UNC softball's Kenna Raye Dark throws first career no hitter in win over St. Joseph's

Junior pitcher Kenna Raye Dark has the same mindset with every batter. 

Each inning she approaches the mound with a “ready to kill” attitude.

“Every time I go out there, I'm so confident," Dark said. "I can throw whatever I want to throw, and you're still not going to hit it."

And Dark's intention was evident on Sunday afternoon, tossing four straight three up, three down innings. St. Joseph's batters couldn’t respond when face-to-face with her, needing a passed ball for an immediate walk to reach the bases in the fifth inning.

Dark stayed ready, pitching her first career and the 58th no-hitter game in North Carolina history on Sunday afternoon. In five innings, Dark recorded four strikeouts, leading UNC softball to a 10-0 domination of St. Joseph's at Anderson Field. 

“Our defense certainly had her back, but it was easy to do with what she was making the hitters do,” head coach Megan Smith Lyon said. “She really was in control.”

Even when the Hawks did make contact, the ball rarely advanced beyond first base, with senior first baseman Carlie Myrtle tallying seven putouts.

When stepping up to the mound, Dark knows she has the means to keep the opposition at bay.

“I have a fiery mindset," Dark said. "It's more so of a tough, I'm ready to attack, I'm ready to annihilate these batters I'm about to face. The batters have nothing on me.”

Behind this mindset, Dark focused on executing a mechanically sound pitch to back up her confidence.

She ensured that her change-ups were not floating back over the plate, as well as sinking her glove hand and pitching arm during each play.

Years of focusing on the little things led to this moment. Following a conversation with her former pitching coach Sunday morning, Dark focused on the intricate details. 

“I was just telling her how I really am focusing on those little details, those little mechanics, those things that I may forget going on into life that she taught me maybe, six, seven years ago,” Dark said. “I'm still remembering those little things.”

Dark honing these little mechanics with her coach in years past culminated in the team rushing to celebrate her after the fact. Her teammates showered her with hugs and congratulations while she simply reminded them of the handshake line. 

The junior pitcher’s work ethic and drive garnered her the titles of the "heart and soul" and "ace" of this UNC team.

Her go-getter attitude is evident both on and off the field, with Lexi Rodriguez naming Dark “that girl” in her identity as a teammate.

“If you looked up life of the party in the dictionary, Kenna would be next to it,” Myrtle said. “That's her. She goes all out in everything she does, and I can respect that about her.”

And despite this monumental achievement, Dark isn’t satisfied just yet. Currently, Dark has an ERA of just 1.7 on the season, with her goal being to keep it under two.

By her senior season, Dark has her sights set on winning ACC Player or Pitcher of the Year and an All-American title. 

“She goes out there and you know that she's going to give her best,” Lyon said. “And even when she gives her best, she's going to find ways to make it even better the next time she goes out.”

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