The North Carolina softball team (38-14, 14-9 ACC) scraped by in a win against Notre Dame (23-27-1, 7-16 ACC), 2-1, in the second game of the final series of the regular season Saturday afternoon in Melissa Cook Stadium.
Both teams had early chances but couldn’t break through. UNC reached on an error but left a runner stranded, while Notre Dame put a runner in scoring position with a sacrifice bunt before redshirt senior pitcher Britton Rogers worked out of trouble with a strikeout and a fly out to keep the game scoreless.
The second inning followed a similar script, with both sides getting runners aboard but failing to capitalize. UNC graduate designated hitter Kiannah Pierce singled and advanced to second but was left stranded. Notre Dame put two runners on thanks to a single and a walk, but Rogers again pitched out of the jam with a strikeout to end the frame.
North Carolina finally broke the stalemate in the third. Graduate shortstop Grace Jackson and senior right fielder Alex Coleman set the table with back-to-back singles, and sophomore center fielder Sanaa Thompson delivered an RBI single to right, bringing home junior left fielder Lexie Roberts for the game’s first run. Rogers retired the Irish in order in the bottom half, preserving a 1-0 lead for the Tar Heels.
Both teams threatened but came up empty in the fourth and both sides went quietly in the fifth, despite some early baserunners.
Notre Dame finally broke through in the sixth to tie the game. After a leadoff single and a UNC error, the Irish loaded up the bases and cashed in with an RBI single, evening the score at 1-1. Despite the momentum shift, Rogers battled back with two strikeouts to limit the damage
North Carolina reclaimed the lead in the top of the seventh, using a sacrifice fly from senior first baseman Carlie Myrtle to bring home Coleman and make it 2-1. UNC's pitching staff took care of the rest, retiring Notre Dame in order in the bottom half to lock up the win.
The two teams will meet again on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m.
