Youth movement leads UNC softball past Virginia Tech

Doubleheaders and conference openers. These two aspects of the game of softball are generally won with experience, as a team tends to look to its older players for leadership and production.

This was not the case Monday, however, as a trio of freshman lifted the North Carolina softball team (11-4, 2-0 ACC) to back-to-back wins over ACC-rival Virginia Tech (13-3, 0-2), 6-1 and 9-5.

The trinity of freshman players — pitchers Kaylee Carlson and Sydney Matzko and second baseman Taylor Wike — carried the Tar Heels with the same type of consistency and levelheadedness normally seen in more veteran players.

“We’ve just played some good teams, and I think now their confidence is starting to build,” Coach Donna Papa said. “(Pitchers) can get out there and throw their pitches and know that they have a good defense behind them and that we are going to make the plays.”

From the first pitch of game one, it was clear Carlson was a step ahead of the Hokies. The California native worked through the first four innings without conceding a run.

And even when she allowed Virginia Tech’s Michelle Prong to go deep over the left field wall in the top of the fifth, she didn’t get rattled and earned the last seven outs of the game while only giving up one hit in the process.

Carlson said her ability to stay composed came from knowing the rest of the team had her back.

“It takes a load off your back, you know. You can trust your team even when you give up a run like I did,” she said.

Leading that support was Wike, who finished the first game 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs.

The second leg of the doubleheader saw the Hokies jump out to an early 5-1 lead after roughing up sophomore Kendra Lynch, who only mustered 1.2 innings before she was replaced by Matzko.

With her team down and in danger of losing momentum, Wike stepped up again, collecting two more doubles in her first two at bats, the latter sparking a five-run third inning that gave UNC the lead

“I think I struck out my first at bat ... but after that, I was seeing the ball really well,” Wike said.

The freshman finished the series 4-for-6, including a string of four straight doubles across both games.

With the lead and the momentum falling back into the Tar Heels’ hands, Matzko was in charge of keeping it there. And while facing a powerful Hokie lineup, she did just that, giving up just one hit over her 5.1 innings of work.

Looking at the way the freshmen played Monday, several Tar Heel players expressed their excitement for the rest of the season.

“I’m honestly blessed to play with such a group,” Carlson said. “I can’t wait to see how we progress over the years and see how far we go this year.”

sports@dailytarheel.com