The North Carolina softball team (27-9, 7-3 ACC) couldn’t catch a break against the hot-hitting Cavaliers (12-22, 3-10 ACC), losing 10-4 in the first game of a three-game set against Virginia. The Cavaliers recorded 10 runs on 12 hits.
What happened?
Rain decided to make an unwanted appearance right at the start of the game. After one at bat, the umpires and coaches got together to discuss delaying the game. After about five minutes of discussion, they decided to play on despite the adverse weather conditions.
After a slow start in the first inning on both sides, Virginia struck first with a run in the top of the second inning.
At the top of the third, Virginia’s Katie Park, the second batter up, slammed a ball over the tree line behind center field. The home run scored two batters, extending the score in the Cavaliers’ favor.
At the bottom of the third, junior Taylor Wike hit a sacrifice bunt, which allowed first-year Hailey Cole to slide into home, barely beating the catcher’s outstretched mitt. Following the run, Lynch stepped up to the plate and doubled through center field, running two batters in and tying the game at three apiece.
Sophomore Katie Bailiff, the next batter up, singled up the middle, allowing Lynch to reach home for the Tar Heels’ fourth run of the inning.
Following a red-hot inning for UNC, Virginia countered almost immediately, scoring two runs of its own. The score became 5-4. In response, Lynch took the mound once again to try to stop Virginia’s sudden hot hand. She was successful and helped secure the two remaining outs.
In the top of the fifth, there was yet another Cavalier home run – their third of the game. The homer resulted in two runs, making the score 7-4.
