UNC softball takes series over N.C. State, 5-4, with walk off homer

The UNC softball team (35-14, 12-9 ACC) beat N.C. State (23-25, 5-16 ACC) 5-4,  to clinch the series on senior day on Saturday afternoon in Anderson Softball Stadium. 

The game went down to the wire, just like Friday’s game, but this time North Carolina was the team scoring the go-ahead home run in the seventh inning. 

“You want to win on senior day for your seniors,” head coach Megan Smith Lyon said. “You just want to have a great day for them. Honestly, that’s all you think about and everybody was out there playing for them.”

Junior pitcher Kenna Raye Dark got the start in the circle, her second start of the series. 

N.C. State leadoff hitter Tori Ensley legged out a triple into right center to begin the game, but the Tar Heels avoided a first inning deficit by securing a foul out and two swinging strikeouts. 

Batting second in the bottom of the first inning, junior left fielder Lexie Roberts placed a single down the left field line. Two walks loaded the bases with two outs. Senior designated player Kiannah Pierce stepped up to bat, but popped up the ball to the shortstop for out three.  

UNC held the Wolfpack scoreless in the top of the second inning, and it once again loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning with a walk and two singles. 

With two outs, graduate second baseman Kat Rodriguez singled up the middle. N.C. State made the throw to home, but it was too late, and two runs scored. 

The hitting continued in the third inning. After an error by senior first baseman Carlie Myrtle on a tag at first base, a walk and single to shallow center field loaded the bases once again. 

N.C. State’s Hannah Church stepped up to the plate and one-upped Rodriguez’s single, blasting a homer into center field for a grand slam to make it 4-2 Wolfpack. 

“I just tried to go to my drop curve, but I tried to raise it up in the zone to make her be like, 'No, that was a ball,’” Dark said. “Trying to throw a ball, that was my intention, but she hit it.” 

Pitching struggles also continued in the bottom of the third inning after Rylee Wyman replaced Carly Maxton in the circle for N.C. State. 

Wyman walked Myrtle and sophomore pitcher Raeghan Carlson, then allowed a slap single by graduate shortstop Grace Jackson to load the bases. 

Then, another walk brought a run in, cutting UNC’s deficit to 4-3. The Tar Heels couldn’t capitalize on the scoring opportunity however, Roberts grounded out, stranding three on base.  

After the Wolfpack went three-up, three-down in the fourth inning, North Carolina got to work. Sophomore center fielder Sanaa Thompson recovered from a foul ball off her foot and singled to left field. Myrtle singled up the middle, sending the second baseman diving. 

Pierce put the ball into play. The N.C. State defense tagged Myrtle out at second, but Thompson kept running, rounding third and scoring the tying run.  

The score remained tied through the fifth and sixth innings despite hits for both teams. 

In the top of the seventh inning, UNC did what it wasn’t able to do in Friday’s game– keep the Wolfpack off the board in the top of the seventh, which gave the Tar Heels a chance to walk it off in the bottom of the inning. 

And they did. 

Graduate third baseman Shelby Barbee led off and launched a homer into center field. 

“I was just looking for something I could drive,” Barbee said. “I just saw it on the plate and decided to put my best swing to it.” 

North Carolina will return to Anderson Stadium to face Norfolk St. at 5 p.m. for the team’s last home game. 

@BeckettBrant

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