The North Carolina softball team (3-0) defeated ACC opponent Virginia (2-3), 5-0, in the third game of the weekend Carolina Classic.
What happened?
UNC took an early 1-0 first-inning lead when graduate transfer shortstop Sara Jubas drove in junior infielder Destiny Middleton for a run.
The game became a defensive struggle after the first inning. Senior pitcher Hannah George and senior catcher Taylor Greene spearheaded the Tar Heels’ defensive stand throughout the next five innings, as the Cavaliers remained unable to get on the board.
UNC, however, also had its own struggles offensively, as the Tar Heels registered only one hit after the first inning. But that changed in the fifth inning, as UNC put together three hits and two runs to extend its lead to 3-0 heading into the sixth inning.
The Tar Heels rode their offensive momentum into the sixth inning and extended their lead to 5-0 by scoring two more runs off one hit and capitalizing on Virginia miscues.
In the seventh inning, sophomore pitcher Talia Hannappel stepped in for George to pitch her first full inning of the game, and she shut the door on any chance of a late-game comeback for Virginia by striking out one batter and allowing zero hits to seal the 5-0 win for the Tar Heels.
Who stood out?
The North Carolina pitchers made the presence felt in this game. In its first four games this season, Virginia has averaged just under five runs per game, with an impressive six-run game against George Washington. George and Hannappel led the Tar Heels effort that shutout the Cavaliers and held them to just four hits all game. George recorded four strikeouts while Hannappel contributed two.
