The North Carolina softball team (10-13, 6-7 ACC) put up a fight against UNC-Charlotte (18-8, 3-1 C-USA) before falling 11-4 to the 49ers in a Tuesday game.
What happened?
The Tar Heels started out slow after going down 6-0 in the second inning. The Tar Heels started to gain momentum as they scored four unanswered and entered the sixth down just two. The 49ers then erupted for five runs in the sixth, essentially icing the game.
“We’ve been trying to do the little things well,” head coach Donna Papa said. “We’ve gotta be able to put the ball in play and score runs. We had some opportunities today with bases loaded and we wound up scoring one run from that. We’ve gotta capitalize on those opportunities that we get to be able to make the most of it.”
Who stood out?
In a game where the Tar Heels’ batting struggles continued, fifth-year pitcher and first baseman Brittany Pickett stood out with a home run and two RBIs. First-year middle infielders Kiannah Pierce and Skyler Brooks, also registered an RBI apiece
With two starting pitchers out, UNC pitchers struggled against Charlotte. The Tar Heels played four different pitchers against Charlotte. Two of those pitchers played two or more innings, both allowing a combined 10 runs and three homers.
“Our pitching staff that we have right now, without Brittany Pickett, Hannah George is gonna be out the rest of the season, it’s people that haven’t been in those situations,” Papa said. “We haven’t had to rely on them and now we do, so their roles are a little different, they have to make adjustments. All that stuff takes time, they are all young, and they have not been on the mound a lot.”
