In the North Carolina softball team’s regular season home finale, it pulled out a 7-3 win, despite being outhit at the plate — but with the help of being hit several times from the mound.
The Spartans’ bats topped the Tar Heels’ 12-8, but their pitchers hit five UNC batters.
That allowed UNC to take an early 6-0 lead after scoring five runs in the second inning. Only three of those runs were produced by UNC hits.
UNC-G’s Nicole Thomas replaced redshirt junior Raeanne Hanks in the bottom of the second inning. Hanks walked three batters and only struck out one Tar Heel.
Three UNC batters also reached base after being hit by a Hanks pitch, including UNC redshirt freshman Jenna Kelly, who was hit three times in the game.
Coach Donna Papa saw Kelly’s tendency to get hit as an advantage for the team.
“She’s been getting hit a lot,” Papa said.
“I don’t necessarily think she hangs over the plate, but you get hit by a pitch, you get on with a walk, you’re somebody that can potentially score for us, so that’s great.”
Papa pulled junior pitcher Lori Spingola from the mound before the top of the fifth inning, replacing her with Ashley Bone.