UNC softball falls to N.C. State, 5-4, in game two

The UNC softball team (34-14, 11-9 ACC) lost to N.C. State (23-24, 5-15 ACC), 5-4, on Friday evening in the second game of the series in Anderson Softball Stadium. 

The game came down to the wire after North Carolina tied the game in the fifth inning. But, the Tar Heels couldn’t find an answer after a go-ahead home run from the Wolfpack in the top of seventh. 

“Our offense definitely didn’t show up as well as we normally do today,” head coach Megan Smith Lyon said. “I give credit to their pitchers, they did a really good job.” 

Redshirt senior right-handed pitcher Britton Rogers had a rough start in the circle, walking the leadoff hitter then throwing a pitch that sophomore catcher Raeghan Carlson couldn’t handle, sending the runner to second. 

But N.C. State’s Taylor Ensley’s fly ball was managed by sophomore center fielder Sanaa Thompson, who sent the ball to graduate second baseman Kat Rodriguez in time to pick off the leadoff hitter as she tried to return to the base. 

A ground out sent the Tar Heels to the plate, where they went three-up, three-down.  

After a ground out in the top of the second inning, the Wolfpack loaded the bases with three straight singles. A long at-bat ensued. The batter eventually reached on a fielder’s choice to third base, as N.C. State’s lead runner scored the first run. North Carolina managed a ground out to prevent another run. 

“The one thing you can look at is after a game like yesterday when they didn’t have much success offensively, they came in with a fresh mindset,” Smith Lyon said. “You could tell.” 

UNC almost loaded the bases to begin the bottom of the inning after two walks and a short pop-up by graduate designated hitter Kiannah Pierce that was dropped, but senior first baseman Carlie Myrtle couldn’t beat the tag at second base. 

On the next at-bat, sophomore catcher Raeghan Carlson singled to left field, bringing in Thompson to tie the score at 1-1. 

Except for the walk in the top of the third, neither team could find any traction on offense in the third inning. 

Graduate shortstop Grace Jackson’s diving attempt to catch a single failed as the runner took first base in the top of the fourth inning. N.C. State’s Teagan Thrunk stepped up to the plate and launched a long ball over the left field fence, giving the Wolfpack a 3-1 lead. Sophomore pitcher Nikki Harris replaced Rogers in the circle. 

Tori Ensley singled to left field then stole second. Taylor Ensley again sent a ball to center field, but this time Thomson couldn't make the catch and another run scored on the double. 

UNC quickly responded. Thompson led off with a single, then stole second on a wild pitch. Then, Myrtle sent her own home run over the scoreboard in center field, cutting the deficit to 4-3. 

N.C. State couldn’t find anything in the top of the fifth inning, but the Tar Heels were still hot. Junior left fielder Lexie Roberts was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the inning. Senior right fielder Alex Coleman’s bunted, and the throw to first went long, allowing Roberts to take third. Then, a ball got past the catcher, sending Roberts home to tie the game 4-4. 

A fly out and pick off kept the Wolfpack scoreless in the top of the sixth inning, and North Carolina went three-up, three-down in the bottom. 

Taylor Ensley continued to make her impact known, sailing a lead off home run to left field to take a 5-4 seventh inning lead. 

“When teams lift, there are certain things you can do to work on keeping them in the park and having them miss-hit,” Smith Lyon said. “It didn’t work out in our favor today, but tomorrow is another day and we’ll do our best to see if we can keep them in the park.” 

UNC couldn’t do better than a single in the bottom of the seventh. 

The Tar Heels will play the Wolfpack at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Anderson Stadium to decide the series.

@BeckettBrant