Don’t let her year fool you – first-year Sierra Parkinson means business.
In North Carolina softball’s series sweep over fellow ACC Coastal opponent Virginia Tech (15-23, 2-12 ACC), Parkinson’s bat came up big for the Tar Heels.
“I think that it’s just my teammates because they give so much positive energy toward me, and they pump me up all of the time,” Parkinson said of her success this weekend. “I have to give it to them.”
UNC (22-19, 11-4 ACC) recorded its second three-game sweep of the season, with the first one coming almost a month ago against Duke.
Heading into the first game of the series on Friday afternoon, the Tar Heels were coming off a three-game losing streak over the course of five days.
With one out in the bottom of the sixth inning in Friday’s first game, Parkinson was up to bat. Junior Berlynne Delamora had just been thrown out at first base, but she advanced redshirt first-year Kristina Burkhardt home with an RBI ground out to second base to tie the score at one.
It was up to Parkinson to give North Carolina the lead.
With sophomore Hailey Cole on third base, Parkinson hit an RBI single into right field to bring her home and give UNC the lead, 2-1.
Following Parkinson’s single, the Virginia Tech defense secured the next two outs off UNC hitters to head into the top of the seventh inning.