The Carolinas clashed on Tuesday night as the North Carolina softball team fell to No. 24 South Carolina, 5-0, in Columbia, S.C. It was the first of the Tar Heels’ six road games. The Tar Heels fell to 5-5 after their third loss in a row.
What happened?
Despite both teams getting runners on base, South Carolina was the squad to break through, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first after loading the bases.
The second inning was rough for both teams, who each went three and out.
At the top of the third, first-year infielder Sierra Parkinson rallied to hit a single with two outs, but she was ultimately left on base.
Next up, sophomore Hannah Nommensen earned her first strike out of the season, and two more outs led to the fourth, where UNC went three and out.
First-year Katie Grace Olinger took over to pitch in the bottom of the fourth with one out and one runner on base for the Gamecocks. South Carolina scored their second run, and the bases were loaded before Olinger pitched back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
The next blood wasn't drawn until the sixth inning, when the Gamecocks knocked in four runs on a one-run single and a two-run double. The Tar Heels switched pitchers yet again, bringing out Hannah Todd for her career debut as North Carolina closed out the inning.
UNC rallied back in the seventh inning when junior outfielder Kiani Ramsey hit a hopeful single followed by a hit by Destiny DeBerry with two outs. But ultimately, the Tar Heels were unable to score, ending the game.
