UNC softball uses an explosive fifth inning to slide past North Carolina A&T

After raining for part of the day Wednesday, the clouds parted to reveal Carolina blue skies and warm February temperatures — making it the perfect scenery for a North Carolina softball home opener against the North Carolina A&T Aggies.

In a dazzling fashion, the Tar Heels secured a win over N.C. A&T after scoring 10 runs in the fifth inning, clinching the victory with a final score of 10-2.

The last time these two teams met was close to two decades ago when UNC defeated the Aggies 13-0 in 2003. Thanks to their most recent win, the Tar Heels are now 22-4 with a nine-game win streak in their all-time series versus N.C. A&T.

Even with such a strong offense this year, the game started off slowly for North Carolina, who went four innings without scoring. The Aggies came out swinging at the start and scored two runs in the span of the first two innings, but there was still a fight to be fought.

“The beginning of the game was really slow for us and we kept leaving a lot of people on base and not scoring,” head coach Donna J. Papa said. “That can definitely leave you kind of deflated, but I’m proud of the team for fighting back.”

As each minute ticked by in the early innings of the game, UNC had opportunities to reach home plate, but could not finish the job because of the agility of the Aggies. 

Then, the bottom of the fifth inning arrived. Something clicked for the Tar Heels. A wild pitch thrown by N.C. A&T later allowed junior shortstop Destiny Middleton to walk in and score. 

UNC was sitting nicely with only one out in the inning at the time with plenty more time to score, and after Middleton’s walk, things kicked into high gear.

“We all got really pumped up before that inning and decided to give it all we got — and that’s what we did,”  said first-year pitcher Carlie Myrtle, who led North Carolina with two RBI against Ohio State on Sunday. 

After graduate transfer Sarah Jubas followed Middelton by scoring off a walk, both senior catcher Taylor Greene and sophomore midfielder Skyler Brooks hit back-to-back singles. Due to an N.C. A&T pitching error, Greene and Brooks were both able to score, making it 4-2.

Overall, six different Tar Heels recorded hits throughout the inning, including a career high of three from Brooks and two from redshirt-sophomore Kianna Jones. 

One of Jones’ most memorable hits, a three-run home run that went over the centerfield wall, was one that sealed the deal for North Carolina’s victory and ended the game at five innings.

“The first couple of innings helped us see what their pitchers were throwing to us and what pitch they would be throwing to me when I came up to bat,” Jones said. “The hit felt really good and I wasn’t even sure if I would clear it since it went up a mile high, but I did.”

Jones’ hit was one that brought the crowd to its feet and overall game to an end. Once the Tar Heels started their rampage of scoring, it didn’t stop until the very end of the game. 

As the season continues, this North Carolina team will have to carry on the same fighting spirit and momentum they displayed in their home opener to succeed against future opponents at any scale.

@dthsports | sports@dailytarheel.com