The North Carolina softball team (22-4, 3-0 ACC) defeated Radford (9-14), 8-0, on Tuesday evening at Anderson Stadium.
UNC capped off its homestead with a shutout of the Highlanders, bookending the matchup with a four run first inning and four run sixth inning.
“I just think we were very sharp on defense,” head coach Megan Smith Lyon said. “And to be honest, Sunday we weren't. And so that was something that we really talked about yesterday, making sure that we're locked in on defense and that we take pride in what we're doing out there.”
Redshirt senior pitcher Britton Rogers recorded her fifth start on the mound for the Tar Heels this season. She bolstered her undefeated record against the Highlanders, recording four three up, three downs and two strikeouts.
With bases loaded, graduate designated player Kiannah Pierce fired off a long strike to right field for a double that sent two runners home. In the next at bat, sophomore catcher Raeghan Carlson hit a two run RBI double of her own to put the Tar Heels up 4-0 in the bottom of the first.
The Tar Heels carried their momentum into the top of the second, behind Rogers tallying a strikeout to cement a three up, three down second inning for the Highlanders.
While UNC went scoreless for four innings, Rogers pitched three consecutive three up, three down innings to keep the Highlanders at bay. She struck out another batter looking in the top of the third, kicking off a slew of shutouts.
Both teams recorded three up, three downs in the fifth inning, as the Tar Heels struggled to find their offensive footing after a four-run first inning.
“I think there was just kind of trust that we knew we were going to get it done,” graduate shortstop Grace Jackson said. “And we 100% trust in Britt that she was gonna keep throwing a great game [and] just not pressing, just knowing our offense will do its job.”
