A rough stretch continues for the North Carolina softball team (19-18, 4-8), as it dropped its fourth straight game to Charlotte (23-14, 4-8) on Wednesday, 6-2.
What happened?
In the first inning, the Tar Heels weren’t able to get going from the plate except for a double to deep center field from graduate shortstop Sara Jubas.
They were alive defensively, however, as exceptional pitching from first-year Lilli Backes and an impressive hustle-catch near the dugout by senior catcher Taylor Greene made it difficult for Charlotte to get runners on base as well.
Both teams remained quiet until the bottom of the third when Charlotte homered to left center for its first run of the game. The 49ers hit a double in the very next at-bat, but the threat of a rally was quickly eliminated when the runner was picked off at second base.
To lead off the fourth inning, Jubas doubled again — this time with a line drive to left field. She advanced to third after sophomore outfielder Kiannah Pierce fouled out on a pop fly, but Jubas was once again left on base at the end of the Tar Heels’ at-bat.
Charlotte put a greater dent in the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth, taking advantage of two UNC mistakes. First, Backes hit a batter with a pitch — setting up their second base runner following a successful bunt. Then, a pitch got away from Greene which allowed the runners to advance to second and third.
The 49ers brought the runners home with a bomb over the right field fence — giving them a lead of 4-0 going into the fifth inning.
UNC continued to struggle to get runs on the scoreboard — leaving two runners on base in the fifth.
