It all started in the bottom of the second inning, as sophomore Berlynne Delamora stepped up to bat.
The off-speed pitch came down the middle and Delamora delivered, launching the ball over the fence in center field to give UNC (3-3) a 1-0 lead over Elon (3-1).
“The pitcher pitched me a changeup and I set my weight back on the ball and waited for it,” Delamora said. “It felt good to be the spark for my team.”
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Delamora was the first to bat for the Tar Heels once again.
She did not aim for the fence this time, but she still managed to get on base, sending a hard-hit ground ball to Elon’s shortstop Hannah Olson, who could not cleanly field the ball for an out.
Following Delamora in the lineup was UNC senior Kendra Lynch, who already had two home runs on the season following this past weekend’s tournament in Puerto Rico.
After UNC first-year pinch runner Micaela Abbatine stole second base, Lynch sent them both to home plate with yet another shot over the center-field fence, giving UNC a 3-1 lead and herself a third home run in six games and the 34th of her career — tying Natalie Anter for the fifth-most career home runs in UNC history.
“I know a lot of these girls look up to me and I try to set an example,” Lynch said. “Being able to go out and shut Elon down for two innings on the mound and then still be able to produce offensively should show my teammates what they are capable of doing.”
