On Friday afternoon, the North Carolina softball team (23-8, 4-3 ACC) lost to the Louisville Cardinals (19-10, 3-4 ACC), 7-4, at Anderson Softball Stadium in the first of a three-game series.
The top of the first was headlined by stellar defensive play from the Tar Heels. The Cardinals matched in the bottom of the inning to keep the game scoreless.
Going into the second inning, the North Carolina looked to keep the defensive momentum rolling, and other than a single walk, UNC kept the Cardinals off the base.
After a quiet offensive first inning, UNC found its offensive game and made some noise in the bottom of the second. A double by graduate designated player Kiannah Pierce was followed by a home run smashed to left field by sophomore center fielder Sanaa Thompson.
But the Cardinal defense was able to escape the second only down by two runs. With two quick outs before the Tar Heels loaded the bases, Louisville was able to close out the inning on a fly out.
A strong defensive showing by both teams in the third kept both teams off base and the Heels in front by two.
In the fourth, two base hits and a home run were the last three bats UNC redshirt senior pitcher Britton Rodgers saw before being pulled for first-year pitcher Lilly Parrish. Parrish was able to close out the top of the fourth, with North Carolina down, 3-2.
Trailing, the Tar Heels led off the inning with a fly out to centerfield. But three consecutive singles followed, putting North Carolina in prime scoring position. With the bases loaded, senior right fielder Alex Coleman blasted a ball through the left side to advance the bases. UNC then scored off a fly out to center before the inning came to a close with North Carolina leading 4-3.
Louisville’s offense continued to be a problem in the fifth inning, with two singles and a home run to mark a three run fifth inning.
