UNC softball shuts out Queens, 4-0, on Sunday night

The North Carolina softball team (12-3) shutout Queens (3-4), 4-0, on Sunday night in Anderson Softball Stadium to go undefeated in the 2025 Carolina Classic. 

It was UNC’s third straight shutout, and it allowed only one hit. 

For the first time in the Carolina Classic, the Tar Heels didn’t score in the bottom of the first, swinging into three similar ground outs. 

The UNC defense returned the Royals’ favor, holding them to zero hits through two innings as both teams struggled to reach base. 

Junior pitcher Kenna Raye Dark, who threw a shutout against Maryland in game one of the Classic, led the defensive charge from the circle. In the top of the third inning, Dark retired two hitters as they struck out swinging. 

“Me coming back and being ready to attack and get another win and keep our streak going, I think that was super important for the last game of this weekend,” Dark said.

The first hit of the game came in the bottom of the third. Leading off for UNC, sophomore catcher Raeghan Carlson dropped a ball into left field for a single. After a throwing error by the shortstop, Carlson and first-year third baseman Skylar Young took first and second. 

Then, graduate shortstop Grace Jackson blasted a single to left field that missed the diving third baseman and shortstop. Carlson rounded third and scored North Carolina’s first run. A single to center field by senior right fielder Alex Coleman brought in Young, and a ground out to first, Jackson, to make the lead 3-0. 

The score remained the same through the fourth and fifth innings. In the bottom of the fifth, UNC put runners on second and third with two outs, but Queens completed a 4-3 ground out to end the inning. Going into the sixth, the Royals were still searching for their first hit. 

“[Dark] has high aspirations and high goals, and when she sets her mind to something, she fights for it,” head coach Megan Smith Lyon said. “And you see that in the circle.”

Instead, the Tar Heels extended their lead. Sophomore center fielder Sanaa Thompson launched a ball into the wall in center field and rounded the bases for a triple. On the next at-bat, senior first baseman Carlie Myrtle grounded out, but Thompson raced home to extend the lead to 4-0. 

“We practice every day,” sophomore pitcher Nikki Harris said. “We’re going at least four hours every day, and that creates all of the endurance that we need to be able to get through these games.”

Queens finally found their first hit in the top of the seventh, a shot to center field, but suffered two ground outs to end the game. 

UNC will return to Anderson to take on Elon on Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. in a standalone game.

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