This was not the case Monday, however, as a trio of freshman lifted the North Carolina softball team (11-4, 2-0 ACC) to back-to-back wins over ACC-rival Virginia Tech (13-3, 0-2), 6-1 and 9-5.
The trinity of freshman players — pitchers Kaylee Carlson and Sydney Matzko and second baseman Taylor Wike — carried the Tar Heels with the same type of consistency and levelheadedness normally seen in more veteran players.
“We’ve just played some good teams, and I think now their confidence is starting to build,” Coach Donna Papa said. “(Pitchers) can get out there and throw their pitches and know that they have a good defense behind them and that we are going to make the plays.”
From the first pitch of game one, it was clear Carlson was a step ahead of the Hokies. The California native worked through the first four innings without conceding a run.
And even when she allowed Virginia Tech’s Michelle Prong to go deep over the left field wall in the top of the fifth, she didn’t get rattled and earned the last seven outs of the game while only giving up one hit in the process.
Carlson said her ability to stay composed came from knowing the rest of the team had her back.
“It takes a load off your back, you know. You can trust your team even when you give up a run like I did,” she said.
Leading that support was Wike, who finished the first game 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs.
