After being run-ruled in its last inning against Ohio State yesterday, the North Carolina softball team rebounded in its final game of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge to run-rule Purdue, 10-1, in five innings.
What happened?
Sunday’s game started with the Tar Heels (6-4) and the Boilermakers (1-8) matching each other run for run through small ball in a tight ballgame.
Lead-off hitter Destiny DeBerry drew a walk in the top of the first inning and advanced to second on the next pitch. Leah Murray moved her to third on a grounder to the second baseman and Berlynne Delamora singled her in for an early 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the frame, a defensive throwing mistake by first-year Brittany Pickett gave the Boilermakers an extra out and put Purdue in position to tie the game up, 1-1.
By the fourth inning, North Carolina was ready to take control of the game, wearing through three pitchers and combining a flurry of hits into a nine-run lead. Sophomore Katie Bailiff opened the floodgates by crushing a home run over the left-field fence, scoring Delamora and Lynch, who started the inning with a walk and a single.
The rest of the team followed suit, inspired by Bailiff’s home run. The bases were loaded for Taylor Wike after Hailey Cole walked, DeBerry beat out an infield single and Murray singled up the middle. She came through and doubled to score two more. Delamora walked next, her ninth walk of the weekend. Then Kendra Lynch hit her own home run, which put the team up 10-1 for the final score.
Who stood out?
In her first start of the weekend as a designated player, Cole made the most of her opportunity at the plate. In three at-bats, she had two hits and added a walk and a stolen base.
