“We kind of had the ‘last supper’ at Cheesecake Factory, where I allowed them to have soft drinks and dessert, which is something I don’t normally do,” Papa said. “I wanted them to have a great meal because in the back of my mind, I knew that we would be going home.”
DTH sportswriter Jeremiah Holloway spoke with Jake Lawler, who completed his tenure on the football team after the 2019 season, and Hannah George, who currently pitches for the softball team, about their experiences as Black student-athletes at UNC.
Despite its early season struggles, UNC softball has reasons to be optimistic moving forward, with a softer schedule and the eventual return of star pitcher Brittany Pickett.
An offensive explosion in the sixth inning allowed the North Carolina softball team to clinch a series win over Pittsburgh on Sunday, bringing the team's ACC record to 2-1.
After losing game one on Friday, the North Carolina softball team responded with consecutive wins against Pittsburgh to open ACC play with a 2-1 record.
The UNC softball team is in the midst of a slump after dropping its fifth non-conference game in a row, despite a chance late in the 7th inning to take the lead.
The North Carolina softball team competed in the weekend-long UNC Greensboro tournament and was defeated in all three games it played, losing to Purdue, Fairfield and UNCG by a combined 13 runs.
The North Carolina softball team has faced a brutal schedule through the squad's first 12 games, and Wednesday's meeting with James Madison was just the latest iteration.
“My two words for today were attack and adjust,” Papa said. “I was pleased that we made adjustments and played solid all the way around.”
“Facing good competition early on is only going to make us better,” senior Campbell Hutcherson said. “If you’re learning how to adapt to the hard stuff now later on down the season it’s going to be like second nature to us.”
No. 25 ranked UNC softball prepares for a powerful season after a mercy-rule victory over Campbell University.
The No. 25 North Carolina softball team needed just five innings to defeat Campbell by a score of 11-1 on Wednesday at Anderson Stadium.
In the five-game JoAnne Graf Classic, the UNC softball team picked up its highest ranked win in program history against No. 2 Alabama and the program's 1,500th win in an 11-3 victory over Detroit Mercy.
The 2019 season was one that saw unprecedented success for UNC softball. With victories over nine ranked teams, the Tar Heels were able to finish as runners-up in the ACC Tournament. Their historic season ended at the NCAA Knoxville Regional Championship, at the hands of the Tennessee Volunteers. With two players being named to the preseason all-ACC team, North Carolina will look to replicate the successes of last season, and possibly go even further.
Even with their backs pressed against the wall, the North Carolina women's softball team persevered through three elimination games and displayed their strength, despite falling short in the fourth game against Tennessee.
The fourth-seeded North Carolina softball team (35-18, 17-7 ACC) was shut out by second-seeded Florida State, 8-0, on Saturday in the ACC Championship Game in Tallahassee, Fl. The Tar Heels managed just four hits on the day and gave up 11 to the Seminoles.
The North Carolina softball team (35-17, 17-7 ACC) tamed the North Carolina State Wolfpack (31-27, 9-15 ACC) behind a five-run rally in the fifth inning and a complete game gem from junior pitcher Brittany Pickett. With the victory, the fourth-seeded Tar Heels will play for the ACC Championship on Saturday.
The fourth-seeded North Carolina softball team (34-17, 17-7 ACC) used a six-run fifth inning to defeat fifth-seeded Louisville (33-21, 12-12), 9-3, in the team's first game of the ACC Tournament in Tallahassee, Fl. on Thursday.
Four years ago, Kiani Ramsey committed to wearing a red and black Raider jersey for her collegiate athletic career. Today, she is weeks away from receiving her diploma in a Carolina blue gown.
In its fifth game in four days, the North Carolina softball team (31-15, 15-6) powered past UNC-Greensboro (25-19, 9-4) 6-2 in what head coach Donna Papa saw as a revenge game. After losing to the Spartans last season, the Tar Heels overcame a 2-0 deficit to avoid another upset at the hands of their in-state foe.
Welcome to the 2020-21 edition of The Daily Tar Heel, now in our 128th year!
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