Coming off a trip to Puerto Rico to open up the season, the North Carolina softball team (3-3) returned to Chapel Hill in victorious fashion as it captured a 6-2 victory over Elon (3-1) in the first home game of the season.
What happened?
The first 1 1/2 innings were quiet on both sides until UNC sophomore Berlynne Delamora blasted the second pitch she saw over the center field fence.
The home run seemed to spark both teams. Heading into the third inning, the Tar Heels made a pitching change — first-year Kellyn Daly in for senior Kendra Lynch. Elon capitalized on the change, scoring one run on a double.
In the bottom of the third, sophomore Destiny DeBerry singled to center field. During the next batter up, DeBerry stole second — her third stolen base of the season.
At the top of the fourth, UNC made another pitching change, this time with sophomore Syndey Matzko taking the mound. Helping her pitcher out, right fielder Leah Murray made her second diving catch of the game, much to the astonishment of the crowd.
The Tar Heels continued their streak of impressive plays in the bottom of the fourth, in part due to three Elon errors. Both Kendra Lynch and Katie Bailiff homered, each homer running two batters in. Lynch’s home run was the 34th of her career, moving her into a fifth-place tie with Natalie Anter for most career home runs in Tar Heel history. The two home runs made the score 5-1, a deficit Elon could never overcome.
After UNC got out to a four-run lead, the game slowed down a bit. Feeling comfortable with their lead and wanting to give another first-year player game experience, the Tar Heels put Hannah Nommensen on the mound. The first batter Nommensen faced put a home run just over the fence, making the score 5-2.
Following the home run, head coach Donna Papa put yet another first-year on the mound — Brittany Pickett. This pitching change marked the fourth of the game.
