams boast some of the best power in softball. UNCG ranks third in the nation at 1.36 home runs per game, while UNC ranks 15th at 1.15 dingers per game.
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