The UNC softball team (9-2) downed Princeton (2-2), 9-2, on Saturday afternoon in Anderson Softball Stadium to go undefeated in the 2025 Tar Heel Invitational.
Princeton put up a fight late, but a flurry of Tar Heel runs in the sixth put the game out of reach.
Princeton began the first inning with a walk and a single to right field. But, after starting sophomore pitcher Nikki Harris recorded her first strike out of the game, Princeton’s designated player flew out to left field and the runner on second was tagged out.
North Carolina’s half started much like Princeton’s with a walk and single to put two on base, then a hit-by-pitch to load the bases. On the first pitch of the fourth at-bat, a wild pitch allowed senior right fielder Alex Coleman to steal home and put the Tar Heels on the board.
UNC allowed one hit in the second inning, but made quick work of the top. With the bases loaded in the bottom, Kat Rodriguez hit a two RBI single to left field to extend the lead to 3-0.
After a brief rain delay, play resumed with a quick third inning that saw both teams strand a player on base.
With two outs and runners on first and second in the top of the fourth, Princeton’s Abby Hornberger hit to left field. Her ball fell just short of junior left fielder Lexie Roberts, but Roberts got the ball to sophomore catcher Raeghan Carlson, who tagged out the runner from second base as she attempted to run home.
Junior pitcher Kenna Raye Dark relieved Harris in the top of the fifth. She allowed one single, but three straight outs took the game to the fifth-inning stretch.
Senior first baseman Carlie Myrtle was second up to bat in the first. On the second pitch, she sailed a homer over the middle to make the score 4-0.
