The fourth-seeded North Carolina softball team (35-18, 17-7 ACC) was shut out by second-seeded Florida State, 8-0, on Saturday in the ACC Championship Game in Tallahassee, Fl. The Tar Heels managed just four hits on the day and gave up 11 to the Seminoles.
What happened?
Florida State wasted no time getting on the board, getting the first run of the day with an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning. The Seminoles followed that up by tacking on two more runs in the second inning, thanks to an RBI single and a walk with the bases loaded, before UNC was able to get out of the jam.
Meanwhile, the Tar Heels struggled at the plate for most of the day, limited by the stellar pitching of FSU's Makinzy Herzog and Meghan King. A two-out triple by Kiani Ramsey in the first inning gave UNC a shot to get on the board, but Brittany Pickett's subsequent strikeout left the Tar Heels blanked.
A three-run fourth inning doubled the Seminole lead thanks to a solo home run, an RBI single and a fielder's choice. Another FSU home run stretched the lead to 7-0 in the fifth inning, then an RBI double in the sixth put the final nail in the coffin, ending the game – and UNC's hopes for a conference title – early.
Who stood out?
The fatigue of two days of stellar pitching seemed to get to UNC ace Brittany Pickett, who pitched 1.2 innings and allowed three runs and five hits in that span.
North Carolina also struggled at the plate, as no Tar Heel recorded more than a single hit on the day. Catcher Megan Dray was the only UNC player to reach base more than once, as she went 1-1 with a walk against the Seminoles.
