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UNC softball squeaks by Georgia Tech, 8-7, in game two of Saturday's doubleheader

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UNC freshman infielder Reece Outlaw (1) bats during the softball game against Queens on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, at Anderson Field. Carolina leads early in the game.

The North Carolina softball team (31-13, 9-8 ACC) bested the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (26-16, 10-7 ACC), 8-7, in game two of the Saturday afternoon doubleheader at Anderson Softball Stadium.

UNC started strong, recovering from the 2-8 loss in game one by going 1-2-3 in the first inning. A wild pitch in the bottom of the first allowed junior left fielder Lexie Roberts to advance to second after her initial base hit. A single up the middle from senior right fielder Alex Coleman brought her in.

“We talked about in between games how we need to fix [our mentality],” head coach Megan Smith Lyon said. “We have to be fighters and we have to be resilient, and we showed that in game two.”

It continued to not be North Carolina’s day. Georgia Tech struck back with a perfectly hit home run ball over the center field wall. The homer brought the score to 2-1 in favor of the Yellow Jackets.

UNC, who entered the game leading the ACC in batting average, continued an uncharacteristic streak of poor plate performances. The Tar Heels failed to get on base in the bottom of the second. Two walks gave them some life in the third, but North Carolina fell flat.

The fourth was an inning of poor fielding for the Tar Heels. A missed pop fly gave up a Georgia Tech double, which set the Yellow Jackets up to score after a fumbled catch just past first base. An out-of-reach grounder brought another run in. Soon, the Tar Heels lagged behind 4-1. 

UNC was tired and falling behind fast. Georgia Tech stole second base. The Yellow Jackets piled it on with a three run homer snuck under the scoreboard in left field. 

Junior Kenna Raye Dark’s day was over after that, with sophomore Nikki Harris coming in relief. A line out finally ended the inning. Georgia Tech held the 7-1 advantage, with UNC nearing mercy-rule territory.

“[Dark] works all the players down,” Harris said. “So for me to be able to come in, I wanted to make sure that I kept my ball high so that they were seeing something completely different and were caught off guard.”

Sophomore catcher Rayna Blackwell, a part-time starter for the Tar Heels, helped them show some signs of life with a single in the bottom of the fourth. The first UNC hit since the second forced a pitching switch for the Yellow Jackets.

A fumbled grounder, scored as an error, finally put North Carolina back on the board. A bobbled pop-up close to first brought Blackwell in, and graduate second baseman Kat Rodriguez’s hit down the first baseline brought three runs in. UNC trailed only 7-6. 

“[Rodriguez] has just been a huge spark for our team,” Megan Smith Lyon said. “We can count on her, she’s clutch. Gosh, she’s amazing.”

With those three RBIs, Rodriguez brought her season total to 69 and broke the UNC single-season record of 68 RBI. The grad transfer leads the nation in RBI, and is top five in the ACC in hits, batting average, and runs.

“I kind of took it to heart a little bit that they aren’t pitching around me,” Rodriguez said. “All right, you’re just gonna keep pitching to me, I’m gonna keep scoring them.” 

Both teams had scored five in the fourth inning. North Carolina escaped the top of the fifth with the bases loaded. But the Tar Heels couldn't catch another break, with an extremely lengthy review resulting in a Georgia Tech double play. A dive at first ended a scoreless fifth inning.

Rodriguez was UNC’s saving grace. Her go-ahead two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth finally put the Tar Heels back ahead, 8-7. She finished the afternoon with one run on two hits with five RBI.

“I told the girls in front of me, 'Come on,'" Rodriguez said. "'Get on for me, I’m gonna score you guys.'”

A long throw from third to first gave North Carolina their second out of the seventh. They sealed the comeback victory with a line out to right field. 

Next up, North Carolina will remain at home for the final game of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Anderson Softball Stadium.

@marvinmlee_

@dthsports | sports@dailytarheel.com

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