Softball struggles in Classic

The picnic tables next to the field at the UNC Softball Complex were decorated with powder-blue bunnies and individual bags of candy eagerly awaiting the Tar Heels for an Easter celebration.

But the celebration was bittersweet as the team struggled in its last game of the Carolina Classic, losing a close afternoon matchup to Penn State on Sunday, 3-2.

After falling behind 3-0 early, UNC (20-17) clawed its way back when freshman first-baseman Jennifer Jacobs crushed a solo home run over the right field fence.

“I mean, that was a bomb,” said UNC coach Donna Papa. “She does have a capability to hit the ball well, and she just hasn’t had as many at-bats to maybe feel more confident. Hopefully, this will mean more good things to come for her.”

SOFTBALL PENN STATE 3 UNC 2 California 7 UNC 2

The home run was the first of Jacobs’ career at UNC.

“I just knew I had to hit it,” Jacobs said. “We hit the ball a lot better today, and we tied some hits together.”

In the bottom of the inning, Jacobs completed a double play, snagging a line drive and tagging first base for the third out.

“We were really proud of her,” said UNC pitcher Crystal Cox. “She came in and did a great job today.”

The Tar Heels got another run in the sixth when senior Jessica Young smacked a line drive into right field, scoring teammate Cassie Palmer from second base.

But with two runners on, UNC catcher Whitney Gelin struck out, halting the run. Despite a bloop single by pinch-hitter Ashley Allen, UNC failed to score in the seventh.

“I don’t think we hit Penn State’s pitchers as well as we hit (California’s), and I felt like we should have,” Papa said. “And we didn’t execute. We didn’t get bunts down.”

UNC's lack of offense wasn’t their only problem. In two games Sunday, the Tar Heels posted six errors.

“The biggest thorn in our side has been our defensive miscues,” Papa said. “I feel like we gave (Penn State) three runs.”

UNC won two games Friday against Harvard, 7-3, and Coastal Carolina, 3-0. In the victory against the Chanticleers, Cox became UNC’s all-time strikeout leader, moving past Radara McHugh with her 687th k.

UNC was given a taste of its own medicine the very next game, as Golden Bear Kelly Anderson no-hit UNC in a 5-0 California win Saturday. UNC came back Sunday with four hits off Anderson but lost a hard-fought 7-2 game against the Golden Bears.

“The first game (Sunday), I thought we really set the tone because we got people on and we executed really well,” Papa said. “The (California) game, I felt like we were fighting and fighting, and this game I feel like we just let them have it.”

Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.