The North Carolina softball team (30-13, 8-8 ACC) fell to Georgia Tech (26-15, 10-6 ACC), 8-2, on Saturday afternoon at Anderson Softball Stadium.
Hitting struggles and defensive lapses plagued North Carolina during the conference matchup. The Tar Heels only recorded three hits to Georgia Tech’s 10. The Yellow Jackets earned eight runs on 10 hits, scorching UNC’s defense despite three early pitching changes.
Redshirt senior pitcher Britton Rogers started on the mound for the Tar Heels to open the series.
The Yellow Jackets started the first inning hot offensively, recording four runs on four hits. Georgia Tech right fielder Eliana Gottlieb doubled to left field, sending center fielder Paige Vukadinovich home.
UNC switched from Rogers to first-year pitcher Lilly Parrish in the middle of the first.
With bases loaded, Georgia Tech catcher Reese Hunter singled to right field for the double RBI. The Yellow Jackets led, 4-0. A three up, three down followed for North Carolina in the bottom of the first.
On a 3-1 count, Gottlieb rocketed a homer over left center field for another double RBI to give Georgia Tech a 6-0 lead in the top of the second. Taking the mound after the home run play, sophomore Nikki Harris struck a GT batter out swinging to force the third out.
In the bottom of the second, even with a walk by graduate designated player Kiannah Pierce, the Tar Heels could not make contact to advance runners. Despite this stall in offense, UNC’s outfield caught back-to-back fly balls to keep Georgia Tech scoreless in the top of the third.
North Carolina broke through in the bottom of the third on a single by graduate second baseman Kat Rodriguez with two bases loaded. The score by junior left fielder Lexie Roberts chipped into the deficit, 6-1.
