Box Score (.pdf)

Chapel Hill, N.C. – Leah Murray's three-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning lifted the North Carolina Tar Heels to a 4-2 non-conference victory over the USC Upstate softball team Tuesday evening from Anderson Stadium.

Upstate falls to 28-7 on the season while North Carolina improves to 16-17 overall.

Kendra Lynch (14-13) picked up the win after tossing a complete game and allowed two runs on six hits, no walks and four strikeouts. Holly McKinnon (17-3) took the loss after giving up four runs on six hits, three walks and two strikeouts.

Karla Beasley led the Spartans offensively with a 2-for-3 performance including a home run and one RBI. Four different Upstate batters had one hit each, while Megan Obier also contributed one RBI. Murray recorded a team-high two hits and three RBI for the Tar Heels.

The Spartans left runners on in the second and third innings before going up 1-0 in the top of fourth on Beasley's leadoff home run, her sixth of the season. North Carolina answered back to tie the game 1-1 in the bottom-half of the fourth after an RBI double to right field by Berlynne Delamora.

Murray would put the Tar Heels ahead in the bottom of the sixth after her three-run double with two outs, giving UNC a 4-1 lead. The extra base hit by Murray would score Tracy Chandless, Elena Covert and Dani Garcielita. Both Chandless and Garcielita entered the game as pinch-runners, while Covert was hit by a pitch prior to Murray's double.

Upstate managed to score once in the top of the seventh to put the final score at 4-2. Amy Szymanowski started the frame getting hit by a pitch and moved to second when Caley Chappel fouled out to first. After Kristen Wright grounded out, Obier laced a first-pitch offering by Lynch to left field allowing Szymanowski to score.

The Spartans make the short trip to Raleigh, N.C. Wednesday afternoon to face the N.C. State Wolfpack at 4 p.m.

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