The North Carolina softball team (26-14, 13-5 ACC) swept No. 3 Florida State (38-7, 10-5 ACC) in Monday’s double header to take the 3-game series. The Tar Heels had a 6-5 walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth in game one, and a complete game shutout from first-year Hannah George in the second game to earn a 1-0 win.
What happened?
In the first game, Florida State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with a home run in the top of the first. In the bottom half of the inning, sophomore Megan Dray singled to drive in senior Kiani Ramsey to tie the game.
In the third, FSU scored again on two errors by the Tar Heels. North Carolina responded in the bottom of the third with two runs, thanks to a Ramsey double and FSU error, to take a 3-2 lead.
One inning later, the Seminoles tied the game 3-3 on a Tar Heel error. North Carolina responded in the bottom of the fourth when sophomore Zoe Goodman doubled to give the Tar Heels a 4-3 lead.
Florida State scored another run with an RBI single to tie the game 4-4 in the top of the seventh. When UNC was unable to score in the bottom of the seventh, the game went to extra innings.
In the top of the ninth the Seminoles hit another home run to take a 5-4 lead.
With the game on the line, the Tar Heels responded. North Carolina tied the game with a Brittany Pickett single, and had the bases loaded. Then, senior Berlynne Delamora drove a ball into the gap in left field to upset the No. 3 team in the country, 6-5.
Game two was a pitcher’s duel, as the score was tied 0-0 until the bottom of the fifth. The Tar Heels hit three singles and scored on a fielder's choice to give themselves a 1-0 lead. UNC would hang on to its slim lead behind George’s dazzling shutout, in which she surrendered just three hits and two walks to take the series against the Seminoles.
