The North Carolina softball team (5-10) snapped an eight-game losing streak in its 5-0 win over Hampton on Wednesday afternoon.
What happened?
The beginning of the game was relatively slow, with only one hit allowed by either team through three innings. In the top of the fourth, one Hampton player reached first on a throwing error by Sierra Parkinson. But the Tar Heels escaped the inning unscathed.
North Carolina exploded in the bottom of the 4th with three runs. After a single by Brittany Pickett which advanced Brittany West to second, the Tar Heels executed a double steal for second and third that drove home West after an errant throw by the catcher.
The Tar Heels weren’t done, though. A Kristina Burkhardt single to right field sent Micaela Abbatine to third, and Burkhardt ended up stealing second right after to put runners on second and third. Next, Hampton walked Sierra Parkinson to load the bases with only 1 out. Adding on to the already exciting inning, Katelyn Shifflett singled and drove home 2, putting North Carolina up 3-0.
UNC left one on base, but the damage was already done. Three runs on four hits was huge and shifted the momentum.
All was quiet again until the sixth inning of play, where Berlynne Delamora grounded out to short stop, but she sent home pinch runner Hailey Cole, tallying an RBI. North Carolina ended up scoring again this inning on a sacrifice fly to center field.
The Tar Heels later completed the shutout, 5-0.
